Article: Speaking about sounds: a tool for communication on sound features Journal: Journal of Design Research (JDR) 2017 Vol.15 No.2 pp.85 - 109 Abstract: With the increasing use of digital technologies and smart objects, sound is playing an ever more important role in our everyday life interactions with a given object, human computer interface or space. However, few methodologies exist to work on sound-related issues during the early stages of a design process; manufacturers and sound designers lack a common terminology to describe and sketch sonic ideas. Informed by a review of the academic literature on verbal descriptions of sounds and a series of interviews we conducted with sound practitioners, we propose in the present article a potentially normative lexicon of 35 terms to describe the main sound characteristics. We also present a computer interface presenting the 35 terms illustrated with concrete and abstract sounds. This interface may be used as a tool for communication on sound features in a sound design process but also during training classes on sound education. Inderscience Publishers - linking academia, business and industry through research

Title: Speaking about sounds: a tool for communication on sound features

Authors: Maxime Carron; Thomas Rotureau; Françoise Dubois; Nicolas Misdariis; Patrick Susini

Addresses: SNCF Direction Innovation and Recherche, 40 avenue des Terroirs de France, 75611 Paris Cedex 12, France; STMS Ircam-CNRS-UPMC, Sound Perception and Design Team, 1 place Igor Stravinsky, 75001 Paris, France ' COLLECTIF MÉNURE, 4 rue des Petites Roches, 85600 Montaigu, France ' SNCF Direction Innovation and Recherche, 40 avenue des Terroirs de France, 75611 Paris Cedex 12, France ' STMS Ircam-CNRS-UPMC, Sound Perception and Design Team, 1 place Igor Stravinsky, 75001 Paris, France ' STMS Ircam-CNRS-UPMC, Sound Perception and Design Team, 1 place Igor Stravinsky, 75001 Paris, France

Abstract: With the increasing use of digital technologies and smart objects, sound is playing an ever more important role in our everyday life interactions with a given object, human computer interface or space. However, few methodologies exist to work on sound-related issues during the early stages of a design process; manufacturers and sound designers lack a common terminology to describe and sketch sonic ideas. Informed by a review of the academic literature on verbal descriptions of sounds and a series of interviews we conducted with sound practitioners, we propose in the present article a potentially normative lexicon of 35 terms to describe the main sound characteristics. We also present a computer interface presenting the 35 terms illustrated with concrete and abstract sounds. This interface may be used as a tool for communication on sound features in a sound design process but also during training classes on sound education.

Keywords: communication; sound design; verbal description; listening modes; sound identity.

DOI: 10.1504/JDR.2017.086749

Journal of Design Research, 2017 Vol.15 No.2, pp.85 - 109

Accepted: 01 Apr 2017
Published online: 24 Sep 2017 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article

Title: Speaking about sounds: a tool for communication on sound features

Keep up-to-date