I love Cymatics.
I don't know if you saw Nigel Stanford's epic video last year, but it blows your mind.
Which is why I like this.
In a fusion of Cymatics experiments, Sony has created a stunning video merging light, colour and sound (reminiscent of Windows Media Player's epic sound visualisation of years gone by) to showcase the sound pressure and lighting of its mega home disco machine - the MHC-V7D.
The High Powered Audio System is taken to pieces and the various bits make earth, water and paint dance to Kiesza’s chart breaking megahit Hideaway (TUNE) in an effort to visualise its true power.
For the science buffs out there, Cymatics was discovered in 1680 by Robert Hooke and refers to the study of making sound visible, usually through controlled displacement of particles on vibrating plates or membranes.
Pretty cool.
More info: youtube.com
Sonic water
created using a petri dish filled with vodka and placed on the MHC-V7D’s sub-woofer, translate the invisible track into concentric circles tripling in tandem with the track’s vocal.
Chladni Plate
A thin metal sheet covered with sand and attached above the speaker
Chladni Plate
The beautiful effect of Hideaway’s audio frequencies can be seen manipulating the sand into a series of patterns that visualise the song’s resonance.
Ferrofluid
Containing tiny particles (~10 nm diameter) of a magnetic solid suspended in a liquid medium, ferrofluid has the fluid properties of a liquid and the magnetic properties of a solid. Using electro magnets synced to the beat from Hideaway, the ferrofluid rhythmically distorts into a display of abstract spikes that demonstrate the song’s impressive bass by reacting in time with the music, whilst representing the hands free way you can interact with the MHC-V7D through its gesture controls.
Dancing paint
As Hideaway plays, the paint is shot in ultra-slow motion as it ‘jumps’ to the rhythm of the track.
Dancing paint
The colours mix and globules of paint fall back to visually paint a picture using the power and sound pressure of the MHC-V7D.
Sony’s MHC-V7D
Video ends with the viewer being drawn out of the speaker