Sonic Dictionary

Featured Sounds

Open Pit Barbecue

Creator: Albones Barbecue

Creation Date: January 20, 2013 (date video was uploaded)November 2, 2013 (date accessed)

German Augmented Sixth Chord

Creator: Yiyi Gao

Creation Date: Feb 18, 2016

Peanut Shelling

Creator: Emily Cohen, Jessica Matthys, Lauren Jefferson

Creation Date: November 3, 2013

Political Protest Chanting

Creator: Henry Sosa, Quang Nguyen

Creation Date: 2014-08-02

Featured Exhibits

In the field of athletics, there are many elements that go toward shaping a sports experience, for both the athlete and the spectator. A large part of this experience is sensory: visual, tactile, and even olfactory in some cases. But sports would be nothing without their auditory component: sounds, and specifically, their impact sounds. An impact sound is that which arises from the collision of one object with another; for the purposes of this project, it is specifically a sound that arises from the collision of an athlete’s body with a sports surface, in any form it may present itself. The majority of these impact...

Humans vs. Nature? Breaking the Dichotomy

This exhibit examines the interaction of human and natural sounds in the naturescape, endeavoring to demonstrate that, in the modern world, it is nearly impossible to separate the two. Despite humanity’s best efforts to remove ourselves from “uncivilized” nature, we are nevertheless ourselves part of the natural environment, for better or worse. Humanity is inextricably linked to nature- we are just as much a part of the naturescape as a deer bounding through in a forest or lily pads floating on a green lake. Our challenge is to make ourselves a home in nature, becoming conscientious of the daily impacts which we cannot help but leave...

Overheard at Oberlin

Oberlin College and Conservatory was established in the year 1833 and is well known for its academic and musical excellence. It is a place where people hear and listen in on the world from diverse perspectives. As such, there are many sounds that make up Oberlin College. "Overheard at Oberlin" is a sonic exhibit curated by sound students in the First Year Seminar titled "Soundscapes: Listening the Past/ Hearing the Present." "Overheard" showcases the aural cultures that define the people who live, work, and learn at Oberlin, both the institution and the town. By resourcing, researching, and curating the sounds that distinguish...