2024 - PRESENT
Environment as artistic expression.
Ultrasuono is a musical device that uses the climate to process audio. It can be used as an environmental recorder, a pedal for musical instruments, or a MIDI controller.
Originally developed as a university project, it quickly evolved into a complex system where design, engineering, and sound came together through the contribution of a growing community.
Nicolò's role in the project
Ultrasuono started as a five-person team, later becoming four as it evolved into a thesis project. While each member had specific responsibilities, the product was shaped collaboratively. This case study covers the full process, highlighting my contribution throughout.
- ROLE
- Designer / Brand Lead
- DISCIPLINE
- Product Design, UX Research, Brand Identity, Hardware, Software
- SKILLS
- UX researchUser InterviewsUsability TestingHardware Prototyping3D PrintingDesign SystemsAI-Assisted DevelopmentWordPressSocial Media Strategy
PHASE 01: CONCEPT
To build a product that encourages you to explore the environment
At the heart of Ultrasuono is a simple idea: turning the environment into something we can hear. In our constant attempt to measure and control our surroundings, we often forget the act of listening. Yet the environment is constantly changing through rhythms, variations, and invisible patterns, creating a sensory language that can become a source of inspiration.
From this idea, Ultrasuono evolved into a tool that translates climate variations into sound, mapping environmental parameters to audio effects and creating a continuous interaction between climate, sound, and perception.
The parameters
We defined these parameters and sound mappings through 50+ user tests at industry events and 5 expert interviews. Despite the subjective nature of these associations, over 70% of participants correctly identified at least 4 out of 6 mappings, validating the overall direction of the system.
BRIGHTNESS
Light intensity controls a cut-off filter, gradually darkening and muffling the sound.
TEMPERATURE
High temperatures introduce distortions, breaking up and roughening the sound, while low temperatures combine comb filtering and flanging to create a sharper, colder effect.
HUMIDITY
High humidity introduces reverb and delay, giving the sound a more “wet” quality, while low humidity activates a gate filter, creating a drier and sharper sound.
ONCE WE UNDERSTOOD HOW TO TRANSLATE CLIMATE INTO SOUND, WE NEEDED TO UNDERSTAND WHAT USERS ACTUALLY NEEDED AND WHICH FEATURES COULD MAKE ULTRASUONO TRULY USEFUL.
PHASE 02: HARDWARE
Project content
The project started during the “Product Components” semester, at Politecnico di Torino, with the goal of developing an open-source product.
None of the team members had previous experience in electronics or programming, so, with only a few months available, we adopted a progressive development approach: starting with a breadboard and simple components, such as Arduino and a light sensor, and gradually introducing new sensors, features, and complexity.
Within a few months, this iterative process led to a complex, fully functional prototype, which became the foundation for user testing and further development at the industry fairs we attended.
First electronic prototype
The first Ultrasuono prototype is essentially a basic audio recorder integrating the core components: temperature and humidity sensors, a light sensor, display, microphone, and the Daisy Seed, a microcontroller specifically designed for audio processing.
daisyseed
microphone
temperature / humidity sensor
OLED screen
potentiometer
SD card module
photoresistor
breadboard
Final breadboard
Through multiple iterations, tests, and careful space optimization, we managed to fit all the components into a 10 × 10 cm footprint, making even this early prototype compact, lightweight, and portable.
As a breadboard prototype, it came with several limitations, including low audio quality, unstable components, and some performance compromises. However, it provided a solid foundation for testing, iterating, conducting interviews, and gathering valuable user feedback.
Ultrasuono's enclosure
The enclosure is 3D-printed in semi-transparent PLA, a choice that allows for easy prototyping, experimentation, and iteration while keeping the product accessible and easy to reproduce.
We designed an internal texture to add depth and character to the product, while an elastic cord serves both to secure the enclosure and to attach the device to other objects through the loop it creates.
After numerous tests with different shapes, sizes, and configurations, we finally arrived at the perfect shape.
Feedbacks provided from the interviews and the events
Feedback from experienced users, including musicians, field recordists, and producers, confirmed the potential of the concept while highlighting the need for greater flexibility and room for experimentation. Ultrasuono needed to evolve into a more reliable and versatile tool, capable of integrating seamlessly with other instruments and musical setups.
Ultrasuono's functions
FIELD RECORDER
Keep Ultrasuono’s field recording capabilities, allowing users to capture and process environmental sounds.
INSTRUMENT PEDAL
Add an audio input to turn Ultrasuono into an effects pedal for instruments and line-level sources.
MIDI CONTROLLER
Process sensor data through MIDI protocols, allowing Ultrasuono to control external instruments and software.
We partened with Politek
Integrating every function into an engineered prototype required technical expertise beyond our design background. We therefore partnered with PoliTeK, a student engineering team from Politecnico di Torino, to develop a custom PCB tailored to our needs.
The process required continuous dialogue, compromises and alternative solutions, but ultimately transformed our concept into a functional product.
Process:
Initial sketches
Prototypes
After dozens of prototypes, iteration with the eletronic engineer and design explorations, Ultrasuono evolved into a new form: distinct from the original, yet clearly rooted in its design legacy.
Final components
The enclosure consists of three main parts: a lower shell housing the battery and PCB, a central section for the audio jacks, and a top panel that closes the assembly. The lower shell also integrates a 1/4” threaded mount, making Ultrasuono compatible with standard tripods.
The encoder
The addition of an encoder introduces a navigable menu, making Ultrasuono significantly more flexible. It also acts as a dry/wet control, allowing users to adjust how strongly the effects shape the original sound.
How does it work?
Ultrasuono captures audio and environmental data through its integrated microphone, external audio input, and sensors. The microprocessor then uses this data to control a matrix of effects and process the sound in real time. The resulting audio can be played back or recorded, while the raw sensor data can also be exported via MIDI for use with other devices and software.
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