This is a live audio stream generated by an ongoing software development project initiated in 2019, exploring real-time sonification of WiFi network activity.
The system translates WiFi network packets into sound, using MAC addresses as unique identifiers for audio generation. Each captured network “voice” can be assigned musical characteristics such as MIDI note values, and envelope parameters. The software also organizes sample assignment to the voices and the sequencing of note expression with chord progressions. Audio parameters such as DSP, granular processing, etc. may be set by the user, or determined dynamically according to network parameters. This adaptive sound mapping allows network traffic patterns to influence the audio output.
This portable system has been tested and optimized to operate across a wide variety environments—from dense urban networks to sparse rural WiFi landscapes—each location producing a distinct sonic signature characterized by varying density and variability of network traffic. Networked versions of the system have been configured to play voices captured from remote locales in conjunction with local voices.
A complementary sequencer (a special version of the WiFi player) also contributes to the sound. It’s tempo and varying note/rest/swing/sync durations are determined dynamically from analysis of WiFi traffic density.
The software is written in the SuperCollider programming environment. Mixdown is in Ableton Live before upload to this Icecast server for broadcast.
WiFi Player (2024/10)
Sequencer (2024/10)
News: (8/2)
Recent development includes work on an experimental programmatic means of creating titled audio tracks on the fly. As a desired broadcast stream sound is achieved, and an inspired title for the track is saved in a text file, a remote recording of 10 minutes of the stream is started. The audio file is saved automatically to an index of recordings, which are reloaded into the ongoing loop of recordings playing in the More section of the front page of this site. Eventually a listing of the titled recordings will be listed for individual listening, either here, or on another streaming platform.
Aesthetics: This live steam is usually unmanned 23 of 24 hours. A daily set-up is usually stabilized to degrade or to develop until a system crash (silence) or the next human intervention.