This is an old revision of the document!


Echo State Network

the sonification of the computing process in an analog neural network, 2019

Can one hear the firing of neurons? Does their action potential have pitch and timbre? How do patterns and structures of a neural network look and sound? And what will happen if the network listen to these sound and pattern, too - and feeds this information back into the network?

At the core of the sound installation “Echo State Network” by Wolfgang Spahn there will be an artificial analog neural network that will generate sound.

As part of his Analog Computer Confetti the artist created an analogue electric circuit that mimic a model of a neuron. More than 100 of the Confetti Neurons will form an analogue version of a so called “Echo State Network”. And because the model for that neuron was developed to explain our heart beat this network will oscillate, pulse and create most complex pattern one can see and listen to.

An Echo State Network is a particular kind of model of a recurrent neural network. At it‘s core is a complex, chaotic and back coupling neural network, similar to a Liquid-State Machine. At the networks input layer a couple of sensors will react to sound and light. Brightness and frequencies will be processed and fed back in the Echo State Network. A couple of firing neurons that oscillates in a audible frequency will form the output layer. Indicator LEDs shows the action in the network as well as 8 speakers make these activity hearable at 8 different nodes of the network. Thus the visitor can witness the activity in the neural network and can get an idea of the complexity of these processes.


“Echo State Network” was shown at Alt. Space Loop as part of the exhibition Sound Effects Seoul Korea, 2019.
With support of Goethe Institute Korea.

… and many thanks to Martin Kuentz for all the soldering help.



Wolfgang Spahn is a visual & sound artist based in Berlin. His work includes installations, performances of light & sound and miniature-slide-paintings. His art explores the field of analogue and digital media and focuses on both their contradiction and their correlation.
He is faculty member of the Sound Studies and Sonic Arts, Berlin University of the Arts.

Katalog Kybersonor_2022_DE
Portfolio_Wolfgang Spahn DE
Portfolio_Wolfgang Spahn EN


OPEN HARD- & SOFT-WARE

Here is most of the hard- and software the artist developed for his artwork.
DER NULLEFFEKT
PAPER-PCB
- Analog Computer
- Pop Neuron
- Paper-Duino
- Paper Synthesizer
- Paper Bits
- Raspberry Pi Hats
- VGA Synthesizer
- Sound Boards
ART COOPERATION

TEACHING

Miscellaneous

Old Web-Side
In Progress


Credits
Contact

Except where otherwise noted.
© 2018-22 Wolfgang Spahn. All Rights Reserved.