Blocked Under Ground
Heavy rainfall causes a subway crash, trapping four people in a tunnel. Desperately, they search for a way out. Meanwhile, a rescue operation begins on the surface—unknown to them.
Through three different approaches, you immerse yourself in the story:
In the 3D Radio play, we descend underground: as the tunnel labyrinth floods, we witness the catastrophe alongside the trapped individuals.
Listen to the 3D radioplay here.In the 3D Audio Game, we take charge of the rescue mission. In complete darkness, we navigate a submarine through the flooded tunnel labyrinth, aiming to locate and save the trapped individuals.
Download on the App Store | Download on Google PlayIn the 3D Audio Walk, we experience the story on the surface, around the Praterinsel in Munich. By walking, we trigger the progression of the narrative. This immersive sound experience places us amidst rescue teams, a radio reporter, and desperate relatives.
Explore the 3D Audio Walk here.I contributed to the AudioWalk
What I did:
Consulting for Creative and Technical Concepts.
Staging cinematic audio drama recordings at Bayerischer Rundfunk's studio using the Eigenmike EM64.
On-site ambience recordings using the Schoeps ORTF 3D microphone rig.
Production of immersive scenes in 3rd Order Ambisonics with sound design, editing, and mixing.
Implementing the walk in Echoes.xyz both in Ambisonics 3D and Binaural 3D
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23.11.2024 Premiere at PIXEL (Veranstaltungsort für Medien - Kultur - Partizipation) Munich.
The walk is permanently available at ECHOES both in Ambisonics 3D & Binaural 3D
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The Voices:
Ruth Geiersberger as Johanna Hornbostel
Tobias Ruhland as Radio Reporter
Caro Matzko as Radio Host
Pirmin Sedlmeir as Johannes
Stefan Merki as Gernot
Zeyin Aly as Abdennour
Clemens Nicol as Spokesperson and Guide
Henriette Schmidt as Taxi Driver
Andreas Neumann as Rescue Worker
Börnie Schulz as Firefighter
featuring Johannes Hitzlberger, Katja Schild, Laura Picerno, Rupert Jaud, and Ulrike Strobl.Sound and Engineering: Rupert Jaud and Laura Picerno
Musical Sound Design: Dagmar Petrus
Sound Design and Technical Production: Rupert Jaud
Technical Direction: Milena Wichert
Production Management: Gregory Popov
Director: Regine Elbers
Dramaturgy: Lenja Busch -
A production by Regine Elbers with Hella Lux, 2024.
Co-production: Bayerischer Rundfunk.
This audio walk was funded and supported by the FilmFernsehFond Bayern, Bayerischer Rundfunk, the Women's Support Fund of Bauhaus-Universität Weimar, and the supporters of the crowdfunding campaign BLOCKED UNDER GROUND.
The project is part of an artistic research initiative at the Experimental Radio program of Bauhaus-Universität Weimar.
Artistic supervision: Prof. Nathalie Singer.
This project allowed me to explore key questions about storytelling in a site-specific context: How does a fictional narrative function when tied to a real-world location? What are the unique challenges, considerations, and benefits this approach brings to storytelling?
Another fascinating aspect was working with 3D microphone rigs, including the Eigenmike EM64 and Schoeps ORTF. This involved navigating the challenges of staging recording scenes with the EM64, determining the importance of spot microphones, and fine-tuning the balance to achieve an optimal spatial audio experience.
Additionally, I thoroughly tested the Echoes platform, evaluating its capabilities and suitability for 3D audio storytelling.
As always, the ultimate goal was to craft a richly detailed, immersive auditory world that allows for a deeply engaging dive into the story.
About the sound design
Eigenmike-Recoring-Setup
Tobi playing the enthusiastic journalist during the recording session.
Ambience recording with the Schoeps ORTF in the at 3am
Editing the 3D scenes in my home studio
Passionate brainstorming in the recording control room – me gesticulating enthusiastically while Regine listens with a smile