HisTory

The Sonic Runway has been through many iterations since its debut at Burning Man in 2003.

Initially conceived with strobe lights to visualize the beat of the music, it was clear from even this simple installation
how impactful seeing music travel at the speed-of-sound was for people.

The Original Sonic Runway

The original Sonic Runway was installed at Burning Man '03/'04 as part of a large scale sound art camp, Sol System.Sixteen steel framed pyramids were spaced out over 1000 feet, emanating from the DJ booth. At the top of each pyramid was a strobe light programmed to flash in sync with the thump of the bass.

16 years later, the new Runway took the same basic concept but with an all new circular design, twice as many gates, greater interactivity, and more intricate visualizations.

Instead of connecting to a single DJ booth, the updated Runway was installed in the open playa, with a rotating schedule of large scale sound art cars (and the occasional opera singer!) providing the music. After a successful run at Burning May 2016, the Sonic Runway is making its first international appearance in the middle of downtown Chengdu, China, presented by IFS.

Burning Man 2016

The following is placeholder text known as “lorem ipsum,” which is scrambled Latin used by designers to mimic real copy. Vestibulum ante ipsum primis in faucibus orci luctus et ultrices posuere cubilia Curae. Nullam sit amet nisi condimentum erat iaculis auctor. Mauris id fermentum nulla. Aliquam bibendum, turpis eu mattis iaculis, ex lorem mollis sem, ut sollicitudin risus orci quis tellus. Donec ac fringilla turpis.

San Jose

The following is placeholder text known as “lorem ipsum,” which is scrambled Latin used by designers to mimic real copy. In sit amet felis malesuada, feugiat purus eget, varius mi. Vestibulum ante ipsum primis in faucibus orci luctus et ultrices posuere cubilia Curae. In sit amet felis malesuada, feugiat purus eget, varius mi. Mauris egestas at nibh nec finibus.