Peter Vogel is a former painter turned sound artist working with analog circuitry to create interactive installations where the audience and the environment around his installations can manipulate the sounds being produced using photo cell sensors reacting to light levels and motion sensors reacting to the movement of the audience.

I find many aspects of Vogel’s creations to be inspiring. In particular, the layout and use of simple analog components in creating his circuits. From looking at his works, there is a strong visual aesthetic to go along with the sounds being produced. At its essence I believe analog electronic components on their own have an intrinsic beauty to them which he captures perfectly in the layout and designs of the circuits he creates. Vogel’s work speaks volumes to me on the importance of the visual aspect of the installation on the auditory. Seeing all the separate components soldered neatly together exposed to the outside air is almost akin to seeing the soundtrack to a movie being performed live while the movie is played. The resistor is the violin, the motion sensor is the conductor and the collective components working in unison is the orchestra. In this sense, a bigger appreciation for the sounds being produced can be mustered from the audience with the aid of the visual.

A piece of his that particularly stands out to me is ‘Sound Wall'(at 1:16 in the documentary). A circuit producing dance music can be manipulated through 8 photocells/motion sensors changing the pitch, rhythm and amplitude of different elements of the music depending on the speed and intensity of light changes and movement. With this piece, a further appreciation goes into the design and aesthetic of the dance music that is being heard because of the layout of the components, each having ample space between each other almost giving each component its own spotlight visually, and whether you understand circuitry or not, sonically.