Echoes of engines past

As the world heads – hopefully – towards more sustainable motoring options, with electric vehicles replacing gas guzzlers, BMW has realised that as cars quieten down, the iconic roar of BMWs will be missed. 

Created and produced by Serviceplan Middle East, The Museum of Sound, NFT Collection features audio recordings of BMW M engines that have been turned into a series of 19 unique audio-visual NFT artworks that depict the autos’ sounds through the use of a bespoke data-visualizer.

Rigged with high-fidelity microphones to capture every detail, and lead by motor racing champion Bruno Spengler, the sounds have been turned into NFTs (Non-Fungible Tokens), minted for the owners and preserved forever.

Serviceplan Middle East Senior Art Director Kenneth Barnes shared insights into the technical process of creating the NFTs: “It’s awesome to see and hear 19 BMWs on the Dubai Autodrome Club Circuit. The owners followed a pace car driven by DTM Champion Bruno Spengler so that they could match his braking and track lines. Using external mics rigged near the exhaust, engine bay and in the cabin, we documented their rev-ups, downshifts, roars and those crackle and pops. We were particular on the timing of the recording session, as the speed of sound is affected by wind, temperature and humidity.

"We converted the vehicle’s audio recordings to bend the sound wave into an abstract reactive art giving a unique visual experience and these were preserved as ethically-created NFTs. By making important logistical decisions such as using an environmentally friendly blockchain called Polygon, we were able to remind ourselves why we created the Museum of Sound to begin with: we are moving towards a more sustainable world.”