Radio DOM 102.3 FM

Radio DOM102.3 FM

Radio DOM was an automatic radio-station located on the Dom tower in Utrecht, broadcasting a dynamic auditory soundscape based on the sounds of the city of Utrecht. Radio DOM got its inputs from six computer-controlled surveillance microphones installed on the Dom tower, which constantly scanned the inner city area. The sound signals picked up by these microphones were algorithmically combined into a continuously varying soundscape which was broadcast 24 hours a day by an FM radio transmitter installed on the Dom tower.

The transmissions of Radio DOM could be received in the city of Utrecht from June 4 until October 3, 1999, at 102.3 MHz FM.

Radio DOM was part of the exhibition Panorama 2000, organised by the Centraal Museum in Utrecht.

Equipment

A mast with a dipole antenna was installed at a height of 80 meter in the Dom tower. This antenna transmitted a stereo FM signal with RDS at the frequency of 102.3 MHz; the ERP power was 80 Watt.

The sound came from highly directional Sennheiser microphones mounted on Bischke pan-&-tilt units, controlled by a Max/MSP program (Algorithmix IV) running on an Apple Macintosh G3 computer. This program also mixed the microphone signals and sent a stereo signal via a CRL unit to the ELIT transmitter.

Pan-&-tilt units and microphones installed by Hofland Electronica B.V.

Radio-transmission equipment and antenna installed by Nozema N.V.

"The national authorities are in the process of selling off all bandwidth of the Dutch airwaves to the highest bidder. As a result, radio and television currently offer only advertising and entertainment for imbeciles. The computers, machines and human persons that work together in the Institute of Artificial Art have decided to put an end to this deplorable situation. We will create radio- and television-stations which broadcast information rather than manipulation. The citizens of the Netherlands should be enabled to listen to random samples from the sound of the world, to physical processes, and to algorithmic music. Fully automatic stations which provide this service may gradually replace the existing nonsense. Radio Dom is just the beginning."

Huge Harry (president, Institute of Artificial Art Amsterdam), in his letter of recommendation for the project "Radio Dom" to Sjarel Ex, director of the Centraal Museum.

Related Events

May 18, 1999. Tumult, Lutherse Kerk, Hamburgerstraat 9, Utrecht. De Stad als Museumzaal Panel discussion on art in public space on the occasion of the exhibition Panorama 2000. With Jan van Adrichem, Ellen de Bruyne, Tjebbe van Tijen and Remko Scha. Chair: Cornel Bierens.
Monday August 23, 1999, 8 p.m. - 12 p.m. Supplement. Radio 4 (Dutch National Radio). Live audio-mix by Michael Fahres, including relay of Radio DOM.

Press

	Katja Blomberg: "Über den Dächern von Utrecht: Die Ausstellung 'Panorama 2000' bietet eine außergewöhnliche Perspektive." Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, August 23, 1999 (nr. 194), p. 45.
	Joke Dame: "De Dom op. Panorama 2000." Utrechts Nieuwsblad, July 12, 1999.
	Thea Figee: "Millenniumtentoonstelling sprak een groot en breed publiek aan." Utrechts Nieuwsblad, October 4, 1999, p. 15.
	Kees Polling: "Eigenwijze radio met vier lagen." VPRO Gids August 21-27, 1999 (nr. 34), p. 44.
	Remco Vlaanderen: "Radio Dom" Catalogue Panorama 2000, Centraal Museum, Utrecht, 1999, p. 130-131.

Human Support Staff

Arthur Elsenaar (production), Ad de Groot (radio equipment), Don van Helvoort (surveillance equipment), Remko Scha (software), Patricia Pulles (P.R.).