Introduction to Dinosaur Choir

Dinosaur Choir is a musical instrument that uses 3D models of ancient skulls to recreate the sounds of dinosaurs. The instrument was developed by artists Courtney Brown and Cezary Gajewski and has been recognized at Georgia Tech's 2025 Guthman Musical Instrument Competition.

The instrument works by using a camera and microphone to capture the user's breath and mouth shape, which is then used to create sound waves that resonate through a 3D model of a dinosaur skull. The result is a unique sound that is unlike anything found in nature today.

Development of Dinosaur Choir

The development of Dinosaur Choir began in 2011 when Brown saw an exhibit of a Parasaurolophus at a dinosaur museum in New Mexico. She was inspired by the idea that the crests on the dinosaur's head could have been used for sound resonation, and she began working on a project to recreate the sounds of dinosaurs.

Over the years, Brown and Gajewski refined their design and developed new technologies to create a more realistic and interactive experience. They worked with paleontologists and used CT scans and 3D fabrications to create accurate models of dinosaur skulls.

How Dinosaur Choir Works

To use Dinosaur Choir, the user stands in front of a camera and blows into a microphone. The camera captures the user's mouth shape and the microphone captures their breath, which is then used to create sound waves that resonate through the 3D model of the dinosaur skull.

The instrument uses mathematical equations to simulate the mechanics of the voice, taking into account factors such as air pressure and the shape of the mouth. The result is a unique sound that is unlike anything found in nature today.

Future Developments

Brown and Gajewski are continuing to develop and refine Dinosaur Choir, with plans to add more dinosaurs to the instrument and to create new sounds and experiences. They are also exploring the possibility of using the instrument in educational settings and in the development of new technologies for sound production.