Nike: Pegasus Turbo
Award-winning, one of a kind audio installations
WeMakeAudio created a dynamic music track for this immersive installation for Nike. We teamed up with Nike, Unit9, and Creative Director Alex Horton to create a one-of-a-kind, award-winning installation. For the launch of Nike's launch of their Pegasus Turbo shoe, they wanted a turbo-charged in-store experience. The goal was to create an experience where fans could feel like they were flying higher and higher the faster they ran.
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The Concept
Unveiled at Nike’s Berlin flagship store, visitors could run on a modified treadmill in front of a giant screen, virtually racing through iconic cities like Berlin, Paris, and London. As they moved, they were filmed and composited into the scenery in real time.
The Challenge
The challenge wasn’t just scoring the experience—it was designing a music system that could respond dynamically to the runner’s cadence. Creative Director Alex Horton envisioned a system similar to a turntable speeding up and slowing down, tying the BPM of the music directly to the runner's speed.
Crafting the Soundtrack
We began by composing the track, collaborating closely with the project partners to create a visceral piece that aligned with both the brand’s aesthetic and the intensity of the experience. The music arrangement needed to match the emotional arc of the experience while also being flexible enough to change tempo in real-time based on the runner's pace.
Building the Audio System
Once the arrangement was locked, we exported each section of the track multiple times, gradually increasing the tempo by one BPM. From there, we rebuilt the full composition inside a game audio engine, setting up a system that allowed us to seamlessly move between tempo and arrangement in real time, reacting to the runner’s speed.
The Experience
After the run, participants received a 15-second video showcasing their virtual flight, synced with the speed they ran. This video was designed to be shared, creating a personalised and unforgettable memory of the experience.
The Technology Behind It
At WeMakeAudio, we love working on this type of project, where bold technology meets storytelling, and product innovation.
“WeMakeAudio worked behind the scenes to design an adaptive audio system that could be controlled by a physical input.
The great part was we could offer the best sound quality and a unique experience to each user. Great learnings from it and a happy client.” - Martino Butti, Executive Producer, Unit9
