Nokia hires orchestra for mobile phone ringtones

Nokia has used the Bratislava Symphony Orchestra to produce a number of classical numbers that are being used as ringtones on Nokia hardware. The manufacturer decided to use the orchestra due to classical ringtones proving to be popular among users when configuring their handsets. The pieces were composed by in-house sound designers, before being recorded with 55 members of the orchestra.

Some of the recordings are already available on the Lumia 920 and Lumia 820 Windows Phones on the Nokia Conversations website. Aleksi Eeben, a sound designer at Nokia, had the following to say on the project:

"The 25 original pieces, called ‘miniatures’ were composed by five Nokia Design in-house sound designers. We started exploring the idea through contemporary classical and film music, However, the final result was original pieces that are distinctively ring tones: they are short, and they all have a functional sounds element."

Epic Sound was contracted by Nokia to help with the creation of sounds. Asbjoern Andersen, from the recording company, noted the following:

"Nokia has one of the most recognisable brand sounds in the world and has done lots of pioneering work to innovate and evolve sound on mobile phones. And I think bringing in a living, breathing orchestra really takes this to the next level. Ringtones are usually created in a studio using a synthesizer to produce a wide variety of sounds. But Mr Anderson said that Nokia wanted to create ringtones that had a "unique, organic" sound.There’s a lot of thought, effort and new ideas put into the devices – not only in terms of the hardware, but also in the overall user experience and design of the products. The Nokia mobile sounds are heard around a billion times a day, so a lot of work is put into ensuring that they would stand repeated listening in a lot of different environments and to give the products a unique, organic sound you don’t normally hear on mobile devices."

Nokia is taking things seriously when it comes to Windows Phone, which is welcomed by consumers who have chosen Microsoft's mobile platform. To have Nokia's experience and known quality controls ensures that everything is as good as can be when hardware eventually reaches market.

As well as HERE and other location-based services, Nokia is also investing in marketing and how Windows Phones sound with additions like charge disconnection.

Source: Nokia Conversations; via: The Telegraph

Rich Edmonds
Senior Editor, PC Build

Rich Edmonds was formerly a Senior Editor of PC hardware at Windows Central, covering everything related to PC components and NAS. He's been involved in technology for more than a decade and knows a thing or two about the magic inside a PC chassis. You can follow him on Twitter at @RichEdmonds.