Sonic Identity

Sound is 50% of the experience. Every sound should feel inevitable, warm, supportive, and memorable.

Sound Philosophy

Feel Inevitable

Like it couldn't be any other way

Convey Warmth

Even functional sounds feel human

Support, Not Distract

Audio serves the experience

Create Memory

Sounds become associated with feelings

Sonic References

  • Ólafur Arnalds - Warm piano, gentle electronics, breathing space
  • Max Richter - Emotional depth, cinematic restraint
  • Nils Frahm - Organic imperfection, felt piano hammers
  • Apple - Functional clarity, satisfying feedback
  • Studio Ghibli - Whimsy without excess, natural sounds

Not Ferni

Clinical beeps Aggressive notifications Generic UI sounds Synthesized without humanity Loud or startling Emotionally manipulative

Core Sonic Elements

C4
261.63 Hz

The Ferni Note

The foundational sound of Ferni's identity

  • Note: Middle C - Universal, grounding
  • Timbre: Warm piano with soft felt, slight reverb
  • Character: Like a breath, not a strike
  • Duration: 800ms
  • Decay: Natural
Cmaj7

Warmth Pad

Ambient undertone for presence

  • Notes: C4, E4, G4, B4
  • Character: Barely noticeable, subconscious comfort
  • Volume: -24 dB

The Breath

Organic rhythm element

  • Sound: Soft inhale/exhale texture
  • Character: Not literal breath, but the feeling
  • Cycle: 500ms inhale → 200ms hold → 500ms exhale

Persona Sonic Signatures

Each persona has a unique sonic "color" - subtle variations on the Ferni foundation.

Ferni Perfect 5th
C4 G4

Warm, centered - the anchor

Warmth: 1.0 Brightness: 0.8
Peter Major 6th
C4 A4

Curious, bright - discovery energy

Warmth: 0.8 Brightness: 1.2
Alex Perfect 4th
C4 F4

Clear, empathetic - connection energy

Warmth: 0.9 Bell: 0.3
Maya Root / Octave
C4 C5

Steady, reliable - structure energy

Warmth: 1.0 Attack: 0.8
Jordan Major 7th
C4 B4

Joyful, sparkly - celebration energy

Brightness: 1.3 Sparkle: 0.4
Nayan Full Octave
C3 C5

Deep, integrative - wisdom energy

Warmth: 1.1 Reverb: 1.3

Sound Events

Startup

2000ms

"Hello, I'm here"

Soft piano note rising, like waking up gently

felt-piano breath-texture

Connection Success

1200ms

"We're connected"

Warm resolution, like a gentle 'yes'

piano-chord soft-pad-resolution

Thinking

3000ms Loopable

"I'm really thinking about this"

Subtle ambient texture, contemplative

soft-pad gentle-modulation

Celebration (Small)

1800ms

"That's worth celebrating"

Ascending warmth, like a gentle cheer

piano subtle-sparkle

Celebration (Big)

2500ms

"This is a big deal"

Full celebration, triumphant but tasteful

piano-chord pad subtle-bells

Error (Graceful)

600ms

"Hmm, that didn't work"

Soft, questioning, not alarming

soft-piano minor-2nd-interval

Handoff Sounds

Each handoff blends source and target persona's sonic colors.

→ Ferni

Resolve to C major

Returning home, warm welcome

→ Peter

Move to major 6th interval

Brightening, ascending

→ Alex

Perfect 4th resolution

Clarifying, bell-like

→ Maya

Settle to root

Grounding, rhythmic

→ Jordan

Rise to major 7th

Lifting, sparkling

→ Nayan

Open to full octave

Deepening, expanding

Technical Specifications

Format

  • Primary: MP3
  • Fallback: OGG
  • Lossless: WAV

Quality

  • Bitrate: 192kbps
  • Sample Rate: 44100 Hz
  • Channels: Stereo

Normalization

  • Target: -14 LUFS
  • True Peak: -1 dB
  • Matches streaming platform standards

Loop Points

  • Crossfade: 50ms
  • Ensure seamless loop points

Audio Accessibility

Never make audio the only feedback channel
Always pair with visual feedback
Provide option to disable all sounds
Respect system mute/volume settings
Avoid sudden loud sounds

Screen Reader Considerations

  • Audio cues should not conflict with screen reader output
  • Important state changes should have text alternatives
  • Background audio should be pausable