Always Listening: Behind-the-scenes with headphone engineer Shiwaku Nonomi

For the first time in its 63-year history Audio-Technica, a leading innovator in transducer technology, has invited cameras inside its headquarters in Machida, Japan, to capture a day in the life of a headphone engineer.

Shiwaku Nonomi has worked at Audio-Technica for 10 years as a headphone engineer. In this documentary she takes viewers behind-the-scenes as she develops the new open-back R-series headphones. Speaking about her profession, Nonomi explains, “When I meet someone for the first time and need to explain what I do, I just say something simple like, I make good sound – like in headphones.”

At Audio-Technica, lead engineers are involved in every phase of the product development process – from prototypes to the final design – so Shiwaku-san can ensure every detail of the headphones meet the product brief. For the newly released R-series, expertise in transducer technology was particularly useful, as open-back headphones are exposed to the environment around you, unlike closed headphones where the flow of air can be controlled. Therefore, the diaphragms needed to be accurately designed and constructed to deliver a precise audio reproduction within an open environment.

This immersive process means that Shiwaku feels particularly connected to the products she creates; the engineers at Audio-Technica instill their expertise into each headphone, ensuring the listening experience is created by people, for people. Shiwaku speaks in the documentary about this deep connection to the products she helps create: “Thinking this is going out into the world – that’s such a joyful feeling. At one Headphone Festival, I was talking to a customer and when I mentioned ‘Actually I helped create this series’ they said ‘ah!’ and started to cry. It was really moving.”

The documentary also explores the occupational hazard of working in the audio industry, as Shiwaku explains, “Listening to music has become work for me. That’s been a bit of a personal struggle lately. Whenever I listen to music, I can’t help but analyze it.” However, as viewers will discover, there are still certain songs that always have a sentimental place in our lives.

Alongside Shiwaku-san’s day, viewers get a glimpse into Japanese working culture, with communal canteens serving daily specials and dimly lit listening bars providing the soundtrack for post-work “lemon sour” cocktails.

The documentary can be viewed here: Always Listening: Behind-the-scenes with headphone engineer Shiwaku Nonomi

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DIRECTED BY

Nick Dwyer

PRODUCED BY

Panic Ball Productions

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DOP – Sam King

1st AC – Jayce Ong

2nd AC – Toki Tsuta

Sound – Skirmantas Ivanauskas

Sound – Nicolas Amblard