--- description: In case you missed it, tattoos of sound waves that actually play back recorded audio are now a type of ink that you can get. title: You Can Now Get a Tattoo That Plays Back Recorded Audio image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt70f499567063c852/6988cd8a97cdffca586b0bad/tattoos-play-audio.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  * [Newsfeed](/tag/time-section-newsfeed/) ## Newsfeed Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close # You Can Now Get a Tattoo That Actually Plays Back Your Pre-Recorded Audio  by [Cady Lang](/author/cady-lang/)  ## Cady Lang Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close May 16, 2017 9:49 PM CUT  Halfdark—Getty Images/fStop  by [Cady Lang](/author/cady-lang/)  ## Cady Lang Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close May 16, 2017 9:49 PM CUT [Tattoos](http://time.com/4725634/tattoo-ink-dangerous/ "undefined") can often carry a sentimental or personal significance — one only needs to look at the multiplicity of “Mom” tattoos or[ Justin Bieber’s face ink](http://time.com/4322795/justin-bieber-face-tattoo-reason/ "undefined") as proof. However, if you’re looking to get a tattoo that goes to the next level, consider the audio tattoo, which is exactly what it sounds like — ink that actually plays back sound. L.A.-based company Skin Motion is working on an app that allows you to record or upload an audio clip that will then make an audio file design. After the [sound wave](http://science.time.com/2014/01/03/watch-scientists-suspend-objects-in-midair-with-sound-waves/ "undefined") design is made, users can get it tattooed on their bodies by a tattoo artist; once healed, it can be scanned and played back on the app. While Skin Motion suggests using the app to memorialize the voice of a deceased loved one, you can also get your favorite song or phrase, or in the case of this happy customer, the sound of your dog howling. Watch the Skin Motion tattoo play back in real time below. ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/4781519/tattoo-plays-audio/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/4781519/tattoo-plays-audio/"},"headline":"You Can Now Get a Tattoo That Actually Plays Back Your Pre-Recorded Audio","datePublished":"2017-05-16T21:49:15.000Z","dateModified":"2026-04-13T07:43:41.810Z","description":"Your favorite song can now be permanent ink","url":"https://time.com/4781519/tattoo-plays-audio/","keywords":["Newsfeed","Technology","viral","Bizarre","tattoos"],"thumbnailUrl":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt70f499567063c852/6988cd8a97cdffca586b0bad/tattoos-play-audio.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Cady Lang","jobTitle":null,"url":"https://time.com/author/cady-lang/"}],"articleSection":"","image":[{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt70f499567063c852/6988cd8a97cdffca586b0bad/tattoos-play-audio.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","width":1200,"height":675,"headline":"A tattoo artist preparing to tattoo a man's bare arm, close-up","caption":"A tattoo artist preparing to tattoo a man's bare arm, close-up","creditText":"Halfdark—Getty Images/fStop","representativeOfPage":true}],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Time","url":"https://time.com/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://time.com/images/logo.png","width":528,"height":156},"foundingDate":"March 3, 1923","sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/time","https://www.instagram.com/time/?hl=en","https://twitter.com/time","https://www.pinterest.com/timemagazine"]}},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"/tag/time-section-newsfeed/","name":"Newsfeed"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/4781519/tattoo-plays-audio/","name":"You Can Now Get a Tattoo That Actually Plays Back Your Pre-Recorded Audio"}}]}] ```