Listening to Haley's abstract rhythm file there is a pretty good sense of rhythm being demonstrated through the use of the metallic tapping, the potato chip crunch sounds and the ticking of a clock. There are some sounds at the end of the file that are a little more abstract and harder to determine what they are but they sound like they work rhythmically. My only criticism is that the sounds at the beginning are a little repetitive and I kind of want to hear a little more of the variety that there is at the end of the piece earlier. Also the ambient machine sound in the background along with some of the more random sounds sound a little more like pitch. Overall I still think it's a good piece.
Hayley's abstract pitch file works really well there's clearly a a range of different pitches and tones and the variety of timber is also very effective. The piece may use ordered language but I think the ways in which the language is manipulated works as it becomes very abstract. The end of the piece seems a little too different from the beginning of the piece and it could use something to relate it back to the beginning. The idea of adding an extra "you can't do the switch" at the end, which was mentioned in class, might be a good idea.
Saturday, February 24, 2007
Friday, February 23, 2007
3 Things I Learned In Class 2/23/2007
1. I learned how certain aspects of a sound art piece like pauses, timing, transitioning and variety can really contribute to what makes a sound piece interesting to the listener. I'll definitely make an effort to pay extra attention to these things in my next assignment.
2. I learned that the ways in which sounds are manipulated can really create an emotional impact for the listener, certain sounds can be used in a way that makes them humorous or frightening and a number of other various emotions simply because of the ways in which the pitch, tone, etc. were manipulated.
3. I learned how to take a concept and develop it in a quick and efficient way with the help of other people. I usually like to brainstorm on my own and then have other people give me feedback, but having other people help me brainstorm ideas for this next assignment was very effective today.
2. I learned that the ways in which sounds are manipulated can really create an emotional impact for the listener, certain sounds can be used in a way that makes them humorous or frightening and a number of other various emotions simply because of the ways in which the pitch, tone, etc. were manipulated.
3. I learned how to take a concept and develop it in a quick and efficient way with the help of other people. I usually like to brainstorm on my own and then have other people give me feedback, but having other people help me brainstorm ideas for this next assignment was very effective today.
Sunday, February 11, 2007
Into The Zone
What does it mean to be in the “zone”?
I think being in the zone means to be in a mental state of complete focus and concentration, that enables you to perform physical tasks to the best of you're ability despite any sort of fatigue.
When have you been in the “zone”?
I guess I've been in the zone a few times during both cross country and track meets, I just got to the point where I felt as though I was able to run faster and all the fatigue that I had been feeling just seemed to pass. I think I've been in the zone a few other times when playing sports recreationally but it's hard to remember specific times.
What exactly enabled you to get into the “zone”? Please be specific.
I'm not really sure, usually before I compete I listen to music and sometimes while I'm in the middle of competing I get this sort of beat in my head that get's me into this sort of physical rhythm and I just start to relax and focus on what I'm doing and block out everything else.
How could learning about methods or tactics for getting into the “zone” help you with your Research Sound project?
I don't know maybe I could study the songs I used to listen to to prepare myself for competitions and see if I could put together some sort of compilation that has a similar feeling or effect that the songs had.
I think being in the zone means to be in a mental state of complete focus and concentration, that enables you to perform physical tasks to the best of you're ability despite any sort of fatigue.
When have you been in the “zone”?
I guess I've been in the zone a few times during both cross country and track meets, I just got to the point where I felt as though I was able to run faster and all the fatigue that I had been feeling just seemed to pass. I think I've been in the zone a few other times when playing sports recreationally but it's hard to remember specific times.
What exactly enabled you to get into the “zone”? Please be specific.
I'm not really sure, usually before I compete I listen to music and sometimes while I'm in the middle of competing I get this sort of beat in my head that get's me into this sort of physical rhythm and I just start to relax and focus on what I'm doing and block out everything else.
How could learning about methods or tactics for getting into the “zone” help you with your Research Sound project?
I don't know maybe I could study the songs I used to listen to to prepare myself for competitions and see if I could put together some sort of compilation that has a similar feeling or effect that the songs had.
Friday, February 9, 2007
3 Things I Learned In Class 2/9/2007
1. I learned how to observe and listen carefully to representational sounds and use those observations to make conclusions about what the sound is and where it is in relation to the space it occupies. This will help me improve my representational sound composition.
2. I learned how to listen to abstract sounds and comment on them using terminology like pitch, timber, tone, tempo, etc. I got a better understanding of what all these terms mean as well.
3. I learned how to take normal sounds and alter them in ways that make them sound entirely abstract, using Sound Studio. I altered the sounds by changing the pitch, tempo, amplitude and volume.
2. I learned how to listen to abstract sounds and comment on them using terminology like pitch, timber, tone, tempo, etc. I got a better understanding of what all these terms mean as well.
3. I learned how to take normal sounds and alter them in ways that make them sound entirely abstract, using Sound Studio. I altered the sounds by changing the pitch, tempo, amplitude and volume.
Response to Abstract Sound
Assign2_aroskopf
This example has a clear sense of rhythm, and it's all very sequential as there's really only one series of sounds being used in a continuous loop, the way in which the pitch is changed adds a lot of variety to the sounds though. There's a series of three sounds being used here including something like a gurgling water sound a brushing shh sound and a very animated cartoon like laugh all being used in that sequence, so it seems fairly simple but the way in which the pitch and tempo of the sounds being played back changes really makes the piece. The The three sounds work together fairly well despite a clear difference in timber and there's no real emphasis on any single sound which I think is good being as there are only three sounds being used.
This example has a clear sense of rhythm, and it's all very sequential as there's really only one series of sounds being used in a continuous loop, the way in which the pitch is changed adds a lot of variety to the sounds though. There's a series of three sounds being used here including something like a gurgling water sound a brushing shh sound and a very animated cartoon like laugh all being used in that sequence, so it seems fairly simple but the way in which the pitch and tempo of the sounds being played back changes really makes the piece. The The three sounds work together fairly well despite a clear difference in timber and there's no real emphasis on any single sound which I think is good being as there are only three sounds being used.
Saturday, February 3, 2007
Response to The Art of Noises and John Cage Questions
The Art of Noises
1. How do you think Russolo would feel in a world without simultaneous sound? Explain your answer based upon what you have learned about Russolo’s philosophies of sound from this article.
Russolo would probably be happy in a world with simultaneous sound, but then again he would probably argue that we're already living in a world with simultaneous sound. There is a difference between sound and noise though and I think Russolo might be even happier in a world with simultanesous noise being as he described the sounds of war as an "orchestra" of noise, then again if there were simultaneous noise I guess it would eventually lose it's effect and uniqueness.
2. Does Russolo value “noise”? Do you value it? Why or why not?
Yes he does, I guess I do sometimes but not nearly to the extent that Russolo does, I guess I do just because there are some noises that just have a sort of nostalgic quality that I appreciate.
3. What is the role of noise in the media you enjoy? (games; films; radio; news; music)
Well... noise, especially ambient noise, in films and video games gives the media a greater sense of realism that you just couldn't get without it. As far as radio, news & music I don't really think noise plays that large a role, radio stations and music occasionally use sound effects but I wouldn't say the noises are essential and news is more dependent on the information that is being provided not the noises.
4. What do Cage and Russolo have in common?
Both Cage and Russolo clearly have a strong appretiation for sounds and/or noises, Cage seemed to have a more active role in contributing to the art of noise, but Russolo was most likely a great influence and motivator for musicians like Cage.
John Cage
1. Can you imagine a current day performance that would attune people to their surroundings with a similar effect?
The only thing I can think of is concerts in different locations or a CD that just records the ambient sounds of different locations like city streets, a shopping mall, the highway, etc.
2. Do you think John Cage ripped off his audience, or provided them with something profound? Or do you have a different opinion entirely?
I think it depends, if he charged a large ammount of money for tickets then I would probably say he ripped them off, but I guess he ripped them off and provided them with something profound at the same time.
3. Explain your answer to question 2.
Cage may have provided his audience with something profound but the fact that he litterally did nothing and pretty much had the audience do all the work doesn't seem like something that he should be paid for. It would also be very easy to misunderstand the whole point of the performance without some sort of explaination and from what I've hearned he didn't provide that after the performance.
1. How do you think Russolo would feel in a world without simultaneous sound? Explain your answer based upon what you have learned about Russolo’s philosophies of sound from this article.
Russolo would probably be happy in a world with simultaneous sound, but then again he would probably argue that we're already living in a world with simultaneous sound. There is a difference between sound and noise though and I think Russolo might be even happier in a world with simultanesous noise being as he described the sounds of war as an "orchestra" of noise, then again if there were simultaneous noise I guess it would eventually lose it's effect and uniqueness.
2. Does Russolo value “noise”? Do you value it? Why or why not?
Yes he does, I guess I do sometimes but not nearly to the extent that Russolo does, I guess I do just because there are some noises that just have a sort of nostalgic quality that I appreciate.
3. What is the role of noise in the media you enjoy? (games; films; radio; news; music)
Well... noise, especially ambient noise, in films and video games gives the media a greater sense of realism that you just couldn't get without it. As far as radio, news & music I don't really think noise plays that large a role, radio stations and music occasionally use sound effects but I wouldn't say the noises are essential and news is more dependent on the information that is being provided not the noises.
4. What do Cage and Russolo have in common?
Both Cage and Russolo clearly have a strong appretiation for sounds and/or noises, Cage seemed to have a more active role in contributing to the art of noise, but Russolo was most likely a great influence and motivator for musicians like Cage.
John Cage
1. Can you imagine a current day performance that would attune people to their surroundings with a similar effect?
The only thing I can think of is concerts in different locations or a CD that just records the ambient sounds of different locations like city streets, a shopping mall, the highway, etc.
2. Do you think John Cage ripped off his audience, or provided them with something profound? Or do you have a different opinion entirely?
I think it depends, if he charged a large ammount of money for tickets then I would probably say he ripped them off, but I guess he ripped them off and provided them with something profound at the same time.
3. Explain your answer to question 2.
Cage may have provided his audience with something profound but the fact that he litterally did nothing and pretty much had the audience do all the work doesn't seem like something that he should be paid for. It would also be very easy to misunderstand the whole point of the performance without some sort of explaination and from what I've hearned he didn't provide that after the performance.
Friday, February 2, 2007
3 Things I Learned In Class 2/2/2007
1. I learned how to take recorded sounds and edit them using Sound Studio, I'm not completely comfortable using it right now but I think I could get used to it.
2. I learned how to compile the representational sounds I collected using the recorder and compile them into a single audio composition. Unfortunately there was some sort of distortion when I tried to reload it after exiting Sound Studio, so I'll probably have to redo the work I did in class during studio hours.
3. I learned how to convert mp3 audio files into AIFF files... the long way, I'll have to remember to convert them when I burn the CD next time.
2. I learned how to compile the representational sounds I collected using the recorder and compile them into a single audio composition. Unfortunately there was some sort of distortion when I tried to reload it after exiting Sound Studio, so I'll probably have to redo the work I did in class during studio hours.
3. I learned how to convert mp3 audio files into AIFF files... the long way, I'll have to remember to convert them when I burn the CD next time.
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