Monday, November 20, 2006

What's In the Stew?

My Audio Arts Major Project is in the Stew ... woohoo



Many of you know the story behind my major project, but I will relay it again. In consultation with Ashley, it was decided that I would basically restart my project with a new film with four days until the due date. The new film is Spring Romance made by Becky Zhang and it is great. Ashley was doing the sound for it and had worked with the movie maker in making it longer. Thus, it is approximately 4 minutes long.

Without the pressures of time this movie would have been a lot of fun to work on. I did not initially realise how humorous it could become. My friends who came in and did voices added a whole new dimension. I express gratitude to Poppi for doing the voice of the flower at the last minute and I hope you enjoy hearing yourself in the movie.

Here is an excerpt from my documentation:


A number of key areas were identified as main focuses, given the short period of time to complete. These include the music track, vocalisations/voices, the bashing of the can scene. Successfully creating these elements along with the right atmospheres and effects would bring the movie together.

In starting, I attempted to source as many effects as possible. A number of these were provided by Ashley, but it was important to produce as many of my own files as possible. Recording the grass sounds and bashing sounds helped this scenario. The bashing sounds were originally recorded with a shovel hitting a tin, but this was updated by bashing two music stands together. The sound was much fuller and when I do a 5.1mix will sound fantastic when sent to the sub.

Creating appropriate music tracks in a short space of time (about 2 hours) was going to be challenging. It was challenging and they were rushed, but the bass guitar (played by me) and the piano (played by Robert Ellinger) worked surprisingly well. Combining the music with the vocalisations brought the film to life. Various sound effects like the sheep, grass munching, cow poo, and windmill are highlights, whilst the door and watering need more work.

Due to the short period of time to complete this film, the mix is stereo only. I will come back and complete a 5.1mix for my own benefit at a later point. An audio commentary is also planned. ‘Spring Romance’ would have been a fun movie to work on without the time pressures, but the sound works, and I like the reintroduction of the music in the credits. At some point I do wish for the credits to be updated, and a bonus track may be added.

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I hope that the credits will be updated, as it says Ashley Klose is the musician. One last thing I wish to say and it may horrify some is the location and nature of the tin bashing. In between the Steinway grand piano and a Neumann U87, a tin was repeatedly struck and smashed by a shovel-wielding friend for foley/sound effects. Unfortunately these sounds were not used, but were fun to make/record. The replacement sounds were not as vicious, but were better suiting.

The "Stew" is complete. Everything is in there. I hope the tasters give full marks/compliments to the cook.

Albums that made this blog possible:
7-10 Split by 7-10 Split

If you look carefully through out all the entries you may get a good indication of my favourite bands/albums or who I was enjoying at the time.


Chunky Stew

Creative Computing Minor Project
- What is OKI?

It took awhile, but my Creative Computing project is now blogged.



The following is an excerpt from my program note:

What is OKI? was built with the procedural programming language SuperCollider and is a real time composition. It combines noise with chaos, but uses the electric bass guitar. A psychedelic atmosphere is produced and desired. Some inspirations include Pink Floyd, Quicksilver Messenger Service, and the song 'Ultramarine' by Michael Brook from the soundtrack to the motion picture Heat.

What is OKI? incorporates methods such as granulation (automatic and manual, breakbeat cutting (created by Nick Collins), and streaming and processing live audio (from the bass guitar). It was a challenge to play and improvise on the bass and manipulate the code into a continuous, contrasting and dynamic composition.

The use of the bass guitar results in a work that is more lovable than it is professional. However, it is good and fun that the work can never be reproduced the same. The use of the bass guitar is based on a tempo of around 120 crotchet beats, but is not synchronised with the granulation that occurs.

The title What is OKI? is possibly obscure, but is appropriate.

The bass guitar is processed in the same way that it was for the Improvisation performances. I really liked the delay that the breakbeat cutting created, and it also gave a very clean tone to my bass. Maybe I should investigate this further, and not have to cart my bass amp around with me as much.

I think the Improvisations went well, but I was kind of distracted by the issues that were surrounding my major project at that point in time.

By the way, feel free to try and work out what my title means. Some people may know if they are observant...

Albums that made this blog possible:
The Band Geek Mafia by the Voodoo Glow Skulls