The tests have been complete and the draft dissertation submitted so what I would like to do here is a bit of reflective writing and go into more detail on what I did over the last 4 months.
To begin, what is in the Blog is not a full disclosure of what actually happened, just a condensed version for people to see progress.
The choosing of the film took many weeks and it was only after the 9th week of term that I had agreed on the topic to do the project on - I originally started with spiders and motion sensors for games controllers trying to create new and improved game mechanics. Once I had the film - Urban Abstract - I began to ponder just how to design it sonically, I chose this because of many factors, one; it was a completely CG piece, two; it had universal relavence to what was happening today, three; it had a lot of rain aspects which I have often pondered about in relation to the mothers "Shh" when she tries to calm her baby seeming similar to the rain noise which relaxes me.
The start of the project My initial methodology of working was to collect samples, keeping in mind the design I had already portrayed in my cue sheet that was submitted last term. I initially wanted real world sounds to build a base from so, cars and streets where my first point of call, this would become the minimalist foundation forthe films. The ideas was to create films in line with previous films of minimalist, realist and hyperrealist styles.
I sampled areas from Dundee st in Edinburgh as well as the dual carriageway in Dundee to get my samples - for the bike however I acquired that online. The results where applicable at first but there was something missing, so I began taking recordings of ambiance in the Overgate shopping centre and also train stations which made the mix much more diverse.
The rain which is the big key feature in this project was difficult to get as it was not particularly that type of weather but I did manage to sample from whitespace when the rain cascaded down the open hole and it hit the polythene which was perfect as the impacts where clearly recorded.
On my frequent trips to Edinburgh and recording all the way I also caught the chance of a downpour and recorded pipes that water spilled out of, the cars again but with obviously splashing of the tyres as they rolled on the wet road which was not used a lot in the end because at the points of rain there was no need for the sound of cars are can be heard when watching the film.
however it was used at one point where it seemed to create a nice transition landscape to rain while still holding the illusion of urban ism. I pause only now to mention that every recording I did was with my Tascam DR-07 as I wanted continuity about my work except from the sourced material which could not be helped.
Continuing my search for the base for the minimalist film which is how I wanted to create it minimalist to hyper realism and using each previous sound layer in the preceding one. In doing this I maintain my argument of incrementing sound effects. Once I had the ambiance I now turned my skills to making synthesised Ambiance which were constructed by manipulating all my previous project recordings and synthesised samples that I made.
This took nearly as long to do as the hunt for all the ambiance as the scope of what I wanted to hear the film sound like and what actually happened because of random experimentation was vast. the details of such experiments are too many to explain but suffice to say reversing samples with EQ cuts and filters made the most interesting sound that were not too over processed.
As this was going on I went into researching traditional methods of recording and creating sound effects and seeing the contemporary ways - my feelings on this is that there is not a distinct line between the two but if I had to choose I would say the musique concrete movement would be the turning point from where sound design was no longer about recording what the object you wanted as sound for, but more of finding smoothing that sounded similar from other material.
This research piece was very interesting finding out the history and methodology of sound designers and what caught my eye, which i have found very true, is that most say the best sounds come from accidents and to always experiment.
that is all for today on this Honours Project reflection.
Friday, 30 April 2010
Tuesday, 27 April 2010
Week 16
End of Week 16
# What was your plan for this week?
Perform final test, complete degree shwo plinth and continue on dissertation
# What did you actually do this week?
I did exactly what I set out to do and also reviewed the video data on the test subjects
# If there are any differences between items 1 & 2, please explain why.
none
# What worked well this week?
Everythign worked well this week and lots of plans came together finally. The plinth is finished but in terms of the design i am still nervous about it as some of it seems 'tacky' - I will confer with my supervisor.
Also the testing went really well
# What did not work so well this week?
some bits of the test could have been better, one subject was ill and therfore had an unusual test result and also the film jittered a little. Aside from that nothign else seemed to go terribly wrong.
# What have you learned this week?
that for one of my intended projects " can audio accompanyment change the perception of a painting/image" could have been done IF I had painted the images myself which Kenny failed to mention when I was discussing options.
# Describe all the items that have been added to your portfolio this week?
6 video recordings of the testers + questionaires, images of the plinth in making and the dissertation update
# Do you have any other comments to make?
I recently entered the Eighth International Competition for Composers so wish me luck :) and also Im having a really nice day today - note to self 27/4 - good day.
Hope to have completed the dissertation draft by friday so I can bring it to the supervisor meeting and give him a hard copy to read on the train.
Also here is the plinth images:
# What was your plan for this week?
Perform final test, complete degree shwo plinth and continue on dissertation
# What did you actually do this week?
I did exactly what I set out to do and also reviewed the video data on the test subjects
# If there are any differences between items 1 & 2, please explain why.
none
# What worked well this week?
Everythign worked well this week and lots of plans came together finally. The plinth is finished but in terms of the design i am still nervous about it as some of it seems 'tacky' - I will confer with my supervisor.
Also the testing went really well
# What did not work so well this week?
some bits of the test could have been better, one subject was ill and therfore had an unusual test result and also the film jittered a little. Aside from that nothign else seemed to go terribly wrong.
# What have you learned this week?
that for one of my intended projects " can audio accompanyment change the perception of a painting/image" could have been done IF I had painted the images myself which Kenny failed to mention when I was discussing options.
# Describe all the items that have been added to your portfolio this week?
6 video recordings of the testers + questionaires, images of the plinth in making and the dissertation update
# Do you have any other comments to make?
I recently entered the Eighth International Competition for Composers so wish me luck :) and also Im having a really nice day today - note to self 27/4 - good day.
Hope to have completed the dissertation draft by friday so I can bring it to the supervisor meeting and give him a hard copy to read on the train.
Also here is the plinth images:
Monday, 19 April 2010
Week 15
End of Week 15
# What was your plan for this week?
Continue dissertation, create and paint mock up plinth and to assess new testing parameters
# What did you actually do this week?
Created a design for the plinth which has been cut up and now painted black, new testing is going to be at whitespace with a few confirmed members on next Wednesday. Dissertation continues as normal.
# If there are any differences between items 1 & 2, please explain why.
no deviations except I expected to be writing evaluations by now from the collected data which I am in a small way but it is not complete yet. Due to unforeseen circumstances I have had to keep pushing my evaluations back and keep re testing the material and my testing methods.
# What worked well this week?
The plinth for the end of year showcase is looking better now that I can actually see it and hold it. the dissertation is also progressing smoothly and I foresee no problems with its completion in a few weeks.
Also during the creation of the submission for the show reel team ( my team ) I figured out how to use the best quality render of the film and my audio which vastly overshadows my present testing material and so have replaced it :)
# What did not work so well this week?
I was called away on a small emergency during the week in which I could not work on my project for a number of days.
# What have you learned this week?
That in the realms of music you really have to dig far back into the past to see real composition, as most of today's stuff seems piggybacked off of them. Invested in some classic composition Cd's and I am thoroughly enjoying it.
# Describe all the items that have been added to your portfolio this week?
New testing and final submission Films, Show reel submission, dissertation in the making and plinth ( though unable to hand in the actual object some images should suffice)
# Do you have any other comments to make?
Wet paint; is paint ever considered to be called paint more in one state than the other? water has 3 states although to argue water has one state - liquid, and is called steam in a gas state and ice in its frozen state.
So I ask why is paint still paint in both liquid applicable form and rendered solid state form? wet paint, dry paint, why not call one state paint and the other a new name?
Anyways, slightly off topic.
Why is churning out 1000's of songs made from 1000's of sample Cd's considered good composing? one, it shows a little idiocy on their part by not having the mind to think if the person needing that audio has the time to even listen to it all! and two is that composing at all or just beat slicing and drag and drop sequencing? and is that the real world, give the work to the guy who can put together the samples the fastest?
Do I dare look to see.
# What was your plan for this week?
Continue dissertation, create and paint mock up plinth and to assess new testing parameters
# What did you actually do this week?
Created a design for the plinth which has been cut up and now painted black, new testing is going to be at whitespace with a few confirmed members on next Wednesday. Dissertation continues as normal.
# If there are any differences between items 1 & 2, please explain why.
no deviations except I expected to be writing evaluations by now from the collected data which I am in a small way but it is not complete yet. Due to unforeseen circumstances I have had to keep pushing my evaluations back and keep re testing the material and my testing methods.
# What worked well this week?
The plinth for the end of year showcase is looking better now that I can actually see it and hold it. the dissertation is also progressing smoothly and I foresee no problems with its completion in a few weeks.
Also during the creation of the submission for the show reel team ( my team ) I figured out how to use the best quality render of the film and my audio which vastly overshadows my present testing material and so have replaced it :)
# What did not work so well this week?
I was called away on a small emergency during the week in which I could not work on my project for a number of days.
# What have you learned this week?
That in the realms of music you really have to dig far back into the past to see real composition, as most of today's stuff seems piggybacked off of them. Invested in some classic composition Cd's and I am thoroughly enjoying it.
# Describe all the items that have been added to your portfolio this week?
New testing and final submission Films, Show reel submission, dissertation in the making and plinth ( though unable to hand in the actual object some images should suffice)
# Do you have any other comments to make?
Wet paint; is paint ever considered to be called paint more in one state than the other? water has 3 states although to argue water has one state - liquid, and is called steam in a gas state and ice in its frozen state.
So I ask why is paint still paint in both liquid applicable form and rendered solid state form? wet paint, dry paint, why not call one state paint and the other a new name?
Anyways, slightly off topic.
Why is churning out 1000's of songs made from 1000's of sample Cd's considered good composing? one, it shows a little idiocy on their part by not having the mind to think if the person needing that audio has the time to even listen to it all! and two is that composing at all or just beat slicing and drag and drop sequencing? and is that the real world, give the work to the guy who can put together the samples the fastest?
Do I dare look to see.
Week 15
End of Week 15
# What was your plan for this week?
New plan: an extension of the old plan which is to continue to seek testing methods and to continue to test in the HMC. Start the dissertation, also to conclude evidence results of some of the previous tests.
# What did you actually do this week?
I did exactly that and also sketched up some plinth designs for the end of year showcase - which will be shown to Kieth; the DIY man for the job tomorrow
# If there are any differences between items 1 & 2, please explain why.
The only difference is the deviation from the original plan as I assumed students would be more co operative but just aren't, also in respect to B.2 and B.3 it was discovered that my task was far too broad and a project in its own as the variables discovered herein where too much to put into a simple diagram with only a few weeks research.
# What worked well this week?
the master students seem happy with the work I have done so far which helps me further my practice a little in sound design and composition. Also discussing ideas with the supervisor has helped me re affirm my own plans and aided in creating new ones for this project.
# What did not work so well this week?
Max/MSP/Jitter has been terrible this last week, today it took 2 hours to load on the computer and by that time I had to work on other projects, which does not boad well for my final piece shown at the Abertay Digital Showcase. The testing again went terrible as only 2 more people showed up for the test so one film was shown again which still leaves one untested and the other 2 vastly under tested.
# What have you learned this week?
To be where you want to be is to acknowledge that how to get there requires a clean slate, determination and understanding of how the way things are not what you think they are.
# Describe all the items that have been added to your portfolio this week?
2 more test results, draft essay in construction
# Do you have any other comments to make?
Audio design is sometimes taken for granted. It gets me fired up sometimes pretty badly and I hope for a better future within the industry, but I fear it will be disappointment.
# What was your plan for this week?
New plan: an extension of the old plan which is to continue to seek testing methods and to continue to test in the HMC. Start the dissertation, also to conclude evidence results of some of the previous tests.
# What did you actually do this week?
I did exactly that and also sketched up some plinth designs for the end of year showcase - which will be shown to Kieth; the DIY man for the job tomorrow
# If there are any differences between items 1 & 2, please explain why.
The only difference is the deviation from the original plan as I assumed students would be more co operative but just aren't, also in respect to B.2 and B.3 it was discovered that my task was far too broad and a project in its own as the variables discovered herein where too much to put into a simple diagram with only a few weeks research.
# What worked well this week?
the master students seem happy with the work I have done so far which helps me further my practice a little in sound design and composition. Also discussing ideas with the supervisor has helped me re affirm my own plans and aided in creating new ones for this project.
# What did not work so well this week?
Max/MSP/Jitter has been terrible this last week, today it took 2 hours to load on the computer and by that time I had to work on other projects, which does not boad well for my final piece shown at the Abertay Digital Showcase. The testing again went terrible as only 2 more people showed up for the test so one film was shown again which still leaves one untested and the other 2 vastly under tested.
# What have you learned this week?
To be where you want to be is to acknowledge that how to get there requires a clean slate, determination and understanding of how the way things are not what you think they are.
# Describe all the items that have been added to your portfolio this week?
2 more test results, draft essay in construction
# Do you have any other comments to make?
Audio design is sometimes taken for granted. It gets me fired up sometimes pretty badly and I hope for a better future within the industry, but I fear it will be disappointment.
Monday, 12 April 2010
Week 14
End of Week 14
# What was your plan for this week?
New plan: an extension of the old plan which is to continue to seek testing methods and to continue to test in the HMC. Start the dissertation, also to conclude evidence results of some of the previous tests.
# What did you actually do this week?
I did exactly that and also sketched up some plinth designs for the end of year showcase - which will be shown to Kieth; the DIY man for the job tomorrow
# If there are any differences between items 1 & 2, please explain why.
The only difference is the deviation from the original plan as I assumed students would be more co operative but just aren't, also in respect to B.2 and B.3 it was discovered that my task was far too broad and a project in its own as the variables discovered herein where too much to put into a simple diagram with only a few weeks research.
# What worked well this week?
the master students seem happy with the work I have done so far which helps me further my practice a little in sound design and composition. Also discussing ideas with the supervisor has helped me re affirm my own plans and aided in creating new ones for this project.
# What did not work so well this week?
Max/MSP/Jitter has been terrible this last week, today it took 2 hours to load on the computer and by that time I had to work on other projects, which does not boad well for my final piece shown at the Abertay Digital Showcase. The testing again went terrible as only 2 more people showed up for the test so one film was shown again which still leaves one untested and the other 2 vastly under tested.
# What have you learned this week?
To be where you want to be is to acknowledge that how to get there requires a clean slate, determination and understanding of how the way things are not what you think they are.
# Describe all the items that have been added to your portfolio this week?
2 more test results, draft essay in construction
# Do you have any other comments to make?
Audio design is sometimes taken for granted. It gets me fired up sometimes pretty badly and I hope for a better future within the industry, but I fear it will be disappointment.
# What was your plan for this week?
New plan: an extension of the old plan which is to continue to seek testing methods and to continue to test in the HMC. Start the dissertation, also to conclude evidence results of some of the previous tests.
# What did you actually do this week?
I did exactly that and also sketched up some plinth designs for the end of year showcase - which will be shown to Kieth; the DIY man for the job tomorrow
# If there are any differences between items 1 & 2, please explain why.
The only difference is the deviation from the original plan as I assumed students would be more co operative but just aren't, also in respect to B.2 and B.3 it was discovered that my task was far too broad and a project in its own as the variables discovered herein where too much to put into a simple diagram with only a few weeks research.
# What worked well this week?
the master students seem happy with the work I have done so far which helps me further my practice a little in sound design and composition. Also discussing ideas with the supervisor has helped me re affirm my own plans and aided in creating new ones for this project.
# What did not work so well this week?
Max/MSP/Jitter has been terrible this last week, today it took 2 hours to load on the computer and by that time I had to work on other projects, which does not boad well for my final piece shown at the Abertay Digital Showcase. The testing again went terrible as only 2 more people showed up for the test so one film was shown again which still leaves one untested and the other 2 vastly under tested.
# What have you learned this week?
To be where you want to be is to acknowledge that how to get there requires a clean slate, determination and understanding of how the way things are not what you think they are.
# Describe all the items that have been added to your portfolio this week?
2 more test results, draft essay in construction
# Do you have any other comments to make?
Audio design is sometimes taken for granted. It gets me fired up sometimes pretty badly and I hope for a better future within the industry, but I fear it will be disappointment.
Monday, 5 April 2010
Week 13
End of Week 13
# What was your plan for this week?
Prepare and execute secondary testing
# What did you actually do this week?
Completed one viewing of the 3 films with 2 candidates
# If there are any differences between items 1 & 2, please explain why.
Less people than expected turned up considering the extra networking done in preperation for the test but the test went ahead as much as I had any control of it.
# What worked well this week?
While waiting for test subjects to appear I read half of the walter murch book which had some interesting tips on film screening and 1 very interesting little bit of info on sound and blink rate.
" Start a conversation with somebody and watch when they blink. I believe that you will find your listener will blink at the precise moment he or she 'gets' the idea of what you are saying. " Walter Murch
# What did not work so well this week?
Testing was unsubstantial to make a distictive analysis on any of the films.
# What have you learned this week?
Soemtimes what the university suggests isn't always the best approach.
# Describe all the items that have been added to your portfolio this week?
1 tape not captured, 2 completed questionaires and one note of testing with vocal response. Pearl - "that was...trippy" - will note other vocal reactions to the other films.
# Do you have any other comments to make?
E.3 has not been done and has hence moved until tomorrow - if this has not been achieved through no fault of my own another approach will be attained to attempt to fulfill this milestone.
I have enough time to allow this to a degree. My time scale has not changed just my goalposts and if it is not doable the test will end and the analysis will start.
# What was your plan for this week?
Prepare and execute secondary testing
# What did you actually do this week?
Completed one viewing of the 3 films with 2 candidates
# If there are any differences between items 1 & 2, please explain why.
Less people than expected turned up considering the extra networking done in preperation for the test but the test went ahead as much as I had any control of it.
# What worked well this week?
While waiting for test subjects to appear I read half of the walter murch book which had some interesting tips on film screening and 1 very interesting little bit of info on sound and blink rate.
" Start a conversation with somebody and watch when they blink. I believe that you will find your listener will blink at the precise moment he or she 'gets' the idea of what you are saying. " Walter Murch
# What did not work so well this week?
Testing was unsubstantial to make a distictive analysis on any of the films.
# What have you learned this week?
Soemtimes what the university suggests isn't always the best approach.
# Describe all the items that have been added to your portfolio this week?
1 tape not captured, 2 completed questionaires and one note of testing with vocal response. Pearl - "that was...trippy" - will note other vocal reactions to the other films.
# Do you have any other comments to make?
E.3 has not been done and has hence moved until tomorrow - if this has not been achieved through no fault of my own another approach will be attained to attempt to fulfill this milestone.
I have enough time to allow this to a degree. My time scale has not changed just my goalposts and if it is not doable the test will end and the analysis will start.
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