A couple of nice animated videos to sound that I have researched into and looked at.
Although this animation was done on After Effects, it really liked the simplicity of just using shapes to represent each layer of sound in the music being played. The colours are nice and vivid and the shapes move exactly to the music. I particularly like the build up and fade out of the music, which is then shown by the shapes and visual too.
The animation below is very different, and perhaps does not exactly animate perfectly with the sound, however there are some interesting elements in it, which I enjoyed. The use of scribbled drawings which kept on evolving into different objects to the music was great, and I also found the way a story was told made the piece entertaining. The change in music was shown visually with changes in colour too, with fast being reds and pinks and slower music having dark blues - this did seem to work nicely.
Monday, 28 January 2013
Monday, 21 January 2013
Flash Example
http://www.flashvault.net/tutorial.asp?ID=122
I have chosen to try and recreate a war scene - which is what I visualise from the soundscape I have been given. The tutorial above is what I have begun with, in order to give the piece a sense of depth, however, I do feel what I have created looks a bit too crude and amateur. I am going to try with real images from the internet next, to try and improve my flash skills.
I have chosen to try and recreate a war scene - which is what I visualise from the soundscape I have been given. The tutorial above is what I have begun with, in order to give the piece a sense of depth, however, I do feel what I have created looks a bit too crude and amateur. I am going to try with real images from the internet next, to try and improve my flash skills.
Monday, 14 January 2013
War Machine Improvements
After deciding whether to change the Soundscape completely, or start a new one with a very different take on War Machine, I have opted to enhance the current piece.
I felt that the Soundscape needed perhaps a little more to give the impression of a giant machine being built for war. With this in mind, I used the other sounds from tools that were not used in the previous one and added a few more.
The bleeping added gives a very electronic and modern effect, while more bangs and clangs gives a great visual of the power of the imagined machine. I have also changed the gunshot to just one large bang, and made some other slight changes. The piece now has much more depth and will allow listeners to gather a better visual image from the sounds.
War Machine 2
If I were to do this again, with more time and equipment, I would be looking to create a war horse - perhaps with sounds of horse hooves, swords clanging and the smashing of shields. I did attempt to record some of these sounds, however with they seemed unrealistic and didn't seem to fit as well with the theme I first imagined when I chose it.
I also have ideas to perhaps create different sounds to show the machine as a plane or boat. It is just proving difficult to use primary recorded sounds for sounds needed to illustrate such ideas.
I felt that the Soundscape needed perhaps a little more to give the impression of a giant machine being built for war. With this in mind, I used the other sounds from tools that were not used in the previous one and added a few more.
The bleeping added gives a very electronic and modern effect, while more bangs and clangs gives a great visual of the power of the imagined machine. I have also changed the gunshot to just one large bang, and made some other slight changes. The piece now has much more depth and will allow listeners to gather a better visual image from the sounds.
War Machine 2
If I were to do this again, with more time and equipment, I would be looking to create a war horse - perhaps with sounds of horse hooves, swords clanging and the smashing of shields. I did attempt to record some of these sounds, however with they seemed unrealistic and didn't seem to fit as well with the theme I first imagined when I chose it.
I also have ideas to perhaps create different sounds to show the machine as a plane or boat. It is just proving difficult to use primary recorded sounds for sounds needed to illustrate such ideas.
Empty Spaces Improved
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| How I created dripping sound effects |
Instead I have opted for adding two adjustments, which I think create a more visual idea of what the Soundscape is trying to show. I recorded drops of water in the shower, which I feel is associated with a barren, abandoned house or room. The drops are placed randomly - as I felt it was too fake if I put each drip at a certain time.
Another idea of mine was to use an echo of some sort. I have chosen a voice of "Hello" as an echo, however I'm not sure if it enhances or ruins the mixture of sounds. There is no part of the brief that say's spoken noises/words are not allowed, but I'm yet to decide if it is worthwhile to add it in or not. I will put it to the class in the next feedback session.
Empty Spaces 2
Tuesday, 8 January 2013
Soundscape Feedback
Empty Spaces
Empty Spaces is perhaps the most minimalistic of all of the soundscapes I have created. The reaction was good, with many finding the sound's eerie and visualising an abandoned house when listening. However there was concern on how visuals could be constructed from the sounds. It was decided that the track would need some more depth and different sounds in order for someone else to be able to use Java/ActionScript/Flash to create visuals.
Intense
The Intense Soundscape was well received by others, with many liking the build up speed of the sound over the course of the ten seconds. The idea of having sounds coming from different angles which were very 'in your face' were also liked.
War Machine
Intense
War Machine
My favourite of the three, War Machine, was also enjoyed by the group. I had successfully visualised a 'machine' and added gunshot sound effects which they understood to be the 'war' part. The main point for feedback for this is the fact that moving visuals could be constructed easily with this soundscape.
After a successful crit, it was then considered that the soundscapes were too obvious and needed to be more playful. For example, did 'War Machine' have to be a mechanical machine. Could an idea of humans being the machine at war - as it used to be back in the past wars. The sounds could be from a different perspective - perhaps from the terror of the people at the other end of the war machine. It was the likes of these thought processes, that are considered 'outside the box', that needed to be created.
Finally, it was suggested that we looked at E4 Estings, which are a selection of 10 second moving visuals with sounds, that are played between adverts on the E4 channel. It should give me a greater idea of the things we can achieve when producing visuals for the soundscapes.
Sunday, 6 January 2013
Chosen Soundscapes
1) Empty Spaces
I went for a dark and minimalistic feel when creating this short soundscape. The visualisation I had of this word, was an old, empty creepy house or room.
I used a keyboard and changed the tone to synths, which allowed for deep, rumbling notes, which I felt related to the "Empty Rooms" mysteriousness. I decided on not using many notes, in order to give the listener an idea that there is not much going on. I create echoes with one of the sounds, using Audacity, which i felt highlighted the fact that this space/room was large and deserted.
I finally came around to adding in sound effects, found on the web, to strengthen the soundscape created. The choice of creaking floorboards, squeaking doors and wind whistling was suitable for what I wanted the listener to visualise.
Below are some of the sound effects I addded.
2) Intense
For this word, I initially had an idea of a heart beat gradually getting faster as an experience got more intense and thrilling.
I chose to use the keyboard yet again, however the choice of tone was completely different. Throughout the soundscape I use a variety of pre-set drum sounds. For the heart beating effect I chose to use the bass drum and personally do a double beat getting quicker for ten seconds. I also felt it necessary to add a deeper note from a normal piano tone, in order to give the soundscape a bit more depth. I then sped up this tone when it was repeated each time after.
After this crashing cymbals, shaking maracas and repetitive tapping was then added, all using the pre recorded sounds on the keyboard.
In my opinion I do feel the soundscape can be related to the word "intense", however I do think that it is a bit untuneful and harsh on the listeners ears. In response, I think that it's 'in your face' nature of the sounds are a fair reflection of the word.
3) War Machine
Initial ideas for this word was to create an electronic sound scape, with a range of noises that could be associated with a "machine" of some sort. The ideas of metal grinding, cogs moving and hydraulic sound effects first came to mind. The idea of noises the Transformers made, from the film's, were also a good starting point.
To create most of my sounds I used DIY tools that were found in my garden shed. I recorded the drill and metal spanners clashing together. After creating a few sound effects using these tools, I began to add a long deep note in the background - as this had worked well with the other soundscapes I had created. Using one note, I played around with Audacity and came across the "Paulstretch" effect, which elongated the sound, but kept the volume at a good level.
Finally, some Youtube sound effects were added, as I couldn't record a chainsaw or a gunshot as primary sounds.
I went for a dark and minimalistic feel when creating this short soundscape. The visualisation I had of this word, was an old, empty creepy house or room.
I used a keyboard and changed the tone to synths, which allowed for deep, rumbling notes, which I felt related to the "Empty Rooms" mysteriousness. I decided on not using many notes, in order to give the listener an idea that there is not much going on. I create echoes with one of the sounds, using Audacity, which i felt highlighted the fact that this space/room was large and deserted.
I finally came around to adding in sound effects, found on the web, to strengthen the soundscape created. The choice of creaking floorboards, squeaking doors and wind whistling was suitable for what I wanted the listener to visualise.
Below are some of the sound effects I addded.
2) Intense
For this word, I initially had an idea of a heart beat gradually getting faster as an experience got more intense and thrilling.
I chose to use the keyboard yet again, however the choice of tone was completely different. Throughout the soundscape I use a variety of pre-set drum sounds. For the heart beating effect I chose to use the bass drum and personally do a double beat getting quicker for ten seconds. I also felt it necessary to add a deeper note from a normal piano tone, in order to give the soundscape a bit more depth. I then sped up this tone when it was repeated each time after.
After this crashing cymbals, shaking maracas and repetitive tapping was then added, all using the pre recorded sounds on the keyboard.
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3) War Machine
Initial ideas for this word was to create an electronic sound scape, with a range of noises that could be associated with a "machine" of some sort. The ideas of metal grinding, cogs moving and hydraulic sound effects first came to mind. The idea of noises the Transformers made, from the film's, were also a good starting point.
Finally, some Youtube sound effects were added, as I couldn't record a chainsaw or a gunshot as primary sounds.
Wednesday, 2 January 2013
Soundscape Examples
Vladimir Hirsch
http://www.last.fm/music/Vladim%C3%ADr+Hirsch
Hirsch is a composer, instrumentalist and sound alchemist who worked with dark, ambient and classical music. Although his sounds/music is much longer than my 10 second brieft, the sounds give great meaning and emotion throughout, which is what I need to create in mine.
Beach
This soundscape found on Youtube, is much more like the one I have been assinged to create. The soundscape is much shorter and portrays just one word - "Beach". The composer has used associative sounds such as waves crashing and seagulls squaking as well as a light melodic tune using a piano near the end. When not looking at the visuals on the video, it certainly does its job in creating a personal response to the sounds we hear.
City
This is another simple soundscape which uses recorded sounds from the city, and merges them together to create a very nice visual of an industrial town/city. I could easily use recorded sounds from the city, rather than me creating sounds using my own instruments, and then edit them on some sound software such as Audacity.
Alio Die
http://www.last.fm/music/Alio+Die
Alio Die is a much more electronic and acoustic artist and soundscape producer than the likes of Hirsch above. The pieces he creates a more ambient and minimalistic, with the use of softer sounds rather than orchestral. The use of these sounds give a sense of relaxation and dreaminess, which allows our mind to rest and visualise what these sounds mean.
http://www.last.fm/music/Vladim%C3%ADr+Hirsch
Hirsch is a composer, instrumentalist and sound alchemist who worked with dark, ambient and classical music. Although his sounds/music is much longer than my 10 second brieft, the sounds give great meaning and emotion throughout, which is what I need to create in mine.
Beach
This soundscape found on Youtube, is much more like the one I have been assinged to create. The soundscape is much shorter and portrays just one word - "Beach". The composer has used associative sounds such as waves crashing and seagulls squaking as well as a light melodic tune using a piano near the end. When not looking at the visuals on the video, it certainly does its job in creating a personal response to the sounds we hear.
City
This is another simple soundscape which uses recorded sounds from the city, and merges them together to create a very nice visual of an industrial town/city. I could easily use recorded sounds from the city, rather than me creating sounds using my own instruments, and then edit them on some sound software such as Audacity.
Alio Die
http://www.last.fm/music/Alio+Die
Alio Die is a much more electronic and acoustic artist and soundscape producer than the likes of Hirsch above. The pieces he creates a more ambient and minimalistic, with the use of softer sounds rather than orchestral. The use of these sounds give a sense of relaxation and dreaminess, which allows our mind to rest and visualise what these sounds mean.
Soundscape Project
What is a Soundscape?
"A soundscape is a sound or combination of sounds that forms or arises from an immersive environment."
"The term "soundscape" can also refer to an audio recording or performance of sounds that create the sensation of experiencing a particular acoustic environment, or compositions created using the found sounds of an acoustic environment, either exclusively or in conjunction with musical performances"
www.wikipedia.org/soundscape
"The word "soundscape" was coined by composer R. Murray Schafer to identify sounds that "describe a place, a sonic identity, a sonic memory, but always a sound that is pertinent to a place" (Wagstaff, G. 2000)."
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