Project #4: Five Track Mix (chance)

For my chance mix I reverted back to the original five track mix rather than using the controlled mix. For my chance element I chose to use a simple die. For each track I would roll the die and whatever number it landed on I would scroll down that many on the effects list in GarageBand and choose that effect. I'd roll again and scroll down from the previous effect I'd selected. A simple yet effective method in choosing random effects. I left the volume on each track at their original setting, and now I sort of wish I had done a little more manipulation with that. All in all though, I'd say that the chance mix turned out interesting.

Project #4: Five Track Mix (controlled)

For the second portion of the fourth project we were to take our five track mix's and create two separate mixes. The first was a controlled mix where we could consciously choose how to manipulate each track with effects and volume. The process I used was muting every track except one and finding an effect for that track that I thought sounded interesting, muting that track, moving on to the next, and so on. Once I had found an interesting effect for each track I adjusted each tracks volume to a level I thought appropriate. The end result was something I found rather interesting, a sort of ambient mesh of echoing sounds that make me imagine being underwater or semi-unconscious.

Project #4: Five Track Mix (no effects)

Our fourth project consisted of combining the audio of all previous projects done thus far. This five track mix is compiled of my tape loop self-portrait, a loop of my homemade instrument being played, my spoken word self-portrait, the Van Halen tape loop, and the Fantasia vinyl loop. There are no added effects, that is for later in the project.

Fantasia Vinyl Loop

For this project we were to create a short loop from a vinyl record playing using a homemade record player. This player consisted of some tape, a chop stick, a small nail, and an empty yogurt container. All in all, this project was fun and challenging. I enjoyed learning how to make a record player; however, trying to get consistent sound out of it was rather difficult. I chose the Fantasia vinyl from the local Salvation Army because, again, it was one that I thought would make good use in an experimental sound class. I wasn't able to get the best audio for this project, but found the project interesting in of itself.

Van Halen Tape Loop

For this assignment we were to take apart an old tape, cut it up, and create a short tape loop from a randomly selected portion of the tape. I used Van Halen's 5150 tape because while searching at the local Salvation Army it was the only one that caught my eye. I enjoyed the process of taking the tape apart and putting it back together (something I've enjoyed doing since I was a kid), and it got me thinking of different kinds of projects that I could do with sound and tapes.

Project #3: Spoken Word Self-Portrait

For our third project we to consider our voices as instruments and create a spoken word self-portrait. As soon as this project was assigned I began to write things down in my notebook about who I thought I was and things people may not know about me without really getting to know me. This was the best way I could think to create a spoken word self-portrait.

Project #2: Build an Instrument

For the second project we were to continue with the idea of "found sound" by creating our own home-made musical instruments. After some research online of home-made instruments that other people had made, I came to the conclusion that a drum would probably be the easiest and least time-consuming instrument to make (although I considered making some sort of guitar as well). I gathered some materials I thought would work well in making a drum, (some stove-top burner liners, metal hangers, strong sticky paper, and some key ring accessories for additional flare) and started hot-gluing it all together. In the end, I was satisfied with the way my instrument had turned out, and yet again demonstrated my obsession with planning and order.

Project #1: Tape Loop Self-Portrait

For our first project we were to use an endless tape loop (mine is about 20 sec.) and portable tape recorder to record "found sound" that was familiar to our everyday experiences. These sounds were to serve as an audio self-portrait. For my recording I planned out several sounds that I knew I heard every day and I felt represented me well. I recorded them exactly at the point I wanted to for the exact amount of time I had planned. In doing so, although I did not realize at the time, it also provided an image of how obsessed I am with things being planned and in order. I began to realize this once we shared our loops in class and heard the complete randomness of some of the other students. So, in a sense, this project is a self-portrait in two different ways.