The English musician and author David Toop is recognized as an expert with the art of noise and sound. His life has been dedicated to the medium of music. He evaluated how sound is taken for granted, and the past discoveries from pioneers like Futurist Luigi Russolo and John Cage is proven proof that what humans pass off as unimportant ambiance in the world. A car engine raging down a street or a loud bang of doorway shutting. Should be examined for musical value, because sound has no boundaries. He writes about these possibilities in the article The Art of Noise. He compares the value of experimental sound with main stream music. It brings to light the importance of how noise is captured and it’s effects. It also reminds us. Sound is as vast as the universe. It is everything. The possibilities of sound cannot be measured.
I chose to comment on this article because I too am interested in the art of sound. I believe that the article is an excellent evaluation and motivation for experimental sound artists like myself. The Art of Noise lays out the archeological possibilities of noise, and what to look for.
David Toop’s artical is relevant to me because the ideas presented are ones that have endless opportunities. As a media artist I am faced with molds, outlines, and formates created and determined as successful media methods. These mold can stunt an artists growth for expressing his or hers particular beliefs and intentions. The article reminds me to look outside of these bounderies and search for even more effective noises that can express my ideas clearly. The Art of Noise Link.
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Friday, September 19, 2008
How to Build a Microphone
Hello Reader,
I have built a microphone for under ten dollars. The quality of the microphone is more sensitive to noise than I anticipated.
Here are the supplies: Firstly, I used two rapid 35-0190 electric microphone capsules, and they cost me around 2.00 dollars.
Secondly, I bought one stereo audio cable. It had dual RCA male at one end of the cable, and a single male end at the other. If you stop at a local Radio Shack you can find one.
Thirdly, two alligator clips: they will make a great clip for your mics.
I am really sorry I didn't take any pictures of me making my mics, but I didn't have charged batteries for my camera to record it. I do however have detailed instructions with pictures to help you build your mics. These instructions and pictures are the same ones I used to build my microphones. The link is from the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee, and the girl in the pictures is an equipment specialist on the campus. Here is a link.
I have built a microphone for under ten dollars. The quality of the microphone is more sensitive to noise than I anticipated.
Here are the supplies: Firstly, I used two rapid 35-0190 electric microphone capsules, and they cost me around 2.00 dollars.
Secondly, I bought one stereo audio cable. It had dual RCA male at one end of the cable, and a single male end at the other. If you stop at a local Radio Shack you can find one.
Thirdly, two alligator clips: they will make a great clip for your mics.
I am really sorry I didn't take any pictures of me making my mics, but I didn't have charged batteries for my camera to record it. I do however have detailed instructions with pictures to help you build your mics. These instructions and pictures are the same ones I used to build my microphones. The link is from the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee, and the girl in the pictures is an equipment specialist on the campus. Here is a link.
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Sound Walk One
Hello reader,
When I was doing my sound walk. I didn't stop moving. I was continually walking. So I was flooded with numerous sounds. I tried to just jot them down with a brief description of what they were like. I didn't set out to walk in any particular direction. I just walked for about fifteen minutes without stopping. I walked at about the same pace the entire time, and I feel like the sound list has a kinda rhythm to it. The most interesting sounds I felt was when I walked through a small patch of woods by campus. The sticks cracked as I stepped on them and the leaves crunched. It is a refreshing sound. A sound that describes not only a particular place, but it also conveys a time in the year (fall). I also really liked those sounds because there is nice variation. The sticks crack making a quick snapping sound, and the sound of the leaves being crushed lingers longer. I might expand on this.
I will update this blog with more information for the hungry artist next week. Don't forget to check it out, because I will be blogging about how to build your own microphones for under $10.
When I was doing my sound walk. I didn't stop moving. I was continually walking. So I was flooded with numerous sounds. I tried to just jot them down with a brief description of what they were like. I didn't set out to walk in any particular direction. I just walked for about fifteen minutes without stopping. I walked at about the same pace the entire time, and I feel like the sound list has a kinda rhythm to it. The most interesting sounds I felt was when I walked through a small patch of woods by campus. The sticks cracked as I stepped on them and the leaves crunched. It is a refreshing sound. A sound that describes not only a particular place, but it also conveys a time in the year (fall). I also really liked those sounds because there is nice variation. The sticks crack making a quick snapping sound, and the sound of the leaves being crushed lingers longer. I might expand on this.
I will update this blog with more information for the hungry artist next week. Don't forget to check it out, because I will be blogging about how to build your own microphones for under $10.
Sound Walk One
Hello reader,
After my sound experiment to hear the different sounds in a particular place. I picked up and did a sound walk. My sound walk consisted of walking around the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee campus with a note pad documenting sounds I picked up.
I will post my writing form my sound walk. I then will explain them in a following post. You should notice a variation in the sound being heard as I travel to different areas around the campus. Also, I would like to note that I will be doing more sound walks. They take place in the city of Milwaukee. I should discover some interesting sounds. Enjoy!
After my sound experiment to hear the different sounds in a particular place. I picked up and did a sound walk. My sound walk consisted of walking around the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee campus with a note pad documenting sounds I picked up.
I will post my writing form my sound walk. I then will explain them in a following post. You should notice a variation in the sound being heard as I travel to different areas around the campus. Also, I would like to note that I will be doing more sound walks. They take place in the city of Milwaukee. I should discover some interesting sounds. Enjoy!
Description: Continuous Line Drawing of Sound and Place
Hello reader,
The drawing below was drawn on the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee campus. I sat on a concrete slab of side walk. My objective was to draw the sounds that I heard or what I felt best represented the sounds. However, prior to preforming this task I warmed up my senses by doing a listening exercise.
I stood by the campus' music entrance. I closed my eyes and just listened. When I closed my eyes it was amazing. I felt my ability to listen/hear dramatically improved. I could focus on sounds much better than with my eyes open. I noticed pitch variations, detailed sounds (a leaf blowing across the ground), and sound distances. These are all sounds that can be heard with eyes open, but I learned by shutting off one of my major senses (eyes) another compensates (enhances). After the listening exercise, I did the complete opposite. I plugged my ears with my fingers and just saw. My ability to evaluate visual detail enhanced. I noticed shadows on peoples faces, colors seemed more pronounced. I compared both my visual and hearing. I got myself ready to preform my objective by focusing my senses. I then walked to the fountain area just around the corner of the UWM's music entrance. Where I would do my listening.
On the concrete slab of side walk I determined which direction was north and positioned my body facing it. In the drawing you will see what I felt the sound were. I decided to do a continuous line drawing of my hearings. I chose to do a continuous line drawing because I believe it best represents the overall aesthetic value of the sounds. I felt all the sound were connected while I sat there. I believe I was not hearing things out of coincidence, but I was hearing things that have been composed over time to make a piece of music for that exact moment. Before the cars and airplanes, flip flops and large water fountains thing sounded differently, the music for that time was different.
The drawing below was drawn on the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee campus. I sat on a concrete slab of side walk. My objective was to draw the sounds that I heard or what I felt best represented the sounds. However, prior to preforming this task I warmed up my senses by doing a listening exercise.
I stood by the campus' music entrance. I closed my eyes and just listened. When I closed my eyes it was amazing. I felt my ability to listen/hear dramatically improved. I could focus on sounds much better than with my eyes open. I noticed pitch variations, detailed sounds (a leaf blowing across the ground), and sound distances. These are all sounds that can be heard with eyes open, but I learned by shutting off one of my major senses (eyes) another compensates (enhances). After the listening exercise, I did the complete opposite. I plugged my ears with my fingers and just saw. My ability to evaluate visual detail enhanced. I noticed shadows on peoples faces, colors seemed more pronounced. I compared both my visual and hearing. I got myself ready to preform my objective by focusing my senses. I then walked to the fountain area just around the corner of the UWM's music entrance. Where I would do my listening.
On the concrete slab of side walk I determined which direction was north and positioned my body facing it. In the drawing you will see what I felt the sound were. I decided to do a continuous line drawing of my hearings. I chose to do a continuous line drawing because I believe it best represents the overall aesthetic value of the sounds. I felt all the sound were connected while I sat there. I believe I was not hearing things out of coincidence, but I was hearing things that have been composed over time to make a piece of music for that exact moment. Before the cars and airplanes, flip flops and large water fountains thing sounded differently, the music for that time was different.
Introduction
Hello reader,
My name is Isaiah Wells, and I am very excited about this blog. For the next four months I will be conducting research and several different experiments with sounds and images. I will use this blog to document it and show my discoveries. I will not be using any type of conventional expermentation method because it would only limit the final outcome of
Later tonight I will be posting my first experiment. It will be a sound evaluation.
Later tonight I will be posting my first experiment. It will be a sound evaluation.
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