Project Three: I Smell Shame and Fear Remix
Part I: Theoretical Background
The basic premise here was to see whether remixing dissonant sounds and ideas could yield a cohesive whole that resolves its parts. To that end, I took the automelodica from project one and the audio tracks from project two and remixed them with the feedback images from project two. Also included: beats and piano sounds from GarageBand and a toy squeeze box from Toy Joy ($20).
This project makes use of the concept of crowdsourcing. Because this is a soundscapes class, I didn't want to spend a lot of time on the visual component of the project. Still, I thought it would be a better project with some visual interest. So I outsourced the development of the images to the class. One image said "I smell shame and fear." This is where the title of the project came from. I have trouble interpreting this image, but it certainly seems to capture attention or a tension.
Part II: Process
I took the images generated by the class from the last assignment, ran them through several different PhotoShop filters, saving each filtered version separately. Then I dumped all the images into a slideshow, added some dissolve transitions, and output it as a movie. I imported the movie into GarageBand and wrote the music track as I watched the movie.
Software:
- GarageBand: used to create and edit all the tracks.
- Photoshop: used to filter images.
- Keynote: used to order the images and put them in a Quicktime Movie.
- Quicktime Pro: used to compress the video.
- Fugu: used to upload.
- TacoEdit: used to edit XHMLT and CSS.
Instruments and Hardware:
- Small radio (shaped like a football)
- Tascam US-122 midi interface
- M-Audio Keystation 49e Keyboard Controller
- Automelodica
- Ikea LampHack Mic
Figure 1. The front of the football radio
Figure 2. The back of the football radio
Figure 3. The Tascam US-122 and squeeze box
Figure 4. The M-Audio Keystation 49e
Figure 5. The Automelodica
Figure 6. The Ikea Lamp/Mic Hack