Video/Hardware Response

1) My experience with the Olympus digital camera was fine. I didn’t encounter any huge problems, but the problems I did encounter only dealt with getting to know the device. Compared to other still/video camera’s I have previously used, this one is extremely out of date. It gets the job done, but there are so many more up to date cameras that I would prefer using a newer one. But overall, I was able to capture the photos I needed that pertained to my Image Capturing Strategy. In an ideal world, now this sounds stupid, but I would have a camera that would be hooked up to a pair of glasses. Anywhere you look or put the glasses, a picture could be taken via a wireless button. In addition, I would have it so that any video or picture you took would automatically be transfered to your computer, meaning you wouldn’t have to use a memory card.



2) I chose to use iMovie, because I have used it in the past for many occasions/projects, and have always found it very user friendly with many extras available to use.. The thing is though, that the new version that came on my new MacBook Pro was way different and confusing. I ended up downloading the old iMovie HD, which is where I did the majority of the editing and exporting. For some of the effects, I did use the new iMovie and then transferred the files to the old iMovie program. As for the future, I will definitely use the combination of the new and old iMovies. Though it is a bit of a pain, the end results speak for themselves.

Reading Response #3

The article I chose to read was Stephen Joel Trachtenberg’s “The Art of Instant Gratification.” I chose to read this article because I am very much interested in photography. About 5 years ago, I got out my dad’s old Pentax camera he had when he was my age, and started putzing around with it. I became so intrigued with the ability to become one with the camera. In addition, my dad also taught me to develop my own film, adding another level of connectivity between me, the camera, and the final product. Since being introduced to that forgotten art form, I have realized the extreme impact the digital age has made on man, being good and bad at the same time.

This article goes into the history of the camera/photograph, from its early days as carrying biblical connotations, to becoming a two step process of shooting and then having the film processed, to Polaroids, and finally to digital cameras. Trachtenberg goes into talking about how the photograph was once “an item suitable for contemplation and remembrance” and how the overall effect of print photography has gone down in the public’s eye, as well as for photographic companies. The digital age as brought with it the ability to take pictures of anything and everything with the power to delete photos in a matter of seconds.

As for my own practices as a media artist, this article made me think more about snapping photos of anything and everything around me. It made me think again about the true beauty in the world, and much like I found on my sound walks, one must open their eyes to the true beauties of the world, not just acknowledging and taking notice of the surface.

Reading Response #2

The article I chose to read was Phillip Lopate’s On The Aesthetics of Urban Walking and Writing. I chose this article because ever since I started going on my drifts, I have been viewing the world in a different way. No longer am I just wanting to get to my final location, I am finding the little things in life, and taking in the subtleties I see everywhere I walk. By just the title alone, I was drawn to my new adventures of walking, and wanted to go even more in depth into the culture of Urban Walking.

In this essay, Lopate points out his progression of walking, and the bumps in the road that he went through. Starting when he was little, he pointed out how we all take habitual routes, not knowing where we truly go and why, just that we grind our own footpaths going the same place we have always been going. He then goes and talks about his walks in New York, and how the people aren’t different by race, religion, etc, only by if they are “in your way or not.” He also goes on to explain how walking can bring out “a pure self-absorption unembarrassed by witnesses” as well as “a secret conviction that one is being watched by Higher Powers.”

In addition to walking as picking up the uniqueness of the world, he also goes on to explain how the rhythmic and repetitive walking can lead to the triggering and inspiration of rhythmic and flowing poetry whether it is mechanical sounds, or to crazy people yelling their lungs out on the streets.

In all, he sums up that he has lost this urge to walk just to walk, with his marriage, blaming only himself for losing his touch and relationship and equivalence with the world. Much like a relationship, one must give it equal and satisfactory attention to keep the relationship alive.

I feel that the ideas and arguments presented in the article relate to my own practices as a media artist 100%. While reading, I could totally compare to learning about the subtleties of the world around us, finding that it has its own rhythm and music of life. This relationship must always be nourished and payed attention too, otherwise the connection will be lost and you will become blind to the wonders around you.

Audio Hardware/Software Response

1) I really enjoyed building my microphones. At first I was a little weary of soldering and what not, but Seth did a really good job explaining the process. While making the microphones, I was amazed how easy it can be to make your own microphones, with such a great final product. With the microphones, I was able to catch extreme close-up sounds, as well as sounds from far away with limited ambience in the background. If I had unlimited time an money, I would still make the microphones we made in the lab, except multiply that by hundreds. I would then make a suit where you could attach all of the microphones, and they wouldn’t pick up the sound of the user walking and what not.

2) My experience with the MiniDisc recorder had one major bump in the road, but otherwise it worked just fine. When I was on my first drift, the recorder jammed, and wouldn’t let me eject my disk. I then had to turn it in and get a replacement. The only annoying thing was that I had to go on the drift again, but because of this, I got some awesome sounds. I must admit that this is the first audio equipment I used, and am glad I got the experience I needed. In an ideal world, I would have a super recorder that was able to adjust volume/manual gain and all other settings with the touch of a button. It would have a nice sleek design and be able to fit anywhere.

3) I used the SonicStage application to transfer my sounds, and then Audacity to edit my sounds. Overall, I have no major complaints, just that I wish there could be an application that would be compatible with Macs. It was a hassle having to go to Mitchell, and back in your dorm, you find you need to import some more things. The journey starts again. While editing in Audacity, I was able to use what I learned in the lectures, and was able to edit my sounds with a great outcome. Being freeware, I will definitely use Audactiy in the future, because to me it was a very user-friendly application.

10 Questions

1) Are there any places I can find that reveal sounds due to previous weather-conditions?
2) Is there any place with different athletic courses of which interesting sounds are created during play?
3) Are there any differences in sound during the night instead of during the day?
4) Can I get kicked out of another location and get the confrontation recorded?
5) Can I loose my spatial relations and discover a new location/sound scape?
6) Where can I use my camera and capture a shot that describes not only the sound, but also instills a sense of disillusionment?
7) Can I find workers who will let me record their work?
8) Is there any architecture (such as the bridge) that offers a new sense of perspective?
9) Can I find a place where nature is dominant besides a park?
10) Will changing the angle of a photograph create a new meaning for the captured sound?

Drift One Assessment

1) The first situation that aggravated me on my first drift was when I was asked to leave the golf course because I was a nuisance and “distracting the players.” I was totally taken aback, and looking back on the event, I believe they just wanted me out of their way. I was walking along the path, not in anybodies way, with my recorder in my pocket with headphones on my head and holding the mics.

Another situation that stressed me out and took me by surprise during the drift was the instances when I couldn’t find any usable sounds for copious amounts of time. I understand that the drifts take time, and patience is key, but at times time was not on my side, and my patience was wearing thin. In time, I got some sounds, and I felt like I had won the lottery, and that those moments made the drift worth while.

2) The first situation that I felt unusually peaceful was when I was under the bridge by the Lake Park Golf Course. The night before it had rained, and everything was still wet. I went under the bridge expected to throw rocks to capture the echo sound they created, but had to tie my shoe first. As I was tying my shoe I stopped midway through my right foot, and had one of those “Oh my gosh” moments. If I hadn’t stopped to tie my shoe, I wouldn’t have been able to hear the different rhythms created by the numerous water drips. I set up my recorder, leaned up against the wall and closed my eyes. I was able to tone out the world and be one with my surrounds under a bridge of all places.

Another situation when I felt unusually peaceful was when I was recording a bird feeder. At this location, I had to wait particularly long for the birds to come back to the feeder, but the time was well spent. As I sat next to a tree, I heard all the birds communicating with each other. With the different birds and their languages I was amazed and full of wonder at this simple feat ignored everyday. Just like the phrase “take time to smell the roses,” one must also take time to hear the birds.

3) One surprise that I encountered was how nervous I got with the mics in my hands and headphones on my head. I kept telling myself that people would think I was listening to my iPod, but throughout the drift I was self conscious and afraid to ask people if I could record them. In time I did break out of my shell and it worked in my favor.

The second surprise I met with was when I was listening through my sounds on the computer. This may seem stupid, but hearing the sounds I had recorded gave me a sense of accomplishment. I loved the feeling of being able to recollect and paint an image in my mind from the sounds I collected. For some sounds, I remembered exactly where I was, but for others, such as me walking through the leaves in the suburbs, I pictured myself in different states and painted pictures of different surroundings in my mind.

The third thing that was unexpected was how out of touch I became with reality, and truly was able to “drift.” During the walk, I knew which general direction I was going in, but it didn’t hit me the distance I traveled until I made my Google Map. I was in awe at how I was able to cover so much ground and not be aware of it. Losing my sense of spatial relations was a nice change, and opened my eyes to many new places in the vicinity of UWM and surrounding suburbs.

4) As said in question 2, my most favorite place I went through on the drift was the bridge I found and went under. In the time since my drift was completed, I still find myself going back, sitting down, and closing my eyes. This place has become a sanctuary of sorts, where I can escape reality and leave my troubles elsewhere. Sitting there, so many sounds can be heard, but you feel that the world has stopped and is taking a breather. I honestly don’t know why this location has left such a lasting impression on me, but I can venture a guess as to why. I lived in the country (Door County) for the last 7 years, and I think this great getaway in the heart of the city brings together both of my worlds, giving me the best of both worlds.

Reading Response #1

The article I read was David Toop’s The Art of Noise. I chose this article because I wanted to expand my opinions and views on sound. This last year, I had such a bad ear infection, that I almost lost my hearing in my right ear. For more than a week, all I could hear were muted sounds from all around me, not being able to identify anything. When my hearing started to return, it was like I was reborn. Every new noise was like a miracle, and a new venue to explore.

In the essay, Toop talks about sound being “a spoken language...defin[ing] orientation within a place, register[ing] the feeling that we describe as atmosphere.” That said, Toop presents John Cage’s interpretation of the differences between sound and music. Cage states that music is the “organization of sound.” Although Cage fights saying that since music can have different meanings and interpretations based on where it is played, the true difference between what is classified as music and when it becomes noise is “at best, a puzzle with no satisfactory solution.”

In addition, Toop goes into the differences between sound art and music, saying that, “the difference lies in the ultimate aim.” What Toop goes into saying is that, “music rarely has a great deal to ‘say,’” whereas sound art has a deeper meaning, often revealing a hidden sympathy, with the use/aid of audio recording techniques and an “appreciation of reverberation in records.”

Looking at my practices as a media artist, I must say that this article has made me think deeper into the differences between art, music, and noise. Many times I look or hear a project, and wonder how is that acceptable. But with the ideas/views presented in the article, my span of acceptance has increased, as well as an increased eye and ear for the subtleties and the various uses/meanings of sound.

Soundwalk 9/10 Response

• Were you able to find places and spaces where you could really listen?
Yes. We went outside of the Mitchell building and sat on the grass at the corner of Downer and Kenwood Blvd. Then we walked around the campus walking through the Union, the parking garage, and Lubar Hall.

• Was it possible to move without making a sound?
No matter what, there was always noise that I was making whether it was my shoes going down the stairs, the wind blowing my clothes, or me writing in my notebook.

• What happened when you plugged your ears, and then unplugged them?
When my ears were plugged, I heard my heartbeat and my lungs when I was breathing, and heard some low noises/vibrations. When I slowly unplugged them, I heard a neutral hum as if everything was meshed together, but as I opened them further, the sounds became more distinct.

• In your sound log exercise, what types of sounds were you able to hear? List them.
Leaves rustling in the wind in the trees, tires on pavement, a buses air brakes, the bus starting at a stop, a woman coughing, girls chatting, shuffling feet, scooter buzzing, warning beeper/bus backing up, airplane flying over head, paper rustling, leaves scratching the sidewalk being blown in the wind, feet walking on the wood chips, exhaust fan with a medium level hum, keys jingling, Britney Spears music, crash of metal in the kitchen, skateboard wheels going over the cracks in the pavement, little girl laughing, the card dispenser in the parking garage sounding like the card was being punched, grill sizzling, birds chirping, a deep fryer, cash register drawer opening, coin hitting the floor, dumpster lid slamming, glass breaking falling in the dumpster, flip flops flopping, rap music, the bass in a passing car, local dispute with a lot of $&*@ you and #&$& head!!

• Were you able to differentiate between sounds that had a recognizable source and those sounds you could not place? Human sounds? Mechanical sounds? Natural sounds?
When we were sitting outside in the circle by Mitchell, I knew the sound of the hissing of the bus when it was stopping, the sound of shoes on the pavement, the sound of the cicadas, the buzzing of a moped, and . Also, I heard the sound of a bell. I didn't know where it was at first, but I looked around and saw it was an ice cream cart being pushed around.

• Were you able to detect subtleties in the everpresent drone? Extremely close sounds? Sounds coming from very far away?
I would now and again hear a dead, dry leave being slowly blown across the pavement. This gave me goosebumps because it sounded like a teacher was scratching a chalkboard with her nails. I also heard a siren from a police car from very far away. At first it sounded a high pitch whistle, but after listening to it closer, I discovered that it was a siren.

• What kinds of wind effects were you able to detect (for example, the leaves of trees don't make sounds until they are activated by the wind)?
I heard the wind blowing dead leaves across the sidewalk like someone scratching a chalk board, the wind blowing the leaves in the trees, a whistling howl when I opened the door to go back outside, and the rustling of pages as the wind blew the pages of the homework and books students were reading outside.

• Were you able to intervene in the urban landscape and create your own sounds by knocking on a resonant piece of metal, activating wind chimes, etc.?
On the hand railing on the handicap entrance, I hit it with my metal ring and heard a very distinct echo and hollow metal ring when I put my ear directly next to it. I also hit a metal sign and heard it shake and vibrate quickly and then slowly fade away and stop.

• Do you feel you have a new understanding or appreciation of the sounds of our contemporary landscape/cityscape?
After slowing down and taking time to hear what was around me, I remember how amazed I was with the wonders constantly around me. It got me thinking about how priceless sound and hearing really is. Since that day, there is always a little voice in the back of my head telling me to slow down and take time to hear the world around me, even in the bustling city, which some claim is only filled with traffic.

• How do you think your soundwalk experience will affect your practice as a media artist, if at all?
I think that the soundwalk experience will make me even more aware of the ongoing world around me. I also hope that it will have me zoning in on even more subtleties/objects and its ability in making a one of a kind noise/sound that many people wouldn’t even give a second chance to. I also hope that after the walks, as a growing media artist, I will slowly gain experience and a tuned ear. My goal for the semester is to become better acquainted with the 24/7 music constantly on play and not putting in on mute and tuning it out.