1. Discuss your experiences with building your microphones. Was this process more or less what you thought it would be? How did your microphone rig work on your Drift walks? Were you able to capture both overall ambiance and extreme closeups? Describe your ideal microphone and recorder setup, with unlimited time and money.
I struggled a little with making my microphones. I was able to do everything perfectly fine until it came to soldering. The first problem that came up was that there were not enough soldering guns. I wasn't able to do any soldering until the second day, and even so I wasn't able to start until the last 15 minutes, and I had to stay after to finish. Thankfully my TA was very helpful and patient with me. I will avoid soldering if it is possible in future projects. My microphones worked really well for both closeups and ambiance recording; and it was even better that I made them myself. I was very happy with my microphone, I wouldn't change anything about them, even if I had a better more expensive microphone, it wouldn't be the same because it would have been bought.
2. How was your experience with operating the MiniDisc recorder? How does this recorder compare to other audio equipment you've used? In an ideal world, how would your recorder of choice function?
On my drift walk I had a little trouble at first, because the microphone didn't record; it seemed to be stuck on pause. After a few tries I finally got it to work. It was a little annoying having to reset the recorder's to manual gain every time, but I never forgot to do so. That is the only complaint I have with the MiniDisc recorder. This was the first time I used an audio recorder, and it was very simple and enjoyable.
3. Discuss the audio-editing software you chose and your history with this application. If you used this software for the first time, explain why you chose this particular application and how you think it helped you to accomplish your creative goals (or proved detrimental). Will you use this software again for future projects?
I used two different software for my audio. The first was Sonic Stage, this was only used to convert the recordings into WAV format. Since I used a PC, I had no problem with the program, I found the process straightforward and simple. The other program I used was Audacity, and it was used for editing purposes. I had very little previous experience with Audacity. I had used it a few times before to make MP3 ring tones for my phone, so I only knew how to open, cut, and export files. Audacity worked very well for basic audio editing. Whatever problem I came across, I was able to solve with a simple online search. I will definitely use Audacity in future projects, not just for this class, until I feel comfortable enough to purchase a audio editing software.
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Ten Questions
1. Can I find a variety of sounds around a single building?
2. How will the sound of an area differ in the day and night?
3. How will it differ in different seasons?
4. How would a soundwalk in Manhattan with a map of Milwaukee compare to a soundwalk in Milwaukee with a map of Manhattan?
5. Can different sounds be found near buildings with different architecture?
6. Are there any strange looking buildings inside the range of my drift map?
7. If so, how will these sounds differ from my previous ones?
8. Would I hear different sounds inside a parking structure as I go up/down a level?
9. How will the recording of the outside of a parking structure compare to the sounds found on top of a parking structure?
10. How many parking structures are in my drift map?
2. How will the sound of an area differ in the day and night?
3. How will it differ in different seasons?
4. How would a soundwalk in Manhattan with a map of Milwaukee compare to a soundwalk in Milwaukee with a map of Manhattan?
5. Can different sounds be found near buildings with different architecture?
6. Are there any strange looking buildings inside the range of my drift map?
7. If so, how will these sounds differ from my previous ones?
8. Would I hear different sounds inside a parking structure as I go up/down a level?
9. How will the recording of the outside of a parking structure compare to the sounds found on top of a parking structure?
10. How many parking structures are in my drift map?
Drift 1 Assessment
1. Describe two situations that aggravated, bothered, shocked or otherwise stressed you during Drift 1. (Please note that the situation CANNOT be technology-related.)
Something that bothered me while I was on my drift was the lack of interesting sounds. While I was recording I had my headphones on so that I could listen to what I was recording. At that time the sounds seemed really boring and common. I thought my blog was going to be very boring and repetitive. As I arrived home and started to listen to my recordings, I was able to pick something special and unique out of every recording I did. I tried to find something special about every recording, I soon saw that I had a decent variety of sounds.
Another thing that bothered me a little was the lack of daylight during the time of my drift. If it weren't for that limitation, I would have loved to continue my drift for a few more hours. I found that there were more interesting and lively sounds during my earlier recordings as opposed to my later ones.
2. Describe, with details, two situations during Drift 1 in which you felt unusually peaceful, at ease, or contemplative.
The simple act of walking makes me feel peaceful and contemplative. I felt at ease throughout the entire drift. Even when things went a little wrong with my map interpretation. I was especially at ease during my second recording which was the Empire State recording. I was simply sitting on a bench and listening to the sounds of the city.
The second time that I felt very peaceful was during the very last recording. After a long day of walking throughout the city I was more than happy to sit by the parking lot and wait for more interesting sounds to come my way. This recording came out to be about 7 minutes, at first it was just cars passing by, but then around 5 minutes into the recording I get 3 very interesting and distinct sounds. This made for a good ending to a very enjoyable drift.
3. Describe three surprises or unexpected situations you encountered on your Drift and in the days that followed. The surprise could stem from your expectations that conflicted with "on the ground" realities, cultural or social issues of which you were previously unaware, feelings and reactions that you did not expect to have, appearances and soundings of things you did not expect, good or bad outcomes of "on the spot" decisions you had to make, or the discovery of "deeper" realities in the materials you brought home. (Again, skip anything technology-related!)
Probably the biggest surprise I received from my drift was when I decided to stop and record by a building with a graffiti design that read, Bucket Works. As I was sitting there listening to the usual sound of cars passing by I heard two people leaving the Bucket Works building and then they entered a nearby car. As they pulled out of the driveway the car stops and someone asks me if I'm waiting for a ride, then another car pulls up and a large man gets out and starts to walk towards me, and asks if we were here for a wrestling meet. The man in the car replies and says that the wrestler was gone, and just as quickly as the strange encounter started, it ended, and both of the cars leave.
Once I had a chance to listen to the sound files on my computer, I was very surprised to know that in one of my recordings I was able to record the water in a sewer.This may not seem surprising but I found it to be surprising because during the actual recording I was concentrated on listening to the various insect sounds that dominated the area. I was happy to hear many layers in that recording.
I found it very surprising that just a few blocks north of where I started my drift, downtown Milwaukee no longer looks like a city. It seems that from where I started, downtown Milwaukee extends to the south, east, and west. There is very little to the north. I was a little disappointed because in my map of Manhattan, Central Park is to the North. I decided not to stray far from Milwaukee's inner city because I wanted to focus on the sounds of the city, and not so much on the surrounding areas.
4. Describe your favorite experience, situation, place, or recollection from your Drift. Be specific about what happened, how you felt, how you reacted, and why you think this particular experience affected you so much.
One of my favorite locations in my drift map is the Blue Building. I wasn't originally going to record by that building, but after I passed it on my way to another locations, I decided that it would be an interesting place to record. It turns out that out of all of my recordings, the Blue Building recording gave me the most Manhattan like recording. While in this location I heard various car sounds, people walking by, bus sounds, people talking, and even some people singing. The sounds from this location sounded a lot more like I would expect the center of Milwaukee to sound like, and it was only a block or two away from where I started my drift. I hope to revisit this location for my next drift, to see how it will be different.
Something that bothered me while I was on my drift was the lack of interesting sounds. While I was recording I had my headphones on so that I could listen to what I was recording. At that time the sounds seemed really boring and common. I thought my blog was going to be very boring and repetitive. As I arrived home and started to listen to my recordings, I was able to pick something special and unique out of every recording I did. I tried to find something special about every recording, I soon saw that I had a decent variety of sounds.
Another thing that bothered me a little was the lack of daylight during the time of my drift. If it weren't for that limitation, I would have loved to continue my drift for a few more hours. I found that there were more interesting and lively sounds during my earlier recordings as opposed to my later ones.
2. Describe, with details, two situations during Drift 1 in which you felt unusually peaceful, at ease, or contemplative.
The simple act of walking makes me feel peaceful and contemplative. I felt at ease throughout the entire drift. Even when things went a little wrong with my map interpretation. I was especially at ease during my second recording which was the Empire State recording. I was simply sitting on a bench and listening to the sounds of the city.
The second time that I felt very peaceful was during the very last recording. After a long day of walking throughout the city I was more than happy to sit by the parking lot and wait for more interesting sounds to come my way. This recording came out to be about 7 minutes, at first it was just cars passing by, but then around 5 minutes into the recording I get 3 very interesting and distinct sounds. This made for a good ending to a very enjoyable drift.
3. Describe three surprises or unexpected situations you encountered on your Drift and in the days that followed. The surprise could stem from your expectations that conflicted with "on the ground" realities, cultural or social issues of which you were previously unaware, feelings and reactions that you did not expect to have, appearances and soundings of things you did not expect, good or bad outcomes of "on the spot" decisions you had to make, or the discovery of "deeper" realities in the materials you brought home. (Again, skip anything technology-related!)
Probably the biggest surprise I received from my drift was when I decided to stop and record by a building with a graffiti design that read, Bucket Works. As I was sitting there listening to the usual sound of cars passing by I heard two people leaving the Bucket Works building and then they entered a nearby car. As they pulled out of the driveway the car stops and someone asks me if I'm waiting for a ride, then another car pulls up and a large man gets out and starts to walk towards me, and asks if we were here for a wrestling meet. The man in the car replies and says that the wrestler was gone, and just as quickly as the strange encounter started, it ended, and both of the cars leave.
Once I had a chance to listen to the sound files on my computer, I was very surprised to know that in one of my recordings I was able to record the water in a sewer.This may not seem surprising but I found it to be surprising because during the actual recording I was concentrated on listening to the various insect sounds that dominated the area. I was happy to hear many layers in that recording.
I found it very surprising that just a few blocks north of where I started my drift, downtown Milwaukee no longer looks like a city. It seems that from where I started, downtown Milwaukee extends to the south, east, and west. There is very little to the north. I was a little disappointed because in my map of Manhattan, Central Park is to the North. I decided not to stray far from Milwaukee's inner city because I wanted to focus on the sounds of the city, and not so much on the surrounding areas.
4. Describe your favorite experience, situation, place, or recollection from your Drift. Be specific about what happened, how you felt, how you reacted, and why you think this particular experience affected you so much.
One of my favorite locations in my drift map is the Blue Building. I wasn't originally going to record by that building, but after I passed it on my way to another locations, I decided that it would be an interesting place to record. It turns out that out of all of my recordings, the Blue Building recording gave me the most Manhattan like recording. While in this location I heard various car sounds, people walking by, bus sounds, people talking, and even some people singing. The sounds from this location sounded a lot more like I would expect the center of Milwaukee to sound like, and it was only a block or two away from where I started my drift. I hope to revisit this location for my next drift, to see how it will be different.
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