Sound and The City Sound Map is Up!
June 6th, 2006click here to check it out!
The final pieces from the 2006 NMC class are up, all in a nifty map!
here’s a screenshot:
thanks!
-dp
Helicopters
May 6th, 2006Finally, my first podcast! I recorded it a couple nights ago. There were 3 or 4 helicopters hovering over the Wiliamsburg Bridge, so I just stuck my head out the window and recorded them with the binaural mic. For those who don’t know what binaural mics are, they’re just microphones disguised as headphones. They also record really great sound. When you listen to it with headphones it feels as if you’re in the place where the recording was done. Or as the dictionary explains it:
binaural - Having to do with the perception of sound with both ears;Of or relating to sound transmission from two sources, which may vary acoustically, as in tone or pitch, to give a stereophonic effect.
There, that’s a better definition. They’re also helpful if you want to be sneaky . . . people tend to stop their conversations when they see you walking by them with a mic in your hand, as opposed to you just walking by with a pair of headphones on. Or so they think. =)
Listen Now:
Standard Podcast: Play Now | Play in Popup | DownloadOH MY! OH MY!…..what?!?
May 5th, 2006do all things have a meaning?..i dont mean like”the great divine” meaning, just your normal ‘meaning’ ..i know, i know a little bit confusing(or you don’t get it at all),but it might make sence if think about it.:>
right now i’m sitting in chair listening to nothing, but ‘dead space’.sure u get the usaully loud car sounds or the friendly barking dog(why?!?..guess!;>),but i want to be somewhere else. a place where sounds are endless of colors and picture!it is here in my speacel place that i find my little ‘meaning’;so all in all if want to HOW to get there alllll you have to do i s this:stand up(if your sittting down)
-go outside(doesn’t matter where)
-make a left turn form where you are
-STOP
-don’t speak!!, make a 180 turn
-close your eyes and LISTEN!!!
do you know where you are??!
—j.b
SO far…
May 3rd, 2006so far we’ve been doing pretty well…..and i have to say that the experience we had at eyebeam with michael was awesome. He’s a pretty cool guy, and Socialight is so cool. Although i missed the workshop on wednesday, i enjoyed myself. But to be honest, i had no clue of what we were going to eyebeam for; I was expecting daniel instead of michael. But i guess it was all for the best……and i am so getting myself socialight when i get my phone……so yea….bye
-E.S
Another Post, Long Due
May 3rd, 2006I think, in spite of myself, I delayed this week. However odd it may sound, I’ve neglected to put myself into motion until today. So, my input on Friday’s visit to Eyebeam, our second in fact, has come now rather than earlier. We met Michael, one of the founders of Socialight (link to your right) and the group was granted the opportunity to play around with the system.
Michael briefed us on how he and friends had come upon the idea, and how Socialight was developed and operates. Daniel had also explained some of this to us, but until Friday when we were able to make our own accounts and sent roaming around Eyebeam’s complex to create our own “StickyShadows”, did I fully comprehend it. And holy shit, it’s awesome…not to mention free. How exactly does it work? I couldn’t possibly offer a proper explanation as Michael or Daniel did, but I will say what I learnt. The GPS tracking device in our cell phones targets our exact locations, so when we send a text, picture or audio message to any of our contacts that address as well as our message is sent out. Thus, whoever the message was sent to will receive when he/she happens to pass or stand directly where the message was taken.
Why is this brilliant? Well, how could it not be? You’re suddenly able to discover little facts or notes left by a friend or acquaintance, exactly where you are. Its a great way to communicate, and it can be used however you decide to take advantage of its possibilities. Socialight is yet another fascinating way to use our cell phones. But wait, you don’t even need a cell phone to be apart of Socialight, you can simply leave “StickyShadows” through your computer once you’ve registered as a member. I think the class enjoyed Friday as much as I did.
And I want to say, for when Daniel reads this, that I’m so, so sorry to hear about your grandmother and the class is missing you. We’re really hoping to see you next week.
– SM
The Visit to Eyebeam
April 26th, 2006We had been scheduled to visit Eyebeam for quite some time, though the date was postponed until today. Unfortunately however, the class consisted of Erica, Diana, Jose and myself due to the fact many weren’t able to make it. On the bright side, Friday we’ll be at Eyebeam yet again. With what I’m almost certain to be the full class.
I must confess, my day up unti lthe end had gone completely belly up. I felt a headache creeping up on me, and was very exhausted. All in all, I wasn’t too enthuistic. Though, my mood began to take a new direction as we set out of the school building and towards Eyebeam. The short trip was entertaining, with Erica riding her shiny red bike and the three of us tagging along behind her.
At Eyebeam, we continued to follow Erica until she found Liz shortly after, who then led us into a seperate room with a table, chairs and a projector. I claimed my seat, and soon Liz was briefing us on who we’d be meeting, and who would be teaching the class. His name was Cory and as Liz informed us, he had done various projects in which he mixed and transformed video game music.
After Cory arrived and we got the projector working, with his laptop set-up, I was able to settle back in my chair and observe some of the many pieces of his work, as did the remainder of the group. It turned out to be an extremely fun, amusing experience as he guided us through wacky, crazy and industrial-like music he and friends had composed out of video games’ background music and others, including a seperate website that hacked into Domino’s and ordered you pizza using commands, straight from your computer! Not to mention, we received some history of the earliest computers and how they evolved since.
After, we dropped by the gallery across the street where one of Erica’s friends worked and explored the exhibit; a number of conceptual art by two different artists, one of which a structure of how some artists were able to imitate a bird simply by using a glove.
Eh, I couldn’t possibly do the evening justice with my ramblings. You simply had to be there for yourself to witness what we did. I enjoyed it a lot. I’m looking forward to Friday.
– SM
A New Perspective
April 19th, 2006Earlier today, my sister and I both visited the boardwalk down the block. I thought it was an ideal time to do some recording for the class; it was late in the afternoon, many of my neighbors were outside where it remained bright, and the air had a summer feel to it. There, sitting on one of the benches with my pair of Binaural headphones over my ears, listening to my sister occasionally mention something in regard to her coworkers or day in general, and the seagulls and many voices heard in the background, I began to do some reflecting.
I’ve concluded that one of the most enjoyable aspects of this project, besides learning from DP and exposure to all the amazing equipment and technology, is that we’re allowed to view our neighborhood in a different manner. Suddenly, I’m not so familiar with the streets or the boardwalk, or even the people. Its as though this light has been cast over the area, and I’m no longer apart of the scenery but an observer and critic.
Its truly surprising, and fascinating, how much you may notice with those headphones over your head; sounds you daily ignore and pay no attention to because they’ve become a constant in your memory.
I’m just thrilled to experience my neighborhood in this new perspective.
– SM
those who are left behind
April 7th, 2006chance recordings
April 5th, 2006On friday, the class learned about John Cage and chance. We tried a new way of doing binaural sound recordings with our new iriver .mp3 recorders. We drew stories from a hat. Each story had a set of instructions, and each student was given a recorder and our homemade Binaural mics (thanks Eyebeam and Mike!), and were sent on their way.
We took a break from our semester-long project of mapping our neighborhoods through sound to map the neighborhood of Bayard Rustin Highschool for The Humanities on in Chelsea.
Once we finished and digitized the recordings, we made a second piece. Everyone traded listening stations, and the students drew real-time maps of the sounds they heard. They were then asked to describe the story, and we compared it to the original stories given. It was amazing to see the difference in ideas and impressions.
Below are the recordings made by the students of the Sound and The City class. They are unedited, docuements of everyday experiences, and are small samples and sketches.
As part of this lesson, students have uploaded their audio for podcasting. I will post the itunes address once it has been registered.
-dp
these are binaural recordings and designed to be listened to on headphones
katherine- EDIT (excerpt from neigborhood)
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