Reflect on your experiences working with the audio hardware and software in this class. Answer the following in a single post to your Research blog.
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.
The building of the mics went exactly how I pictured it would: I'd get it done, but it would not come easy. The rig worked alright, but it just picked up too much wind noise. My ideal microphone would be one which pin pointed a specific sound and was able to drown out all other sounds around it. And a recorder that was automatically set on manual gain.
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?
I hated the MiniDisc recorder. It was sometimes confusing. At some points in time it did not allow me to record things and at many points in time I was not able to get the mannual gain function to show up. In my ideal world the MiniDisk recorder would be voice operated.
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 Audacity because that is the one talked about in class and it is free. This was another application I had problems with. It in fact screwed up my project. I was not allowed to make any cuts because every time I saved it and would then go back into the "document", everything except for the fades would be mute. They would not work. I think I will look into it more before deciding whether or not to keep using it.
Monday, October 27, 2008
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Ten Questions
1. I had fun venturing off campus. Will I get that same feeling taking a bigger leap and going farther out?
2. Are there places without cars in Milwaukee? :)
3. What noises are different at night then at noon (the time of my Drift 1)?
4. Will the same location that I had produce non-construction noises, or is it an area where construction never sleeps?
5. What is the difference between sounds produced on the ground and ones in the air?
6. Should I switch Drift sights?
7. Why do I find noises that are indoors better than the ones outdoors?
8. How much recording does it take to fill my minidisk?
9. Can traffic sounds be interesting?
10. What types of people will I run into along my way to different places?
2. Are there places without cars in Milwaukee? :)
3. What noises are different at night then at noon (the time of my Drift 1)?
4. Will the same location that I had produce non-construction noises, or is it an area where construction never sleeps?
5. What is the difference between sounds produced on the ground and ones in the air?
6. Should I switch Drift sights?
7. Why do I find noises that are indoors better than the ones outdoors?
8. How much recording does it take to fill my minidisk?
9. Can traffic sounds be interesting?
10. What types of people will I run into along my way to different places?
Drift 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.)
The area that I chose did not have a variety of sounds. I was pissed that they were all traffic and construction related. I was happy when I first started hearing construction, but then it just kept happening over and over.
My other problem was the wind. I didn't think the wind was going to be as bad as it was, but man, it was terrible. It was all over the place!
2. Describe, with details, two situations during Drift 1 in which you felt unusually peaceful, at ease, or contemplative.
I don't think I have two. My only ease came when I was away from UWM. This completely surprised me because I am horrified of Milwaukee. I was expecting some gangster guy to beat me up, but instead I felt really at peace being away from people talking. I got some of my worse footage then, but it was still being somewhere away from school. I was still doing school work, but it just felt like I was exploring, not "working".
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!)
Again, the wind noise. I was surprised that it turned out to be as bad as it did.
I was also surprised at the recordings that turned out "good" compared to the ones that did not. Some of them that sounded good while recording ended up being terrible.
I think I also gained a deeper understanding for how hard it is to be a sound recordist with original content. Everything sounds the same or are really close to the same.
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.
My favorite part of the drift was actually a recording that ended up being heavily damaged by the wind, but the recording of the piece was very fun. I saw a group of Asian students sitting at a bench talking and so I decided to sit at the bench next to them and record their conversation. I know, it sounds so wrong, but it was some of the most fun I ever had. They were talking about school and what it means to be Asian and how one of them was going to be mad if he became less Asian. It was extremely funny, because it was all serious. The guy actually meant it.
The area that I chose did not have a variety of sounds. I was pissed that they were all traffic and construction related. I was happy when I first started hearing construction, but then it just kept happening over and over.
My other problem was the wind. I didn't think the wind was going to be as bad as it was, but man, it was terrible. It was all over the place!
2. Describe, with details, two situations during Drift 1 in which you felt unusually peaceful, at ease, or contemplative.
I don't think I have two. My only ease came when I was away from UWM. This completely surprised me because I am horrified of Milwaukee. I was expecting some gangster guy to beat me up, but instead I felt really at peace being away from people talking. I got some of my worse footage then, but it was still being somewhere away from school. I was still doing school work, but it just felt like I was exploring, not "working".
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!)
Again, the wind noise. I was surprised that it turned out to be as bad as it did.
I was also surprised at the recordings that turned out "good" compared to the ones that did not. Some of them that sounded good while recording ended up being terrible.
I think I also gained a deeper understanding for how hard it is to be a sound recordist with original content. Everything sounds the same or are really close to the same.
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.
My favorite part of the drift was actually a recording that ended up being heavily damaged by the wind, but the recording of the piece was very fun. I saw a group of Asian students sitting at a bench talking and so I decided to sit at the bench next to them and record their conversation. I know, it sounds so wrong, but it was some of the most fun I ever had. They were talking about school and what it means to be Asian and how one of them was going to be mad if he became less Asian. It was extremely funny, because it was all serious. The guy actually meant it.
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