Last Reading Response

I chose Trachtenberg's article "The Art of Instant Gratification" because it sounded like an interesting title.

The article covers a short history of photography and the multiple advancements that have improved the camera. They talk about the big advancement made by Polaroid where photographers (amateur or pro) could view the shot they just took instantly on hard copy. Trachtenberg says that photography was once this religious mystery and now is this technological wonder since most photos are stored on the internet through social networks or picture web sites.

This article is relevant to my own media practices because I used a digital camera to take snap shots and was able to instantly view them on my camera.

Video Hardware/Software Repsonses

1. How was your experience with the Olympus digital camera? How did it compare with other still or video cameras you have previously used? Were you able to successfully implement your Image Capturing Strategies using the features of this camera? In an ideal world, how would your still/video camera of choice function?

I had some problems with the camera assigned to me. When I tried turning it on it would take a couple hits of the button for it to work and when it did it the lens just went out and then back in and turned off. I figured it was the batteries so I switched them and still had some problems. I tried 2 or 3 more pairs before giving up and eventually used my Samsung digital camera, which worked a lot better, not only because I knew how to work everything already but the viewing screen is much larger and I could focus on more on detail. I’m sure if I got the Olympus to work I could have achieved my strategies but I didn’t want to dink around and troubleshoot when I could just use my camera. My ideal still/video camera would work just like my Samsung; a large viewing screen with a mode button that switches from still to video only, a play/view button, standard zoom functions and a circular menu button with frequent functions around it such as flash, red eye reduction, timer, and landscape/day/night changes.

2. Discuss your choice of video-editing software and describe your history with this software. 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?

My first choice of editing software was Windows Movie Maker but my computer started going on the fritz and I would have to reboot that program every 10 15 minutes when it froze so luckily I was able to use my friends Mac Book and use iMovie HD which is almost the equivalent to Movie Maker. I have used regular iMovie before and it is really simple and easy to use. I believe that I reached my creative goals using this software and I will definitely be using it in the future for smaller projects like this one.

Reading Response 2

I chose John Cage's "The Future of Music: Credo" because it sounded like a cool article. My friends and I talk about this a lot: the future of music, what will music be like in 10 years? 50 years?

In the article Cage goes into using everyday sounds and noises and making them into instruments using a phonograph to achieve rhythm and harmony. A phonograph is used in film, in the department of sound, to make certain sound effects. Cage talks about how this can be used to make an instrumental piece of music. The instruments being the sound effects themselves.

This article is pretty relates to my currents work in drift 2 because I am trying to make some kind of beat out of the soundwalk I took. I don't have a fancy phonograph to get different pitches and such but using audio programs like audacity and garage band to achieve that.

Audio Hardware/Software Repsonse

1. My experience with building the microphones was a little troublesome. It took me awhile to get it soldered, it was difficult to smooth out the solder and not take it all off at the same time so I got a little bit agitated by that. When I was finished the mics turned out fine. I was able to capture ambiance and close-ups of more interesting sounds. I guess the experience was good so if money were no object then I’d just buy more soldering guns so everybody can do it at once.

2. Working with the mini disc recorder was a breeze and had no trouble getting it to work. I haven’t had much experience working with audio so I can’t really compare. My ideal recorder would have a better screen to show you the different functions you were on.

3. While working with audacity (for the first time) I found it was similar to most audio editing software. It wasn’t complex to work with at all. I chose this app because it was given to us. I will be using this application for me drift 2 as well.

10 Questions

1. How much different would my sound walk be if I did it at night? at sunrise?
2. Was there cool sculptures or art near/on the church I passed?
3. Is there any roof access to any of the buildings I passed?
4. Would filming calm tress with windy audio and visa versa be a cool idea?
5. Was there any plans for construction on any of the roads I walked on?
6. What's the most unique view on my sound walk?
7. What's the most common view on my sound walk?
8. How many different animals did I see and how often are they insight?
9. Is there good streetlights on the route.
10. Will crunchy foliage add to the wind problem?

Drift Assessment

I did not come across anything that aggravated me too much other than the wind was blowing on and off throughout a lot of my sound clips and having just a little bit of wind sound is enough to turn it in to a weaker clip, I knew that my church choir sound would have been even cooler and more peaceful without the little bit of wind. I did get frustrated with the soldering but I guess that can be considered technology related, so my only stress was the whether could have been better. Like I was saying before I was feeling at ease or peaceful during the church choir singing but only at the time of recording, when I listened later I found myself worrying about the wind. There wasn’t too many instances that I would call unusual peacefulness, usually when I walk outdoors I am listening to nature and feel at ease with my mind, I can think more have ideas bounce off each other in my head. I do not own an iPod either so it is always common.
I was surprised with a lot of my sounds. When I went on the walk I knew I had two pretty good sound bites I was excited to hear: the water fountain and the church choir. But when it came to listen and edit all of them I heard much more levels and layers of sounds. For example when I was recording the “Kickin the Can to Sweet Child of Mine” bit I didn’t even recognize the dog bark that comes in at the end or how cool bus air breaks sound from a distance from the water fountain bit, it really added to the contrast and levels it out somewhat. My favorite place was the church choir voices, it just came in so soft and I walked up to it like it was drawing me in. I guess this had an affect on me because I was exploring my surroundings for the first time. I just moved here this semester so walking a rout that is different from my normal routine walk to campus was eye opening and ear opening

Reading Response 1

The article I read was “A New Way of Walking” by Joseph Hart and I chose this one because the title was intriguing and I have yet to do my sound walk so I thought I might be able to find some tips or strategies for walking through the streets of Milwaukee.
Hart goes into how this “new way of walking” is neither random or goal oriented. Its right in that neutral place and therefore becomes exciting and surprising. This new way of walking, in technical terms, is called generative psychogeography or algorithmic walking which is walking in a fixed pattern. When Hart explains when he did his algorithmic walk he found that he was discovering new things about his town finding historical things and other interesting relics.
Hart’s ideas are related to my practices in this is what we are doing, only taking microphones with and documenting our walks.

-Doug Mellon