Absolutely delighted that PublicSpaces has today released seven tracks (and the original source file) which resulted from my Twitter Random Sound project earlier in the year. The project, inspired by eavesdropping a Twitter conversation about databending, is described in detail on this website and also over at PublicSpaces.
My own track, Naranjo de Bulnes is included under the artist name Somió. This was a challenging project from a sound design point of view. As you will learn from the project description, all the artists were constrained to using only the source file (generated from numbers sent to me via Twitter and appearing as the first track in the SoundCloud player below) to create their final track.
I think you will agree, the diversity and quality of the results is a tremendous credit to the creative ability of the artists.
PS011 VA – Cosecha by PublicSpacesLab
Naranjo de Bulnes is my working of the Cosecha file. The track was inspired not only by the sounds generated by the random sound, but also the 2500m peak in the Picos de Europa.
After a couple of listens to Cosecha, I began to hear hard, edgy sounds and decided that mountains and the challenges they present would be my synesthesia. Pulling this piece together and referring to various photos of Naranjo de Bulnes has rekindled my interest in climbing. I might just have to pull that gear out of the attic and have at it again. Once mixed and mastered, this track will be included in the Somió release, Deva.
Cosecha has been a fantastic exercise in sound design – something very new to me. Having to work with only one source file to create all the elements of this track was a hugely enjoyable challenge.
Stream MP3:
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With neither fanfare nor drum roll, the patience of more than a dozen contributors will finally be rewarded.
Background
The idea was sparked from eavesdropping a late night Twitter chat between @fjfonseca and @boomtopper about data bending – something with which I was completely unfamiliar, but which immediately caught my imagination.
I began to think about other ways which might exist for creating a sound from an unconventional source and how the sound might then be manipulated into something rhythmic, melodic, musical.
As I switched off the laptop and tried to sleep, my mind raced. How could I gather random data to create a sound? Then it occurred to me that the source had been staring me in the face the whole time. Twitter.
What a fabulous and relevant way to experiment in social sound design! I already shared a network with many people who would (hopefully) be interested in contributing.
Tweet A Sound
Tweet A Sound from Andrew Spitz seemed the obvious choice for generating the sound since it allowed me to break down the parameters into discrete elements and make several requests for random contributions. What’s more, Tweet a Sound had been created to promote social sound design.
I sent out 11 requests – one for each parameter listed below – to each contributor, randomizing the order in which they were sent and added responses to a spreadsheet as they replied. I then created the #tas file below using the parameters strictly in the order that they had been received.
- carrier frequency
- carrier wave
- wave shape
- modulation index envelope
- harmonicity
- time
- waveshape frequency
- volume
- waveshaper envelope
- amplitude envelope
- effects
The #tas string
#tas 295 988 1702 8 1337 7779 37 456 3009 532 3357 1459 1964 808 504 1986 7552 9848 88 5325 5150 7654 909 42 440 2103 22 6750 583 43 1 4091 37652 52 74 42 39 13 31 21 9974
If you’re a Mac user, download Tweet A Sound and enter the string above (including #tas) to hear the sound. Otherwise, just click the flash player below.
The Contributors
The significance of numbers submitted was often in evidence. Birthdays, anniversaries, Douglas Adams, 808s, 303s, album titles – they all featured (though I don’t think I had a 40 and with all the buzz about Akai’s imminent APC release, that was a surprise!) To me, the fact that numbers had meaning to contributors really enhances the project.
If you’re a contributor, you’ll spot some of your numbers above and you’ll notice that some you sent over aren’t included. Why? Well, I knew I had more contributors than required, and for certain parameters, only one value was needed. So data were incorporated on a first-in basis.
The contributors who kindly lent their time were:
@ambienteer
@DavidMcSherry
@boardyuk
@mrbitterness
@UBLF
@auditorycanvas
@fjfonseca
@madebyrobot
@DigitalDoyle
@leeconnolly
@groovecriminals
@rozz3r
@jaymoy
@soundplusdesign
@bigmanbeats
@hugoverweij
@sync24
Cosecha – The Random Sound
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What Next?
Cosecha (meaning “harvest” in Spanish) is the name I’m giving to the random sound and the title of the piece I plan to create from it. But this should NOT be the only composition.
Collaborate and Experiment
I’d like to invite anybody and everybody to use this sound to create a piece of their own.
The single “rule” I’d like to stipulate is that cosecha.wav or cosecha.aif is the only source sound used in your creation. How many times you incorporate it, manipulate it (slice, reverse, whatever) and the filters and effects applied are entirely your choice.
If you decide to use the cosecha sound, please let me know so that I can link to your work and/or post your audio file here.
Download The Source File
Cosecha – The Compositions
PS011 VA – Cosecha by PublicSpacesLab
