madsounds

Videos and Sounds

2006-03-12T23:21:00.000Z

It's kind of ironic that we haven't posted any sounds on this blog yet..
Below are some video clips with sounds from a 17min movie we made. Each clip is 7-10MB (.mov).

- What is OTTO 1.1 and how does it work?

- How does OTTO sound like?
(Better to turn volume up. The sounds were recorded in domestic environments and followingly edited and processed using custom made filters on MAX/MSP. The 'ambient music' at the end is a mix of these sounds using basic effects like looping, change of pitch etc. and was sampled by Mathias Gmachl.)

also:
- An introduction to madsounds

- What on earth were we thinking?

- OTTO's Industrial Design

OTTO in the IDE Interim Show at the RCA

2006-02-16T00:17:00.000Z

Madsounds and OTTO are now exhibited at the IDE Interim Show 2006 at the Royal College of Art.

From the show:

"Walls swinging, floors trembling, rain falling and ants walking; every object in our environment has a whisper that is often undetectable to the human ear. What if these sounds were audible? How would that change our aural awareness, perception of space and attitude towards objects? Would it make it possible to 'compose' our own soundtrack using our walls and objects as new forms of instruments?

Mad sounds is a proposal for a different appreciation of our environment, space and objects; by making it possible to identify, combine and manipulate these sounds.

We designed OTTO (greek for 'ear'); a device that makes hidden sounds audible. This is achieved via a thin polymer piezoelectric contact that senses weak vibrations and plays them as a sound through an integrated speaker. OTTO can be positioned on almost any surface through a combination of suction and magnets. By placing several units on different objects, one can select and create a new sonic experience and a form of ambient music appreciation, thereby utilising our space as a multidirectional audio platform."

OTTO 1.1 in service

2006-02-13T15:41:00.000Z

and its name is... OTTO 1.1

2006-02-13T14:04:00.000Z

We decided to name our device 'OTTO', which stands for 'ear' in greek. A prototype of OTTO, just out of the SLA rapid-prototype is illustrated below:

Latest recordings

2006-02-02T01:05:00.000Z

Some of the recordings to be used in the IDE Interim Show (sounds of the city, melting ice)

Chancho the goldfish

2006-01-26T00:50:00.000Z

Final Presentation

2006-01-21T22:49:00.000Z

some slides from our final presentation to IDE, which summarize the project up to this point.

design proposal for our space in the IDE Interim Show.

Microphone evaluation

2006-01-12T15:35:00.000Z

We attached the piezo buzzer, the Shadow guitar pickup and the piezoelectric film on a window and recorded their response to evaluate their quality.
After the recordings we performed a Fourier spectrum analysis of the sound-data.

Piezo-film analysis:

Piezo-buzzer analysis:

The comparisson shows a better response of the piezo-film, especially in the mid-range frequencies. Second came the guitar with the buzzer last, as expected.

Another factor that we evaluated was the unwanted noise levels picked up by the mics. Again, the piezo-film showed the lowest noise levels compared to the other two.

Microphone+Preamp development

2006-01-09T22:44:00.000Z

Microphone development from up-left, clockwise:

- Piezo-element used in cheap sound-buzzers. Piezoelectric material is layered on a thin copper substrate. We used the 'inverse' effect of the buzzer, hence mechanical vibtrations are converted to weak electrical signals.
- Small electret-type microphone.
- Acoustic guitar pick-up (Shadow SH711). The piezoelectric element is of higher quality and better shielded against noise.
- Piezo-electric film which offers several advantages, e.g. flexibility

Because of high-impendance and low signal of acoustic pickups, we tried using different pre-amp circuits in order for better recordings. Most of these circuits were taken out of cheap commercial electronics. By trying different configurations of we found out the right choise of pre-amp is crucial to get a clear signal as possible, especially if it is combined with filtering capabilties (EQ).

Microphone-preamp combinations.

During recording, it was evident that external noise was an issue. One factor which infunced that was cables and exposed circuits. We replaced excisting wires with special shielded audio cable.

First tests

2006-01-09T22:40:00.000Z

This was posted a month ago, but I post it again for reasons of consistency with the next post.

Piezo attached on wall..

Second version with amplifier..

Third version with stronger amplifier..

We attached the piezos on various places around my flat. These include:
- freezer
- thermostat
- radiator
- water pipes
- window
- coffee-maker..

radiator sounds..

the sounds of London from my window..

These sounds were recorded on a computer. Listening to the 'raw' sound files we realized that it is difficult to distinguish the various elements (e.g. flowing water, motors, voices etc.) so we used special software (Sound Studio) to filter through different frequencies..

Unfortunately we haven't found a way yet to upload sounds on the blog..

design direction

2006-01-08T19:16:00.000Z

I want the design of the device to reflect the forms of classic microphones and classic/high-end/aviation headphones. As well as being beautiful objects they are pieces of audio technology that people can easily relate to; they are automatically associated with input (mic) and output (headphone) and are identifiable to the user. I feel that the look should be more minmal and reflecting the function rather than retro.

I am particularly interested in the 'spur' like connecton that allows the main unit to connect to the stand/headband. I think the same type of mechanism could be used to place sensors (i.e contact microphones) against a surface in a similar way to our original tone-arm idea but also be used to attach the device to a surface (leverage for suction cups and/or pins).

keywords\inspiration in relation to the object

2006-01-08T18:57:00.000Z

input and output

2006-01-08T18:38:00.000Z

Here's a list I made up of the various input sources within a basic domestic environment.
I boiled this down to 5 locations points that we can use in the installation in Feb'.

hands-free-headset

2006-01-05T20:21:00.000Z

I thought this was cool

Sound Effects techniques

2006-01-04T17:03:00.000Z

from Wikipedia's 'Sound Effects' site:

'... As the car example demonstrates, the ability to make multiple simultaneous recordings of the same subject—through the use of several DAT or multitrack recorders—has made sound recording into a sophisticated craft, and allows the sound effect to be shaped by the sound editor or sound designer, not just for realism, but for emotional effect.

Once the sound effects are recorded or captured, they are usually loaded into a computer integrated with an audio non-linear editing system. This allows a sound editor or sound designer to heavily manipulate a sound to meet his needs.

The most common sound design tool is the use of layering to create a new, interesting sound out of two or three old, average sounds. For example, the sound of a bullet impact into a pig (from the above example) may be mixed with the sound of a melon being gouged to add to the "stickiness" or "gore" of the effect. If the effect is featured in a close-up, the designer may also add an "impact sweetener" from his library. The sweetener may simply be the sound of a hammer pounding hardwood, equalized so that only the low-end can be heard. The low end gives the three sounds together added weight, so that the audience actually "feels" the weight of the bullet hit the victim. If the victim is the bad guy, and his death is climactic, the sound designer may add reverb to the impact, in order to enhance the dramatic beat. And then, as the victim falls over in slow motion, the sound editor may add the sound of a broom whooshing by a microphone, pitch-shifted down and time-expanded to further emphasize the death. If the movie is a science-fiction film, the designer may phaser the whoosh to give it a more sci-fi feel. (For a list of many the sound effects processes available to a sound designer, see the bottom of this article.)

'Vibroblaster' and 'iZ'-synthesizer

2006-01-04T12:38:00.000Z

The vibroblaster is similar to the Soundbug concept, probably more robust, smaller and maybe more powerfull, but more expensive and unclear yet whether it has a mounting mechaqnism (sucker).

Vibroblaster

What about this funny creature as a synthesizer?
"iZ lets you create your own music by pressing his belly to start and select from a choice of beats. Once you find a sound you like, move iZ's right ear to add a little rhythm to the equation, and turn his left ear to find a suitable musical lead.."
iZ
watch the video..
iZ video

frequency modulation

2006-01-02T16:45:00.000Z

I've been looking into how synthesisers work; frequency modulation, phase distortion, etc. Wikipedia has been good.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Synthesiser

During my search for components and a better understanding of the technology I came across this 'function generator' at Maplin (quite expensive). Check out the discription of possible applications.

http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=35227&criteria=frequency&doy=2m1

To change non-hearable frequencies and vibrations into audio signal and also for scanning through the spectrum of input this might be the technology we need to investigate further.

soundbug

2006-01-02T15:45:00.000Z

I think the sound bug is a great wee product although it doesn't look very nice. In a way it does the reverse of what we are doing with contact microphones. I'd be interested to see the contact point between the surface and the device looks like. If it is piezo electric maybe the technology could be transformed into a mic like the simple buzzers we had.

The device is attached to the wall using suction like the glass carrying device I bought. Because there is no substantial weight a gentle twist action creates the vacuum which is much more elegent than a big lever (see the soundbug quiktime clip in the bowling alley).

I want to get loads of these sound bugs (you can combine 2 to for stereo), splice them together and place them all over the interior surfaces to make my whole room into a large speaker :)

http://www.soundbug.biz/

ultracane - working with the brain

2006-01-02T14:55:00.000Z

Some basic info from the ultracane website on the Superior Colliculus; the part of the brain that deals with sensory information and helps develop spatial awareness. I'm going to research more into this. I think Matthias mentioned was talking about this when discussing how the brain processes audio information in an efficient way.

http://www.soundforesight.co.uk/working_with_the_brain.htm

ultracane aka 'batcane'

2006-01-02T14:49:00.000Z

Here is an interesting piece of technology that relates to some of our initial concepts on the perception of space and environment through sound. It uses ultrasound/echo-location like bats to give the blind and partially sighted more information about their physical surroundings than a normal cane. Interestingly the ultracane provides tactile feed-back through buttons and not through sound because they don't want to interfer with the normal hearing ability of the user.

http://www.soundforesight.co.uk/index.html

pick-up technology

2005-12-30T20:19:00.000Z

An easy to understand explanation of the technology used in
magnetic pick-ups which I presume is used in the Troika
device and in the headphones of Christina Kubisch

http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A3176165

electromagnetic interference detector

2005-12-30T20:03:00.000Z

This device picks up radio frequency and electromagnetic interference presumably using the same coil and intermodulation technology as the guitar pick-ups but better for monitoring changes in ambient electromagnetic activity.

http://www.geosensory.com/erd-1500.htm

pickups

2005-12-27T15:28:00.001Z

this is a good start-link for the EM-sounds.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pickup_%28music%29

i guess we are interested in the single-coil ones. i'll be updating this post if i come across anything interesting about EM-sounds..
cheers & happy Xmas

ps. a good resource for information on experimental music devices (especially pick-ups) and on-line store. usefull..

http://www.windworld.com/products/pu_info.htm

robotic sound sculptures in helsinki

2005-12-18T02:04:00.000Z

http://www.fundacion.telefonica.com/at/vida/paginas/v3/erinaldo.html

I saw this great alien (artificial) intelligence exhibition in Helsinki in 2000. This installation has robotic sculptures that produced noises and talk/listened to each other. I've got some great pictures in Glasgow that I will scan and post.

There are a lot of possiblities to integrate some reactive and collective activity in our concept.

silence of the lands

2005-12-18T01:48:00.000Z

an interesting project about capturing ambient sounds and linking them with the place of recording. Also see it at we-make-money-not-art.com

http://www.thesilence.org/