Not a real lot to report on this week. Friday I spent in the studio with composition student Chris Bitoun. I say it every week, but each time I go into the studio I end up with improved results- something which is making producing an increasingly enjoyable experience. For the first time, this week, we tried using over-dubbing to avoid bleed between the microphones. This was an idea Christian gave me during audio arts class, in which we mainly focussed on vocal recording. Using over-dubbing techniques gave me a much greater feeling of control over the recording/production of each instrument in Rainforest. Next Friday, we are going back into the studio to add violin and some percussion to the track, which at the moment only has two piano parts, as well as manual piano effects recorded. Chris and I are spending a fair bit of time with this song, firstly cause it’s a composition which he needs to hand up with a audio recording, and secondly because I’ve decided to use it for my major audio arts project. However, above the bureaucracy, it’s a sparkling composition which deserves the attention it gets and might I add that it’s quite an honour to work with Chris. I know now that we are getting to know each other much better, we have started to work much more effectively in the studio… which makes me think… These local bands who get their demos recorded and made in two or three days- the relationship between producer/band surly is not strong enough to make decent music together. Luckily I’m not stuck in this situation – I can basically spend as long in EMU as I want. Anyway, here’s rainforest (listen to the cool rain effects):



Christian was unable to make it to creative computing on Thursday, which was the first time such a thing had happen to me whilst at uni. I’ve actually often wondered what happens in this situation. Unlike high school it’s not an opportunity to take the piss out of some sorry relief teacher. Ben -I’m sure- can relate to this, lately we’ve been enjoying a bit of "undergraduate humour" (Haines, Christian).

In workshop we again listened to a range of musicians including Mr. Bungle, My Bloody Valentine and Stockhausen. Stockhausen’s work called ‘Hymnen’ (1966/67) primarily contained the instrumentation of a short-wave radio. The result was bizarre and fantastic. The idea of a sporadically tuned radio representing a nation anthem (meaning of the word ‘Hymnen’) seems quite appropriate, especially for a time when electronic music technologies, like the radio, were still a reasonably new idea. The works certainly has given me a bit of inspiration for my creative computing project.

Coming Thursday (the 27th) is mcgherkin’s performance at The Tyndall Assembly. Follow the tyndall link for more information about the show and hopefully I’ll see you there!

Bibliography

Bitoun, Chris. “Rainforest” composed in 2006. Recorded by Jake Morris, courtesy of EMU.

Haines, Christian. "Audio Arts – Vocal Recording". Practical Class presented in the Electronic Music Unit, EMU space, 5th floor (Schulz Building), University of Adelaide (18/05/2006).

Harris , David. "Music Technology Workshop – Mr Bungle, Stockhausen, My Bloody Valentine". Workshop class presented in the Electronic Music Unit, EMU space, 5th floor (Schulz Building), University of Adelaide (18/05/2006).