In his newest blog post, Paul Virostek of Creative Field Recording examines an interesting question: If we're able to recolorize black and white films, can we do the same with audio? The article discusses unique techniques and tools like visual microphones, which transcend regular audio restoration and offer the possibility of creating audio that would have been present in the … [Read more...]
Hard Patching: Modular Synths
The first time I saw a modular synth, I was taken aback by the massive nest of patching cables, seemingly flying off in all directions and connecting various devices with countless knobs and flashing lights, somehow creating all kinds of strange sounds. Coming up in a mostly digital world, such a mass of wiring was somewhat foreign to me. Sure, I had put together studios … [Read more...]
“ADC, it’s easy as 1 10 11” – A Retrospective from the Pros
I was born in England in 1988. Some of my earliest memories involve old BBC and Mac computers. I grew up listening to CDs, MiniDisks, playing "Duck Hunt" on my sister's NES. The dial-up modem sounds are imprinted on my memory. I recall my father ordering books from Amazon.com back when that's all Amazon sold. In my teen years I assembled my own computer to save money and grew … [Read more...]
“Hearing Lips and Seeing Voices” – The McGurk Effect
Want to see something that’ll mess with your head? [youtube]http://youtu.be/73LE1vKGfy4[/youtube] Now, you may not have noticed anything all that strange watching the video, but mute the sound and watch it again. After that, close your eyes and listen to just the audio. Notice anything strange now? You’ve just witnessed one of the more interesting perceptual illusions, … [Read more...]
Sonic Architecture
"Sound is a spatial event, a material phenomenon and an auditive experience rolled into one. It can be described using the vectors of distance, direction and location. Within architecture, every built space can modify, position, reflect or reverberate the sounds that occur there. Sound embraces and transcends the spaces in which it occurs, opening up a consummate context for … [Read more...]
Join Designing Sound at the AES 137 Conference in Los Angeles!
After the rousing success of our meetup at last year's show in New York (seriously, it was great!), we've decided to do it again this year! So, come join us for food and drinks at Tom's Urban on Thursday, October 9th, at 8:30 PM. Both Shaun and I will be there and we look forward to meeting all of you! More info and how to RSVP after the jump. … [Read more...]
An Acousmatic Invitation
An epiphany Silence! Be quiet! Because listening is active, because the birds have already left but their sound still reverberates. Silent all ears that listen, stunned by the noise that is gone but still relishes. The soundtrack? Our life! That one of changes, transition, mutation and mysteries, that one able to peer into the recesses of the deepest realities, responsible for … [Read more...]