The word “audience” is derived from the Latin word “audire”, which means “hear”. From musique concrète to pop music, radio imaging to radio dramas, audio books to audio tours, there are still times in our overly sensory stimulated lives when we’re asked to simply, “just, listen”. Typically though, whenever you’re playing the role of an “audience” member (whether you’re watching a film, a theatrical performance, playing a video game or exploring an art installation), sound often plays its role alongside other elements in support of a greater piece of work.
This month we are going to be taking a look at “pure” sound design, sourced from the sonic mountain range. Instances where sound plays the central (perhaps the sole) role in a piece of work.
Some of us capture and document sounds designed purely by nature in the field. Others design sounds from props to be recorded in their studios. Some of us, patch cables in hand, tweak and tinker into the wee hours of our mornings in an attempt to design the perfect sound.
Then there are those of us who design the tools by which we recreate sound and the way in which it propagates within a space. The loudspeaker designers and acousticians of the world create the context within which we are permitted to be an audience member.
So close your eyes and hold your breath as we explore what pure sound design means to you?
(disclaimer: continued respiration and visual cognitive processing will be nessecarary to appreciate most of the site content this month)
If you’ve something to say or something you’d like to see, send us your thoughts, or post them below/to Facebook, or start up a conversation on Twitter!
Please email richard [at] this site to contribute an article for this month’s topic. And as always, please feel free to go “off-topic” if there’s something else you’re burning to share with the community.