owainemyrgwyn

[owainemyrgwyn]

Playing back current video composition W-i-P on the big screen in Studio 2

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Composition process of video clips 

At this point, the video footage from my intensive recording period are being experimented with in a compositional way. The footage is stored on a hard drive in Studio 2 and also backed up on the student server.

I had created an audio composition before beginning this process thinking that it would be easier for me to create the audio composition first, but now my thoughts have changed. I have found it a lot easier to create a visual composition and I’m imagining what the audio should be like during this process and making notes. I have a variety of different clips ranging from water textures to wood and sand, some are layered on top of each other to create interest. 

Once this visual composition is complete, I can then make notes of the timestamps of the clip changes and notes of what visuals are showing for reference when creating the audio composition which will eventually accompany the visual material.

[owainemyrgwyn]

I discovered some very interesting fungal growth under the tree which was perfect for filming and photographing. 

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Using specialist equipment for three days of intensive filming/photographing

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Having to put the tripod on its side to get closer footage

[owainemyrgwyn]

Initiation of sound composition for final project using Ableton Live. 

By using a mix of my own soundscape recordings, samples and synthesis; I was able to begin experimenting with composition for my final piece and conceptual ideas started coming to mind. 

There will be two conflicting themes in terms of sound - one will be that of organic, natural soundscapes which will be accompanied by visuals of untouched natural textures like close-ups of moss and wood, and the other theme will be that of more digital sounds which suggest human interference with the natural world. These sounds will be accompanied by visuals of a specific location in which man has interfered with and changed the landscape from its natural state.

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Studio Session

Sketching out a composition for final project, this process started with experimenting with Arturia’s Yamaha Cs-80 soft synth. A recreation of the synthesiser popularly known as the instrument used by Vangelis to achieve the otherworldly sound design for the original Blade Runner film. 

I found a preset that was close to the sound I wanted and tweaked some parameters until it was almost exactly the sound I had in mind - a thin sounding drone to complement the soundscape recordings. 

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Location shots for second timelapse.

I managed to get some video footage at this location as well. There is a rather big pond in the woods at Stanmer park which was a great location for getting some close up shots of the algae and things floating in the water. Dog walkers seemed very confused at the sight of me with my GoPro and tascam recorder kneeling down at the edge of the Pond! Next step is to loan out a video camera and maybe return to this location. 

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Second timelapse experiment didn’t turn out as good as the first, this one had 5 seconds pause between shots rather than 2. 

Could still potentially be used as a short clip in final piece after speeding it up. 

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timelapse process shot, photos can be seen in sequence on the timeline.

1. create 1080p project 30fps

2. import photos 

3. drag to timeline

4. reduce image duration, select all then right click. choose speed/duration and lower the time to milliseconds. 

5. change half playback to quarter 

6. select all images and ‘Nest’

7. export to 1080p

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Successful result of timelapse shot to potentially use in final AV project

Can be edited later on to speed up or slow down and layer with other shots

Further post production will be required, playing with speed/duration and seeing what sounds would fit appropriately with this clip. 

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Shots of location for timelapse recording with GoPro camera 

Pretty good location with not many people around, caught some good footage of the clouds moving behind the trees to later consolidate into a timelapse of 1200 photos 

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Shot of recording location 

Recording the tree surgeons in operation

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Soundscape recording for submitting to NTS radio 

Also potentially for use in final project composition 

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*Original material*

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*Documentation*

Hardware equipment used for sound experimentations 

- Strymon Big Sky Reverb unit 

- Zoom H1 Sound Recorder 

- Elektron Digitone digital FM Synth

- Dave Smith instruments Prophet ‘08 Analog synthesizer 

[owainemyrgwyn]

*Documentation*

First steps into experimenting with modular synthesis using ‘VCV Rack’ free modular software