Re: [microsound] laptop performance / locative media

[derek holzer <derek@xxxxxxx>]

Hi Chad,

chad vollrath wrote:

> The MapHub application also has the ability to record the location that 
> the sound came from (given that the person who records it is able to 
> identify the location and enter it into their phone/PDA/or other mobile 
> device).  But I don't know if this would be useful for a performance.
> What do you all think - any ideas?  Feedback?  Does anyone know of any 
> similar projects?

Sounds very similar to a project I am developing for PDAs and webserver 
for STEIM right now:

http://www.umatic.nl/projects_pandev.html

I'll have a deeper look at your project a bit later and maybe we can 
swap notes!

best,
derek

***

The PANDev "Psycho Acoustic Navigational Device"

PANDev is intended to be an sound-gathering and processing application 
written for PDAs and other portable devices running Linux. Its purpose 
is to assist psychogeographers, phonographers and sound artists in the 
collection and arrangement of environmental sound material for research 
and creative purposes. PANDev is conceived to remove the isolating 
intentionality of the specialist--the artist, the geographer, the 
ecologist, the phonographer, the biologist, the ethnographer, the 
sociologist, etc--and replace it with a more accessible and holistic 
method of gathering sounds. When activated, PANDev will take random 
sound samples at random lengths and intervals. A simple interface or 
command line can be given to specify approximate times, but all specific 
recording is left to the application. Connected to the PDA will be a set 
of binaural microphones hidden inside quite normal-appearing walkman 
headphones. The microphones will reproduce exactly the acoustic 
conditions around the wearer, including such important psychoacoustic 
spatial cues as front, back, left, right, above, below and relative 
distance.

Using PANDev

To use PANDev, all the user need do is input an approximate length of 
time to record and an approximate level of randomization. The 
application does the rest, and the user is free to travel through their 
environment or carry out their day-to-day life. Whether the user chooses 
to seek out acoustically-interesting settings or even perform for the 
microphone is of little relevance simply because they will not know 
exactly when PANDev is capturing sounds. Thus, a more "natural" approach 
is recommended. The resulting sounds may be as banal as they are sublime 
or exciting, but they are absolutely guaranteed to provide a unique 
insight into the user's acoustic environment.

Optional Extensions to PANDev

Remixing Experience
PANDev has several other optional extensions. The first would be the 
ability to "remix" the sound material gathered at the end of the 
session, with a number of general subjective parameters including 
"rhythmic", "drone", "jagged", "smooth", "quiet", "loud", "linear", 
"disassociated", etc. An algorithmic composition can then be rendered 
and exported in WAV, AIFF, OGG, or MP3 format. It is important to keep 
in mind the extremely limited computing possibilities of a PDA [no 
floating point processor, for example, which most audio processing 
applications depend on!], therefore these algorithmic compositions must 
be considered as both pushing the hardware to the limits of its 
capabilties as well as an excercise in getting the most out of very 
little. Additionally, they provide a new way of remixing daily 
existance, with the aim of highlighting previously unnoticed details.

Cartographical Visualization
The second requires the use of a GPS unit attached to the PDA, from 
which PANDev would determine geographic coordinates to tag all sound 
samples gathered. These GPS-tagged sound samples could then be exported 
to a cartographic mapping system, either in realtime via a network [see 
below], or locally when each session is completed. For public 
exhibition, a running audio/visual display of the sounds gathered in the 
area could be maintained in a public or online space in collaboration 
Sara Kolster, a graphic and video artist from the Umatic group. See the 
following for an example of cartographic representation:

http://berlin.soundscpae-fm.net

Network Awareness
The third involves the using the built-in WIFI of the PDA to activate 
the network potential of the unit. PANDev will regularly scan the local 
area network of the WIFI card for other units operating the same 
software. If another PANDev is located, the two seperate units could 
exchange audio data, thereby expanding each individual's realm of 
experience. The unit could also upload sounds gathered, along with 
cartographic data, to a central server in order to provide either 
rela-time monitoring, or the possibility for a sound artist to make a 
performative live-mix of the action in progress.

--
derek holzer ::: http://www.umatic.nl
---Oblique Strategy # 149:
"Take a break"

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