FOR
THE
BIRDS
Experience design, creative coding, & sound installation
In 1992 Jim Wilson decided to slow down a recording of some crickets. Inspired by that piece , I decided to test this technique myself by using bird recordings from Cornell's lab of ornithology. Slowing it down and mixing it with other sounds might have fascinating results.
Upon further researching Jim Wilson's piece, there seems to be many speculations of how it was truly created. The true nature in fact might have more human manipulation than it was first though out to be. Possible pitch variation might have been done to produce the melodic varieties that was heard before.
Computer generative audio triggering visuals demo
How can this real time sound manipulation be expressed using the body? I found the answer within an electrical drum set. Taking apart the set and using it a MIDI controller, that can manipulate sound by hitting the pads or by shaking the hit hats to play different sound recordings.
Other physical interaction with the set can also add reverb as well as a panning effect. For an alternative usage of the drum set, I let the computer self generate the sounds based on an L system pattern. In that sense this method can be used as a live looping instrument.
Analog approach.
Generative approach.
A-
Click play to start, use the sliders to control the speed and panning.
Use keys to play different bird tones.
A. Analog approach in p5.js
Analog approach in Max/msp
G-
The generative sequence is trigger by hitting drum pads.
Audio triggers a series of short visuals
