Title: Interference
Description: It is an audiovisual sequencer that performs a generative composition of abstract, alien-like sounds and pixelated, distorted visuals that changes over time. Having the idea of visualizing futuristic signal interference from aliens, I explored the abstract nature of both sound and geometrical visual patterns and built a connection between them.
Demo
[For some reason my laptop microphone is broken and I cannot record the sound 🙁 Also, my laptop becomes extremely slow whenever I run Max so the screen recording is not smooth]
Perspective and Context
I keep linking less melodic but more futuristic and abstract sounds to more flexible and open-to-interpretation visuals since I was first exposed to audio visualization. I employed the idea of seeking some sort of regularity within a chaotic context. So I set this project into a situation where the sound is not really catchy but more ambient and the visual has more randomness in its movements with a constant color scheme.
Inspired by Norman McLaren’s works, I chose a bright color combination to provide more visual contrast. To also add my own interpretation of visual music to this project, I decided to have certain sound respond to relatively stand-out visuals so that the audience can relate the idea of “interference” syncing both visually and auditorily.
Development & Technical Implementation
This is the link to my patch.
Below is a screenshot of my entire patch.
- Audio Production
I downloaded 3 sound sources on freesound.org and used a built-in drum beat from Max to support my audio content. I used 4 MIDIs and 2 drum sequencers: one to control the undertone beats and other sound components (see IMG 2), and the other for the base soundtrack manipulation (see IMG 1). To convey the idea of “interference,” I used LFO to change the audio phase and added a feedback delay so that the base track provides a more alien and abstract sound environment.
I repeatedly used other sounds and used 1 oscillator, 1 LFO and 2 effects (Chorus and Flanger) to enrich the sound experience provided by different sound elements. They together sound more futuristic and echo the idea of aliens’ interference.
- Visual Production
I used 2 1PATTERNMAPPERs to create the white glitch in black background interference visual corresponding to the undertone bea/sound.
I used 1 3EASEMAPPER to generate the main colorful visual. The constant changing color variation responds to the base track. I also used 1 ATTRACTR to change the hue/lightness/saturation of the visual.
Presentation
I received really constructive feedback from my own presentation that guided my later-on visual improvement. The visual which is responsive to the beats had a color combination of white and gray during my presentation. I did feel weird and disconnected between this particular scene and the main visual, but I did not realize that some particular colors could actually be picked or filtered out until hearing from my classmates’ and Eric’s suggestion. So I did improve it afterwards by only getting black and white out of the visual.
I was quite impressed by other people’s work also. Although I did express the relevance between audio and visual in my project, I feel like it is not as effective and clear as I expected. For example, having some shrinking/expanding visual elements is really successful in enhancing synesthesia experience. I also did not think about adding human control of audiovisual elements until seeing my peer’s work.
Conclusion
- I found it tricky to get started for this project because I had confusion about which element (audio or video) should be carried out first. This is also why I found myself not being logical enough at the beginning. As I moved forward as well as seeing others’ work, I think it is better to have a stronger concept ahead then start realizing it. For instance, maybe I can think of the visual first, then have an idea of what sound will match with it, vice versa.
- Reflecting on the final result, I think there can be more variations of the visual with a storyline. For instance, the climax part follows the intro, then the piece draws to conclusion in the end. The design of the piece should be more thought through so that the result is more systematic and in control.
- I think there is a lot we can do with Vizzie and Beap and I definitely need more experiments to get more familiar with Max. Do not be afraid of trying them out.