Author: Gabriel Chi

Link to Github: https://gist.github.com/gabrielchi/989a29990d74c9fc9a1655292595c090

For this assignment, we were tasked with combining the synthesizer we created in class with a completely new one. This new synthesizer would follow the same formula as the original, however all of the effects used had to be completely different. For the oscillators, I just changed them to use the box wave and sine wave. For the second synthesizer, I added the effects of a sync delay and a flanger, which each drastically changed the sound from the original synth.

For the sync delay, I made it so the delay would follow dotted quarter notes (1/4 notes), to give some sort of rhythm to the overall sound. For the flanger, it creates a strong resonant effect that made the audio signal’s peaks and troughs more intense, creating a more warped sound. This was fed into an audio mixer, which the first synth was also fed into, and then finally the stereo to produce sound.

To me, I felt that the sound was produced was very reminiscent of something out of a sci-fi or retro video game. Although the sound I created was still at a very beginner level, synths in general remind me a lot of old video games or movies like Blade Runner. 

In Alvin Lucier’s “I Am Sitting in a Room”, Lucier explores the extremes that one can take with sound. Throughout the entire piece, Lucier records himself reciting a phrase, which is continually repeated and re-recorded on tape. With each new recording, Lucier’s phrase becomes increasingly harder to discern, slowly blending into the resonant frequencies of the room in which he records. A single phrase becomes an abstract soundscape, where the drone and decay of noise completely replace any recognizable aspect of the original recording.

What I found extremely interesting when listening to this piece was the use of resonant frequencies to create abstract sound art. In the latter half of the piece, I started noticing different, new sounds that were actually being created through the process of re-recording (overtones & low end frequencies). Lucier almost uses the recordings and the room’s own resonant frequencies as an instrument, producing completely new sound from a completely different source. Before listening to this, I would have never expected that a single recording and a room would be able to create such an intriguing auditory experience. 

Github Link: https://gist.github.com/gabrielchi/d0f8aa8f91e66ac0b1024b2b9851c60a

For my exercise, I wanted to completely distort the provided class video and combine them together to create a completely new visual. 

For my patch, I used 2 players, and 1 grabber, which I fed through several effects. For my player on the far right, I put it through fogger, which distorted the video to a grainy, pixelated version of the original. I also fed the grabber, which used my computer’s webcam video, into FRACTALIZR, which split up the webcam video horizontally and vertically. I tweaked the settings to make the webcam into multiple videos in a grid like pattern. I then put both videos into CHROMAKEYR, which combined both videos into one, which was fed into the MIXFADR, which control the combination between the first two videos and my last player. For the last player, I left it without any effects and fed it directly into the MIXFADR, which fed into a BRCOSR, where I could tweak the overall brightness, contrast and saturation of the overall videos. All of this was finally fed into the projector, which allowed me to see my visuals in realtime. 

Video:

Find one representative example from popular culture (music, art, literature, etc.) of synesthesia and write a blog post explaining how synesthesia is present in this cultural artifact, what the significance of it is, and give your opinion about your views on this artifact now that you have a better understanding of synesthesia is. Reference the reading in your response to make your case. Your reflection should be two paragraphs in length.

Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VXoJjgxMj9M

When thinking up examples of synesthesia within popular culture, a specific movie immediately came to mind: Disney’s Ratatouille. In the movie, a rat ventures into the streets of Paris with the ambitions of becoming a world renowned chef. Throughout the movie, Remy (the rat), is shown to posses the unique trait of synesthesia. When tasting food, he is shown to experience the different tastes as colors and shapes, a strong example of synesthesia. As stated in “Synesthesia, a Neurological Phenomenon”, “In the area of genuine synesthesia, the scientific literature most frequently describes colored hearing, in which spoken word s, letters, numbers, voices , or sounds activate visual impress ions like colors and/ or figures , so-called photisms.” Remy’s synesthesia is even unique among those with the trait, as “The perception of photisms is less frequently triggered by taste, smell, or when a person feels pain.” 

I believe the representation of synesthesia within popular culture and movies such as Ratatouille is a fun and creative way of shining light on a relatively unknown trait within certain people. There might be a tendency to classify it as a mental illness, however as it does not severely interfere with one’s life, to classify synesthesia as so is unfair for those with it. By normalizing synesthesia amongst our community, I believe we can open different avenues of creativity for those with the trait, and open a dialogue where it can be further studied and understood. 

Github Link: https://gist.github.com/gabrielchi/57e1149a084d96f475caa4f915287c3b

When working on the assignment, I originally thought that we were required to make two separate arpeggiators, one which would play the normal sequences and another that played random sequences. However, after clarification, I realized that the randomizer was actually not an arpeggiator, but rather a supplement to the original arpeggiator. 

After realizing this mistake, I created a new player which is essentially the same as the original, up until the counter. Instead of the counter object, I changed it to the random object, which receives a message from the bang and outputs it as a random number within the parameters of 0-100. This output will then send the number through the number block and feed it back into the original  arpeggiator, later to be inputed into the make note and output as a sound through the make note object. Additionally, using the addition object, you can set a consistent ratio between the notes, I chose a +6 difference in pitch from the first to second note and a -5 difference in pitch between the second and third note. After setting the random player to play every 2 seconds before randomizing, I just went through and checked to make sure everything worked as planned.