Assignment 1 - Lucas

MPM42a/b

New Media Production

4^th year student’s senior PROJECT SYNOPSIS template document

Fall-Winter 2011-12

Due: 2nd class September 2011

Instructors: Jessica FIELD, Lila PINE, Priam GIVORD

Below are the features to include in your 1^st Project Synopsis document. It is an indicative list (non-exhaustive) of the first things to put down when starting, we would like to see them all addressed and more if you see fit.

Please bear in mind that this is going to be part of the first mark given for 4^th year.

__category of the work

Sound installation/sound piece

__artistic and technological references

The Edge utilizes many new media technologies to create the sounds heard throughout the piece. The Reactable is a source of influence for creating my own tangible user interfaces. Furthermore, Nietzsche's writings on transhumanism ("the Ubermensch") and utopian society influences the universe created within the concept album.

                •Reactable - http://www.reactable.com/

                •Friedrich Nietzsche - Thus Spoke Zarathustra, The Gay Science, Human, All Too Human

__descriptive text of 10 lines mini, for example: what it is going to feel like experiencing your work? What is it about, what is its message?

I: The Edge by Supercompact Wormhole Propulsion is a concept album about a far future where Earth's single, science-driven nation sends eight astronauts to find the edge of the universe. The journey is conducted on a super-advanced spacecraft that takes them through a massive wormhole, sending the travelers through infinite dimensions, to the farthest reaches of deep space. In the emptiness they descend into madness until they are drawn to the edge of the universe. The album is divided into three movements: "From Earth",  "Supercompact Wormhole Propulsion", and "The Edge". As the narrative progresses through the movements the tone shifts from utopian grandeur, to lonely despair, and finally to the edge of sheer madness. The journey of the eight astronauts warns the listener of being blinded by the hopes of a technological utopia,  but also reflects that of our own technologically saturated society. The tracks are comprised of digitally processed acoustic instruments, electronic drum programming, and ambient soundscapes. These three sonic elements represent the astronauts, the spacecraft (Skyfish), and the infinite space that surrounds them, respectively. I: The Edge utilizes a variety of new media techniques to create the soundscapes heard throughout the tracks. These include glitching audio Hz rates, tangible user interface-based musical instruments, and processing acoustic instruments through Processing and Pure Data programs. The album will be integrated with Mac Pepler's video installation and Steve Wright's sculptures, each drawing up different themes from the album. I: The Edge will also be printed onto vinyl and compact discs, as well as being hosted on a website for free download.

__materials and technologies required

For the installation, see Mac Pepler's list of materials.

For recording the album:

An array of microphones

XLR and 1/4 sound cable

Audio mixer

DAW's

Various musical instruments

Various constructed instruments

__Include potential fabrication difficulties that can happen during project making this year

Recording an entire album in such a small amount of time could be quite difficult to juggle with a regular school schedule.  Furthermore, getting an album printed on vinyl and/or compact disc can be costly.