Manchester wakes // central library dome

Manchester wakes

Manchester wakes // university of Manchester choir

Sound workshop with novars. Experimenting with different sounds, levels and filters.

DAY 7 //
We presented our work in a lecture hall in the new Business School.

Day 10//
Presenting to tutors and receiving feedback

The final presentation of the ideas to the tutors in the lecture hall in the Business School. This was done to allow moderation of the events

Using the software, Audacity , we learnt how to edit the recorded sounds that we got in order to produce a higher quality and more refined recording.

Last day of the events was finished with presentation of our work to other events group. The full animation can be viewed at https://vimeo.com/128558113

8// Linking the animation to specific sounds in the recording and rendering them so that they respond accordingly. We had to identify the exact sounds that we wanted to put into the animation otherwise the spheres would not react as well (there was a lot of background noise before we cleared it up)

7// Our final visuals for our presentation made by Anton. We included annotations using after effects to make the recording clearer to the listener on what it was they were hearing.

Images depicting our final outcome for Constructive Sound, an artistic depiction of different sounds generated across Manchester.

With the four unique sound waves produced and knotted to the frame for stability, we began to complete the structural frame. Adding wooden panels above and below our art piece would focus viewers directly on our art design, as opposed to the way it had been assembled.

Attaching the chiffon fabric to the nylon threads individually was a slow process. However, we had made a collective decision that we wanted to emphasise the delicate nature of our design, and only through the mass use of string could the effect be visible. This process of stitching was repeated for each new ‘wave’.

Fabrics were chosen for their translucency as we wanted viewers to easily contrast the different elements of our installation, looking through one ‘sound wave’ to another. We suspended 68 pieces of nylon wire from the top of our frame, before stitching each piece individually through the chiffon.
They were tied in a manner that created fabric waves, depicted the sound generated by the site.

We constructed the main frame of our design, from which our art installation would suspend from. The wooden pieces were laser cut for accuracy, and were supported and connected together with 25mm pieces of metal tubing.

After the long process of rendering I started the post production of the animation. I created the intro for the video, as well as animated annotations, which clarify the sound sources.

After the sound composition was done, it was then transfered to the animation file, which was made during 1st week. I learned how to set up basic studio lightning, which may help me in my current learning process of 3 Ds Max

During the second weeks of the events we were facing some problems with sound editing software. Falk and Guillaume from Novars kindly agreed to meet us again, in order to fix our problems.

6// Analysing our transect - pinpointing noises we would use in our animation

5// Carrying on with site analysis and looking further into the recordings that we took and why certain sounds were there (events happening in the area, musicians, dancers, policemen).

4// Using a software programme, Blender, we tried to link animations to a recording of a transect through Piccadilly Gardens

09 | Final finished model. It represents the contrast of recorded sounds in four sites: St. Peter's square, Whitworth Art Gallery, Afflecks and Mancunian Way.

08 | Continuing to stitch textiles through threads. Colours represent different sites and together with shapes show contrast between sound qualities.

3// Started to analyse the site in terms of sound and identify sources of sound. Making a simple site model helped break down the different areas of Piccadilly Gardens and why some parts were more noisy than others - something that wasn't entirely clear when just walking on the ground.

DAY 09

Finally! After long hours of sewing and knitting we eventually managed to finish our installation. Each material represents different site - St Peter's Square, Whitworth Art Gallery, Afflecks Palace and Mancunian Way. The shape is the transition of a sound wave received from our recordings. However exciting it sounds, it was very time - consuming idea. Although, worth it!

Day 8//
Looking for inspiring precedents

Day 8//
Today I created sounds diagrams from the sections i drew of the sites.
These show the reflection of the sound waves

Day 7//
I created sound diagrams on the location maps in order to show where the majority of sound was coming from in the recordings.

The sound waves produced from the recording.

Check the link to listen to echoes of the gallery !
https://soundcloud.com/saisai-8/underground-gallerymp3

Day 03 // The site analysis of the underground museum in the Manchester Museum of Science and Industry.

The basic concept of the installation . Diagram shows how the different type of wall would create different type of waves being reflected back by the wall

A photo collage of the proposed site installation on the St. Peter's Square in the Manchester City Center. The installation was thought to be something temporary whilst waiting for the actual sound dampener which is the trees that is planted in the square.

The model that was made using timber. The concept of the model was to reduce the sound reverbaration instead of absorption since it is quite impossible to absorb sound in an outdoor space.

Day 03.
The underground library plan view

Day 10.
Sound diffusion wall

Day 10.
Finished model of sound diffusion wall

Day 09.
Finished cut and fined timber. 20 cm each

Day 09.
At the workshop cutting and finning timber beams for our installtion

Day 02.
Central library sketch

Day 02.
St. Peter's square sketch

Day 05
we attended the Manchester wakes on friday

day 04
we had a workshop session with the NOVARS on how to use some applications to edit sound.

Day 02.
After we were given sites to choose from, we chose St. Peter's square, we went to site and took some pictures and did some recording.

07 | After constructing frame for the installation, we began to sew threads through textiles. They visually represent qualities of sound that we recorded in four sites around Manchester.

DAY SIX // Finalising our installation. 'Cadence' is the name we chose for our installation which means a rhythmic flow of a sequence of sounds. The idea of swinging sound and light gave us inspiration for the name. We also created visual presentations and renderings of the installation.

DAY FOUR// Today, we finally got all the equipment we needed for our conceptual video. Our idea was to use swinging light bulbs along with the recorded sound, to mimic the quality of space of our installation. The video would be quite conceptual, capturing only the essence of our project.

DAY TWO // After visiting our chosen site, we began a series of analysis both on lighting and sound. The sketches and diagrams helped showing the quality of space and the atmosphere. They also gave us inspiration for the design idea of the installation

Day 4

During day 4 the whole group had a workshop on sound related software. The workshop session included tips on how to clean the audio recordings from unnecesarry noise, wind etc and to improve the quality of the sound. The session was followed by the further development of the ideas.

On the Day 3, our group was looking for the ways of visualizing sound and came up with some ideas. The first idea walk through space while recording on binaural microphone, which recreates the location of objects in space. However we couldn’t find special equipment and had to change our idea. We decided to record walk through audio and combining it together with 3d sounds and animation, which will respond to the recording. After the idea was approved, I started developing the 3d animation. I had to learn new software which is called Blender, that can also help me in future. It allows to create different animation, where object can react like real life materials and have same physical properties.

Day 1-2

During the 1st day of the Events “Constructed sound” group was introduced to the objectives and outputs of the event. We were also divided into the groups of 2-4 people. Each group is to undertake site analysis of the chosen sites and to come up with the design idea of the installation. On the 2nd day of the events we were given sound equipment in order to undertake site analysis and record the remarkable sounds of the area.

DAY 08

Today was a long day of construction process. We began with stapling down the mesh and hammering the legs in to create the frames of our installation. After that we moved on to stitching through the threads and then sewing in the sound waves of St. Peter's Square and Whitworth Art Gallery. We still need to add 2 more waves tomorrow but however knitting is quite a tiring task we are enjoying ourselves while doing it!

DAY 6 //
Our video which shows the prototype of the installation is available on https://vimeo.com/128372037
Check it out!

DAY 5 //
We started to filter and organise our visuals into 2 A2 sheets in preparation of the final presentation on Friday to explain the agenda of our idea, process and experiences

Day 6 ( Group 15 Tan Zhi Jie)

2nd day working in exhibition centre. Besides preparing for the exhibition, we did carry out group activities. We created our own posters with orange colour as theme. We are only allowed to use our bare hands to paint. The output turned out pretty well.

DAY 07

Today we spray painted our laser cut elements. We also prepared metal poles and finalised the drawings for the final booklet. Next step: sewing and assembling all the pieces together!

DAY 06

After presenting and discussing our installation idea with the coordinators we processed to laser cutting the wooden elements in order to assemble them later on. Throughout the rest of the day we worked on the analysis necessary for the booklet.

Day 6//
Filming

Day 6//
After polishing off our soundscape we started filming the video which will help us promote our installation.
We used 3 swinging lightbulbs in motion with the beat of the soundscape.

Day 4//
Workshops with NAVARS.
We were shown the ropes of programs such as 'Reaper' to get us started on making our own soundscapes.

06 | Spray painting pieces for installation. We spent the day looking for appropriate materials, preparing timber bits for assembly and also working on process booklet.

DAY 05

On Friday evening we participated in the Manachester Wakes: Workers at Play event at Central Library. We saw the building through various performances such as ukulele band, classical music, choirs and experiments with soundspace becoming more conscious of the sound qualities in the given space.

Day 5 (Group 15 Tan Zhi Jie)

First time working in SpaceportX which is also our exhibition centre. Each of us is responsible to sketch on two sides of a box. We had a group sketching session which allows us to adapt and learn each other's sketching on a piece of paper.

Day 4 ( Group 15 Tan Zhi Jie)

We went to St Clement Church to participate in the Chorlton Art Festival. It was a fun yet lively event. We took the opportunity to share our interest in sketching. We made use of those painted boxes for exhibition of our sketches.

DAY FIVE // Filming and editing our conceptual video for the project. The light bulbs in the video mimic the swing of pendulums, thus creating an effect of our swinging device. The music was edited using panning. This allow the music to swing from the left speaker to the right, creating a pendulum effect.

DAY 4 //
So here is the rendering of our installation. CADENCE!!!

As part of the events week we were asked to attend the Manchester Wakes: Workers at Play event at the Central Library. A diverse range of acts inhabited the Central Library, reimagining the building not as a quiet and studious space, but as a venue for spoken word, choirs, ukulele bands experimental soundscapes.

As a group we began to explore how we might visually convey the sound waves generated in an installation piece. We looked at the works of artists Maggey Casey and Anne Lindberg, drawing inspiration from their use of wire and fabric. Our final proposal drew from investigation of our sites, and aimed to convey the different motions and sound generated at these locations in one comprehensive artwork.

DAY 3 AND 4 //
We finalized the analysis and put them into visual presentation. We also started on the filming of our video which would be the prototype of our installation.

This photograph shows the way Cornelia Parker's work has been suspended from the ceiling at the Whitworth Art Gallery. Strangely enough, we took inspiration from the method of suspension, and not of the actual work of art.

05 | Developing sound installation idea, working on group project presentation, visualizing ideas and design process.

04 | On Friday evening we went to Manchester Wakes event in Central Library. A number of musical spectaculars took place in various spaces, therefore we were able to understand how sound qualities change in different rooms.

On location - recording at the beautiful Whitworth Art Gallery. The newly gained sound awareness has heightened our perception of everything - the glazing included.

Even simply carrying a microphone makes one much more aware of the surrounding sound environment. Moreover, it makes everyone else much more aware of one. It is interesting to see people's reactions, especially at Afflecks.

On location - recording at the Mancunian way roundabout again. This time in a tunnel. Even less safe.

On Location - recording at the Mancunian way roundabout. It doesn't seem to be the safest place, judging from both the visual and the sound environment.

On Location - recording the sounds from two spaces at the ends of this tunnel at Afflecks, NQ.

2// Site analysis - looking at specific sounds and their locations and how they respond in their surroundings. I looked at how these sounds were dispersed and manipulated by surfaces. By using my recording of the periphery of Piccadilly Gardens I analysed sound levels around the site.

Day 3 (Group 15 Tan Zhi Jie)
We joined the Manchester Urban Sketchers for the sketching session of Whitworth Art Gallery. We interviewed some of the sketchers regarding their experience on sketching. Those tips are really beneficial and vital. A group sharing session was carried out in the end of the day.

Day 2 (Group 15 Tan Zhi Jie)
Second sketching session took place at Piccadilly Gardens and the shopping mall Arndale. We also learnt how to sketch the essence of each building by doing sketch within 15 seconds.