November 16, 2014

IMG_1921

IMG_1927

IMG_1929

My colleague’s sound sample was played and recorded as follows:

  1. Through a 5.5 cm speaker using a small microphone, with both placed in a closed metal box.
  2. Through a 5.5 cm speaker using a small microphone, with both placed in a closed plastic box.
  3. Through a 5.5 cm speaker using a microphone, with both placed in a closed shoebox.
  4. Through a 3.5 cm speaker powered by small tube amplifier using a large microphone, recorded in open studio.
  5. Through a 5.5 cm speaker powered by a tube amplifier, using a small microphone, with the speaker and microphone placed in a closed metal box.
  6. Through a 3.5 cm speaker powered by a tube amplifier, using a small microphone, with the speaker and microphone placed in a closed metal box.
  7. Through a 100-watt guitar amplifier, using a large microphone, recorded in open studio.

The sum of yesterday’s and today’s explorations covered as many bases as were required to process the sample and secure an acceptable outcome (at the very least). On Saturday I’d begun with only an intuition that this was the right way to deal with the project. I could not, then, have rationalized my approach, had I been asked. By the close of today’s activities, the reason why I had processed the sound sample in these ways was revealed. The logic is obvious, and on this wise. The sample I’d sent to my colleague was an acoustic recording of my flatbed scanner scanning the phrase ‘flatbed scanner’. He is currently manipulating the source using digital modulation software. The sample that he sent me was created using the same digital modulation software. I’ve addressed this sample by turning it into an acoustic phenomenon. In short, our respective approaches are mirror images one of another that together (to mix metaphors) complete a conceptual circle.

How did I move from sensing (but not knowing) to fully understanding, or, in other words, from intuition to cognizance? Principally, through writing-up an the account of my exploration in this diary. In so doing, I entered into a discussion with myself: the mind interrogated the heart. As a consequence, my ‘feelings’ and instincts solidified into thoughts and ideas. What can be learned?:

  • Trust your intuition (or at least give it the benefit of the doubt).
  • Not knowing what you are doing does not mean that you’re doing the wrong thing, or doing nothing worthwhile, or won’t know what you’re doing eventually.
  • Have faith in the creative process: it will lead you.
Previous Post
November 15, 2014
Next Post
November 17, 2014

Discover more from John Harvey

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading