I did the “The Contest Nobody Could Win” assignment. It is a guessing game, where one must guess which songs make up a very short audio recording. Please don’t post your answers so that others can play too.
I used Audacity to create a mix of 6 one second segments from 6 different songs. I used Soundcloud to share the mix.
Although my mix is useful for nothing more than a guessing game, replacing the origin of the audio from songs to presidential speeches(for example) would be helpful for creating a combined theme of several speeches.
[soundcloud url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/68097384″ iframe=”true” /]
Image Source: DS106 website
Which audio assignment will you be doing.
I decided to pick a song by popular artist Jay Z and “Chipmunk it” like Alvin and Chipmunks would do it. Song name is “99 Problems” and Jay Z performed it during Obama presidential election rally.
What hardware and software will you be using.
For mixing I used Virtual DJ Home 7 and my laptop.
A statement about how this approach to storytelling might be used to make an historical argument.
Chipmunked audio can be used as an interesting and unusual approach to make a historical argument. While working on this project I came to realization that chipmunking has a potential to have two different effects on the final outcome – positive or negative. By this, I mean if the original product is presented by respectable person and in the serious manner, the chipmunked version will turn it to funny and unimportant. In a case of any US president speeches no matter how important or urgent is the message, urgency and importance will disappear in the chipmunked version.
On the other hand, there are cases when performer uses inappropriate expressions such as explicit lyrics, unethical views or even incite hatred and violence. Products of this nature cannot be presented to certain audiences such as young adults. Using chipmunk effect will put a positive spin on this inappropriate product and, at the same time, will be able to historically preserve this artifact without destroying it. Perfect example is Jay Z and most of his songs that are filled with bad language and messages. After applying chipmunk effect the song became much “friendlier”. I would not even be surprised if one day Hollywood would use it in one of their funny kids cartoons.
To summarize, chipmunking effect on the audio product provides an interesting and unique opportunity where we can twist the message and at the same time make a historical arguments. Similar methods are used in politics and other areas of life where people want to emphasize certain messages that are convenient to them, and make extra effort to veil others that are undesirable.
The assignment I have chosen to take on is Forced Collabo, in which you must construct a new song combining artists you may never have thought to work together. This assignment struck me because of its potential for some really interesting results. You get the opportunity not only to rewrite history but to create a new story in which you are the author. With all of this in mind, I came to the conclusion that I would mix “By the Time I Get To Arizona” by Public Enemy with “Cybele’s Reverie” by Stereolab. While both of these groups operated during the same period, early 1990’s, they clearly come from two very different worlds, sonically and physically.
The hardware I am using to create my project is a Roland SP-404sx sampler recording into Logic Express. With the sampler I am able to assign different sections of each song to a specific pad and then play, edit, and record all in real-time.
Roland SP-404sx
I believe that through this process of combining separate elements of music, whether seemingly opposed, can prove telling about the nature of music itself and how people relate to sounds throughout the world. Technology such as the sampler has given musicians a tool in which they can create new music by breathing life into the work of others, sometimes long forgotten soul 45’s and maybe other times top 40. In either instance, the sampler, since its inception, has served as the greatest force against exploitative copyright law and continues to leave music in the hands of its rightful owner, the musician.
Not many people are familiar with the sounds of the ocean, 100 miles from shore, and the sound of reels screaming while tuna fishing out there. I will be producing a short audio recording from one of my tuna trips out of the eastern tip of Long Island (have some of them on video). I will be using my mac, and the software is audacity. This approach to story telling can offer a very “real” experience of a certain event and the listeners may be able to get a better thrill hearing this aspect rather than reading about it or seeing pictures.
Which audio assignment will you be doing.
The audio assignment I had chosen is “Chipmunk it”. Its remixing a pop culture songs to mimic the effect as if a chipmunk was singing it.
What hardware and software will you be using.
The hardware I uses its a computer. The software I use is VirtualDJ.
A statement about how this approach to storytelling might be used to make an historical argument.
This approach to storytelling might be used to make an historical argument because it create a new way of looking at the music and how it change over the years. Also, people obsession with “chipmunking” songs. Examining the popularity of “chipmunked” songs, and raise the questions why Chipmunked music is so popular?
[soundcloud url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/67862851″ iframe=”true” /]
The chipmunk audio approach to storytelling could be used to make an historical argument by comparing the effect of the chipmunk audio to the intended audiences. For example some of the questions that arise while chipmunking an audio is does the message still get delivery as intended of the original author, does the message still hold values and significant meanings and will it have the same impact. For example if we chipmunked the 2012 presidential debate, will the listeners of the debate feel the same way about their candidate. Will they know who is saying what? Or will they take them seriously? And will they vote base on the messages or change their views.
Also, for the maker of the chipmunk 2012 presidential debate, is he or she saying that both candidates are essentially the same. Does the author want the voters to listen to the message rather than the tone and delivery?
Another example is chipmunking historical speeches. As we mentions in class, if we chipmunked Dr.King’s I have a dream speech, and play it to an audiences whom have no knowledge that its Dr.King, will they still feel the same way about the message, will it be impact and emotions be felt the same way. My guess is probably not but does it signify the important of the speakers who delivering the speech?
In conclusion, I believe chipmunking an audio is an interesting approach to storytelling and making a historical arguments, because it have several intended ways of producing a story, by hiding anonymity of the author and changing the delivery of the contents.
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