I just happend to have my Samson Zoom H2 audio recorder on me because I was coming from band practice with JC Cassis and company, so I was able to capture a high-quality MP3 recording of Ari and Steven’s performance.  Unfortunately, it took me a minute to fumble with the recorder in the dark, so I missed the first couple minutes of the performance.  Nonetheless, here it is:

The original post below:

For my audio portrait of Ruby the Elephant, I sought to “paint” a portrait through sound in the same way Ruby painted her paintings with a brush and paint–using bold brushstrokes and vivid colors; abstract, yet struggling to communicate something deeper that cannot be easily expressed.  I cut up the narrative structure of Ruby’s backstory, interspersed it the Ruby Baby track, along with my interpretation of what it would have sounded like when Ruby played the xylophone.  Thus, cutting, pasting, and rearranging are my parallel techniques to Ruby’s paint splatters.  I wanted to honor Ruby by making my portrait of her to sound like how her paintings look.

The picture above is an image of a Ruby painting.

Ruby Baby by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller, performed by Björk Guðmundsdóttir & Tríó Guðmundar Ingólfssonar.

See also: Sketches of Ruby and Ruby Research Links.

[Blip.tv] [YouTube] [Vimeo]

I presented my final project for Intro to Computational Media today.  Building on the work I did with the Musical Typewriter, I ended up making some last minute tweaks to my “musical typeface,” which consists of audio samples corresponding to each letter of the alphabet.  Originally I had used all single-hit percussion sounds, but I reworked the alphabet to include short musical phrases or gestures, and brought in wind and string instrument samples for greater musicality and richness.  The final version of my Processing program reads a text file and “translates” the text into music by playing back the samples corresponding to the letters of the words as musical phrase “cluster.”

While playing back a text as a song, the Processing sketch also simultaneously displays the word corresponding to the musical sample cluster being played and visualizes the frequency waves of the music on the screen.  Refer to the screenshot above.

For my in-class performance, I used the lyrics to the HEPNOVA track Post-Modern Poster Child and reinterpreted words through the Musical Typewriter.  [MP3] [AIFF]

During my presentation, I also Rick Rolled the class with Rick Astley’s immortal lyrics played through my program.

Source code after the jump.

My source code for my ICM final project, a self-playing version of the Musical Typewriter [2] [3].

import ddf.minim.signals.*;
import ddf.minim.*;
import ddf.minim.analysis.*;
import ddf.minim.effects.*;
import processing.video.*;

// Declare MovieMaker object
//MovieMaker mm;
Minim minim;
WaveformRenderer waveform;
//AudioSample objects for each letter of the alphabet
AudioSample play_a;
AudioSample play_b;
AudioSample play_c;
AudioSample play_d;
AudioSample play_e;
AudioSample play_f;
AudioSample play_g;
AudioSample play_h;
AudioSample play_i;
AudioSample play_j;
AudioSample play_k;
AudioSample play_l;
AudioSample play_m;
AudioSample play_n;
AudioSample play_o;
AudioSample play_p;
AudioSample play_q;
AudioSample play_r;
AudioSample play_s;
AudioSample play_t;
AudioSample play_u;
AudioSample play_v;
AudioSample play_w;
AudioSample play_x;
AudioSample play_y;
AudioSample play_z;

// Variable to store text currently being typed
//String typing = “”;
String[] lyrics;
// Variable to store saved text when return is hit
String saved = “”;
int i;
int counter = 0;  //frame counter for vibration
int play = 0;

void setup()
{
minim = new Minim(this);
size(1440,800);
//mm = new MovieMaker(this, width, height, “pomo.mov” , 30, MovieMaker.H263,
//MovieMaker.HIGH);
background(0);
textFont(createFont(“Courier”, 60));
textAlign(CENTER);

play_a = minim.loadSample(“A.mp3″, 1440);
play_b = minim.loadSample(“B.mp3″, 1440);
play_c = minim.loadSample(“C.mp3″, 1440);
play_d = minim.loadSample(“D.mp3″, 1440);
play_e = minim.loadSample(“E.mp3″, 1440);
play_f = minim.loadSample(“F.mp3″, 1440);
play_g = minim.loadSample(“G.mp3″, 1440);
play_h = minim.loadSample(“H.mp3″, 1440);
play_i = minim.loadSample(“I.mp3″, 1440);

play_j = minim.loadSample(“J.mp3″, 1440);
play_k = minim.loadSample(“K.mp3″, 1440);
play_l = minim.loadSample(“L.mp3″, 1440);
play_m = minim.loadSample(“M.mp3″, 1440);
play_n = minim.loadSample(“N.mp3″, 1440);
play_o = minim.loadSample(“O.mp3″, 1440);
play_p = minim.loadSample(“P.mp3″, 1440);
play_q = minim.loadSample(“Q.mp3″, 1440);
play_r = minim.loadSample(“R.mp3″, 1440);
play_s = minim.loadSample(“S.mp3″, 1440);
play_t = minim.loadSample(“T.mp3″, 1440);
play_u = minim.loadSample(“U.mp3″, 1440);
play_v = minim.loadSample(“V.mp3″, 1440);
play_w = minim.loadSample(“W.mp3″, 1440);
play_x = minim.loadSample(“X.mp3″, 1440);
play_y = minim.loadSample(“Y.mp3″, 1440);
play_z = minim.loadSample(“Z.mp3″, 1440);

waveform = new WaveformRenderer();
play_a.addListener(waveform);
play_b.addListener(waveform);
play_c.addListener(waveform);
play_d.addListener(waveform);
play_e.addListener(waveform);
play_f.addListener(waveform);
play_g.addListener(waveform);
play_h.addListener(waveform);
play_i.addListener(waveform);
play_j.addListener(waveform);
play_k.addListener(waveform);
play_l.addListener(waveform);
play_m.addListener(waveform);
play_n.addListener(waveform);
play_o.addListener(waveform);
play_p.addListener(waveform);
play_q.addListener(waveform);
play_r.addListener(waveform);
play_s.addListener(waveform);
play_t.addListener(waveform);
play_u.addListener(waveform);
play_v.addListener(waveform);
play_w.addListener(waveform);
play_x.addListener(waveform);
play_y.addListener(waveform);
play_z.addListener(waveform);

noStroke();
lyrics = loadStrings(“lyrics.txt”);
i = 0;
background(0);
}

void draw()
{
if (play == 1){
counter = (counter+1)%25;
noStroke();
fill(255);
//text (lyrics[i],width/2, height/2);
//mm.addFrame();
if (counter == 0) {
if (i < lyrics.length)
{
background(0);
text (lyrics[i],width/2, height/2);
int wordLength = lyrics[i].length();
for (int j=0; j < wordLength; j++)
{
for(int k=0; k < wordLength; k++)
{
char letter = lyrics[i].charAt(k);
playLetter(letter);
waveform.draw();
}
}
waveform.draw();
i++;
}
else {
background(0);
//mm.finish();
//noLoop();
}
}
}
}

void playLetter (char letter_)
{
if ((letter_ == ‘a’) || (letter_ == ‘A’))
{
play_a.trigger();
}

if ((letter_ == ‘b’) || (letter_ == ‘B’))
{
play_b.trigger();
}

if ((letter_ == ‘c’) || (letter_ == ‘C’))
{
play_c.trigger();
}

if ((letter_ == ‘d’) || (letter_ == ‘D’))
{
play_d.trigger();
}

if ((letter_ == ‘e’) || (letter_ == ‘E’))
{
play_e.trigger();
}

if ((letter_ == ‘f’) || (letter_ == ‘F’))
{
play_f.trigger();
}

if ((letter_ == ‘g’) || (letter_ == ‘G’))
{
play_g.trigger();
}

if ((letter_ == ‘h’) || (letter_ == ‘H’))
{
play_h.trigger();
}

if ((letter_ == ‘i’) || (letter_ == ‘I’))
{
play_i.trigger();
}

if ((letter_ == ‘j’) || (letter_ == ‘J’))
{
play_j.trigger();
}

if ((letter_ == ‘k’) || (letter_ == ‘K’))
{
play_k.trigger();
}

if ((letter_ == ‘l’) || (letter_ == ‘L’))
{
play_l.trigger();
}

if ((letter_ == ‘m’) || (letter_ == ‘M’))
{
play_m.trigger();
}

if ((letter_ == ‘n’) || (letter_ == ‘N’))
{
play_n.trigger();
}

if ((letter_ == ‘o’) || (letter_ == ‘O’))
{
play_o.trigger();
}

if ((letter_ == ‘p’) || (letter_ == ‘P’))
{
play_p.trigger();
}

if ((letter_ == ‘q’) || (letter_ == ‘Q’))
{
play_q.trigger();
}

if ((letter_ == ‘r’) || (letter_ == ‘R’))
{
play_r.trigger();
}

if ((letter_ == ‘s’) || (letter_ == ‘S’))
{
play_s.trigger();
}

if ((letter_ == ‘t’) || (letter_ == ‘T’))
{
play_t.trigger();
}

if ((letter_ == ‘u’) || (letter_ == ‘U’))
{
play_u.trigger();
}

if ((letter_ == ‘v’) || (letter_ == ‘V’))
{
play_v.trigger();
}

if ((letter_ == ‘w’) || (letter_ == ‘W’))
{
play_w.trigger();
}

if ((letter_ == ‘x’) || (letter_ == ‘X’))
{
play_x.trigger();
}

if ((letter_ == ‘y’) || (letter_ == ‘Y’))
{
play_y.trigger();
}

if ((letter_ == ‘z’) || (letter_ == ‘Z’))
{
play_z.trigger();
}
}

void stop()
{
play_a.close();
minim.stop();
super.stop();
}

class WaveformRenderer implements AudioListener
{
private float[] left;
private float[] right;

WaveformRenderer()
{
left = null;
right = null;
}

synchronized void samples(float[] samp)
{
left = samp;
}

synchronized void samples(float[] sampL, float[] sampR)
{
left = sampL;
right = sampR;
}

synchronized void draw()
{
// we’ve got a stereo signal if right or left are not null
if ( left != null && right != null )
{
noFill();
stroke(255);
beginShape();
for ( int i = 0; i < left.length; i++ )
{
vertex(i, height/4 + left[i]*120);
}
endShape();
beginShape();
for ( int i = 0; i < right.length; i++ )
{
vertex(i, 3*(height/4) + right[i]*120);
}
endShape();
}
else if ( left != null )
{
noFill();
stroke(255);
beginShape();
for ( int i = 0; i < left.length; i++ )
{
vertex(i, height/2 + left[i]*120);
}
endShape();
}
}
}

void keyPressed(){
play = 1;
}

Besides the soundtrack to Herbivores, I haven’t done much music lately. Especially since the last time Hepnova made music together was almost a year and a half ago. Later this week, I’m scheduled to work with Elizabeth, who I worked with earlier on the Herbivores animation, but I just couldn’t wait to get back into making music again, so I just went ahead and composed my own piece today. I will still make another track with Elizabeth later this week.

This track is called Subway, Streets & Stars. It is composed of recordings I made in the subway and streets of New York City as well as an audio sample of stars (the ones in space, not the ones in Hollywood) from the BBC. I used Fission to chop up samples, iDrum to create rhythmic loops, and GarageBand for putting everything together.

Click here for the uncompressed AIFF version.

Yesterday, I attended a forum on democracy, politics and participation online hosted by OneWebDay at NYU Law School. The forum was part of Internet Week in New York. I have uploaded the entire panel discussion as a podcast for you to experience yourselves.

The Panelists:

Baratunde Thurston – Comedian, Pundit; Web Editor, The Onion

Andrew Rasiej – Founder, Personal Democracy Forum

Jay Rosen – Professor, NYU Department of Journalism; Founder, New Assignment.net

Moderator: Allison Fine – Author, Momentum: Igniting Social Change in the Connected Age

Photos of the Forum on Flickr.

Here is an update direct from Avaaz:

Great news — our video “Stop The Clash of Civilizations” is one of six films nominated for “Best Political Video” at the 2007 YouTube Awards. Dismantling the false clash between Islam and the West, this 2-minute clip shows how global people power can bridge cultures and change things for the better — starting with a real peace process for the Middle East. The video has already been seen by milliions of people, and shown in hundreds of schools.

In the YouTube Awards, unlike the Oscars, the public decides which video wins — but we only have 24 hours to cast our votes, so now’s the time to act. If enough people vote for “Stop the Clash” in the next 24 hours, and we win, we can spread our message of hope like wildfire around the world. Click this link now to watch the video and cast your own vote:

http://www.avaaz.org/en/stop_the_clash_award/5.php

Stop The Clash’s message is that the people of the world don’t buy, and don’t want, the “clash of civilizations” that the extremists are dragging us into. Beyond Bush and bin Laden, the world desperately needs us to join together across divides if we are ever to solve the shared challenges of climate change, poverty, tyranny and conflict. The clash of civilizations lie hides the bigger picture — where there’s far more to unite than divide us.

The winner of the YouTube award will get a lot of media attention, so we could spread the “Stop the Clash” message to many millions more. It’s up to us –- click here to watch the video and vote:

http://www.avaaz.org/en/stop_the_clash_award/5.php

With hope,

Paul, Ricken, Galit, Esra’a, Ben, Pascal, Graziela and the whole Avaaz team

ABOUT AVAAZ
Avaaz.org is an independent, not-for-profit global campaigning organization that works to ensure that the views and values of the world’s people inform global decision-making. (Avaaz means “voice” in many languages.) Avaaz receives no money from governments or corporations, and is staffed by a global team based in London, Rio de Janeiro, New York, Paris, Washington DC, and Geneva.

Don’t forget to check out our Facebook and Myspace pages!

I recorded the Career Forum presentations and panel discussion.  Visit JETAANY.org to read more and to download the MP3s.

A Portrait of the Artists as Hot Young Freaks, a biography of Hepnova (the band formerly known as The Ronald Raygun), by Jon Rodis (pictured sitting above).

Stay tuned for the new Hepnova album late 2007/early 2008!

From Tekserve’s email invite:

Special Event: The Future of Music, A Panel Discussion on Where the Music Industry is Headed

The panel will explore a host of music topics: What have we gained, what have we lost? What are we going to hear in the next ten years? What are we going to feel? How will music be sold? How will it be produced? How will it be performed? Prior to the panel discussion, you will hear from Steve Gordon, author of THE FUTURE OF THE MUSIC BUSINESS: How to Succeed with the New Technologies, A Guide for Artists and Entrepreneurs. In addition, you’ll have the chance to pose your own question to the panelists at the end of the discussion.

Moderator of the Discussion: Harry Allen is a famed hip-hop activist and journalist for Vibe, The Source, The Village Voice, and others. As an expert covering hip-hop culture, Harry has been quoted in The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, on National Public Radio, MTV, VH-1, CNN, the BBC, and other information channels.

Here is a list of our panelists:

Bob Power, Award-winning, multi-platinum record producer, mixer, engineer, musician. Credits Include: A Tribe Called Quest and De La Soul, Erykah Badu.

Hank Shocklee, Long Island based hip-hop producer. Credits include: Public Enemy, EPMD, Ice Cube.

Nick Sansano, New York-based engineer/producer. Credits include: Public Enemy, Ice Cube, Galactic, Sonic Youth.

Steve Gordon, New York based entertainment attorney, author and lecturer

Below: Mixer Cake

My Notes:

Steve Gordon’s Presentation on the Future of the Music Business

• The traditional music biz is in crisis due to digital downloads, Napster and Kazaa, but there are many new opportunities
• Gross music recording sales are in decline – peaked at $15 billion in 1999, now down to $10 billion in 2006
• With modern technology, it is now possible to produce a commercial quality album for less than $10,000 and set up a promotional website for only a few hundred dollars.
• Case study : Assuming that an artist records an album for $15,000. If she sells only 3000 units online through self-distribution, she can start to turn a profit. At a major label, she would have to sell over $15,000 units just to recoup costs, before starting to receive a paltry %3 on each unit sold.
• iTunes was a step in the right direction. Great deal for Apple – over 90 million iPods sold, but for record labels, digital sales have not compensated for losses in CD sales.
• Why DRM? Labels for Apple to use it, but Apple uses DRM too. iTunes purchases only play on your computer or on an iPod.
• New AAC Format (Apple and EMI partnership). Offers higher quality sound at a greater cost. But once again, it only plays on an iPod.

Panelists’ General Observations

• There has a transfer of power from labels to independent musicians and producers, but not a transfer of money.
• The business is in crisis, but MUSIC is still good
• Consumers have a choice now. Need for new curators, gatekeepers and aggregators of content to help music listeners make more informed choices.
• Just because we have new digital tools doesn’t mean we should use all of them at once. Talent and acquired skills are still needed. One needs to have a firm grasp of musical history and how to arrange. Good, cheap technology does not necessarily translate directly into a great record. But Rock and Roll was born out of doing things wrong.
• In the new digital age we are still children. We are now free, but how do we take advantage of our new found freedom? Most people don’t know what is means to be free – so most people go back to the plantation.
• PROMOTION IS KEY! People need to not only promote their own stuff, but cross promote with other artists and producers as well.
• Currency is viewership and visibility, NOT SALES! Audio and visual elements are even more interconnected than ever.
• Big expensive studios may still sound a bit better than a home-studio recording, but it doesn’t sound 1 million dollars better.
• Labels will stay around in one form or another – just as radio did not replace television. Labels still have means to promote and place an artist. Labels still command trust with distributors and media networks. The oldest form of trust is $. Labels are like banks.
• There is now a lower ramp of entry into the biz. But artists have an even greater responsibility to create their own buzz now.
• There will be no more superstar artists – only celebrities and good artists.
• Profits will be more evenly distributed. More variety in the ecosystem, with everyone getting a fairer piece of the pie.
• Keys to success – REFINEMENT, SKILLS, and LEARNING.
• MySpace is great, but don’t forget that face-to-face meetings and networking is still important.

Watch the The Future of Music videos on YouTube.

CitizenReporter.org with BicycleMark: The Case of Jailed Blogger Monem (Podcast)

ZapBoom The Sound That Change Makes: Mary’s blog post about Free Monem Campaign

Reporters sans frontières petition:

“We call for the release of Abdel Kareem Nabil Suleiman (Kareem Amer) and of Abdul-Moneim Mahmud, who have been imprisoned for expressing their opinion online. We urge the organisers of the Internet Governance Forum to intervene with the Egyptian authorities on behalf of these two bloggers. It would be intolerable for a UN summit on the future of the Internet to be held in a country which imprisons bloggers”.

Free Monem Campaign Site

Free Kareem!

(Above) Bjork concert at the United Palace on May 5, 2007. Credit: Stephanie Berger

Last night, I listened to NPR’s live internet stream of Konono No. 1 and Björk playing live from the United Palace in NYC. Isn’t technology wonderful? You can still hear the concert online at the NPR Music website and download the full concert by subscribing to the All Songs Considered podcast.

The concert was a great mix of old favorites and new tunes. I wish I could have been there live, but I guess a live webcast was the next best thing.

Notice Björk’s Mexican-inspired dress in the photo above. In observance of Cinco de Mayo perhaps? She did thank the audience by saying “gracias” between two songs. The 10-piece Icelandic all-girl brass band look great too. Love the 80′s neon! There was also a laptop playing beats on stage as well as a special appearance by a Chinese pipa player and a reactable, a new electronic instrument invented in Barcelona. Download recording here.

I am currently obsessed with the new single, Earth Intruders, and the new song she played for the encore, Declare Independence (download from MinorCrisis), an anti-colonialist anthem, which reminds me of her early punk days. I’m definitely loving the return of Björk’s ballsy beats and the political themes of her new album.

Tricia sent me an invite to the Critical Themes in Media Studies Conference this Saturday. I don’t know if I have time to attend yet, but there are some great abstracts and full papers online.

Learn to make videos today!