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;
}

Elizabeth and I teamed up again to work on our audio pieces for Comm Lab this week.  Although we did record audio from the streets of NY together for last week’s assignment, we decided not to use any of it and instead decided to choose a pressing socio-political theme of the current economic “crisis.”  I took photos and recorded audio from an anti-bailout protest on Wall Street last month.  We were particularly attracted to some snippets from a speech given by the charismatic looking gentleman pictured above.  We also used samples of other protesters chanting slogans, and put everything over a beat that I composed.  In some amazing coincidence, almost all of our samples fit over the beats at 109 BPM.  Only one sample of chanting protesters had to be slightly stretched in Audacity to fit the tempo.

Download the MP3 or the AIFF.

The danceable audio anger that resulted from our musical collaborations reminds me a little bit of the Muppets doing N.W.A. And for further musical explorations relating to pigs, I suggest NIN’s Piggy and March of the Pigs.

Elizabeth describes more of our process in her blog:

We used several applications to make the piece. We cut up the audio in Fission, a commercial software for simple cutting. It is really usable. The beats were composed in iDrum…. We used Audacity to change the length of some of the audio pieces so that they all had the same beat. Then we assembled the song in Garage Band.

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.

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!

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!