ACSVROI workshop notes

The experiment Explore cymatics using fine powders, creating small clouds and eruptions. The object A small dish of black pigment is placed directly on a cut back speaker cone. The device is placed under a glass cloche to contain the dust particulate. As the vibrations get larger the pigment begins to billow making larger clouds inside the jars. After the sound the specimen jar looks like a speaker valve. Perhaps there area number of objects with different coloured pigments.... Sound Using the process voice pitch shifted, small eruptions can be made. Using bass oscillator notes clouds and bills can be made. (Perhaps a performance element for Sonya, or a crescendo for trio performance). Audience experience Unmediated... Audience need to be able to see the jars - perhaps spread out across the tables... Use Performance (voice and tone generator) Equipment 6? cut back speakers 3 amps 6 dishes pigments 6 cloches

The experiment Explore and expand on the design of Charles Wheatstones Kaleidophone (1827) and Jules Lissajous's  Tuning Fork mirror technique (1857) to create Lissajous figures that draw the sound from purely mechanical means, essentially 'drawing' the sound. The object Two rods attached to cut down speakers with objects placed perpendicular to each other. A small laser is projected onto one mirror, reflected off the second mirror onto a screen creating a Lissajous figure that responds to the sound being played through the speaker. Sound Pure tones, mixed with noise to illustrate the different patters. Pre-recorded. Perhaps voice responsive - voices fed to each speaker (more experiments needed) Audience experience Viewed on small screen Use Installation & performance Equipment 2 cut down speakers, rods with small mirrors. Secured so they don't move with vibration. 1 x stereo Amplifier (Idea that there may be 3 speakers one for each voice - to ...

The experiment Explore a a version of Mr Sedley Taylor's phoneidoscope, which draws on the idea of an eidophone but instead of using a permanent membrane uses a soap bubble. The cymatics manifest in on the surface of the bubble and interact with the light refraction causing rainbow patterns to also appear. The object (performance) Cone shape with speaking tube attached. A sheet with a small hole placed over the cone covered in a mixture of soap liquid and cornstarch. An airbeam camera is placed over head to capture the bubble movements, projected onto a small screen. Sound Vocal sound, augmented and processed in realtime. Used in Gail's performance section. Frequencies around C-G seem to work best. Create a composition for live performance with other elements to fill out sound... perhaps other elements activate other parts of the installation. Audience experience Live performance mediated via video. Use Performance only (GP). No installation mode Equipment...

The experiment Try to manifest liquid cymatics over a large surface using multiple exciters creating a complex ecosystem of vibrations and nodes. The object A large table mounted shallow basin (black) but rather than a single flat surface there will be recessed zones to create a topographical terrain. The exciters are placed directly under the recessed 'ponds', creating  areas of intensity in the glassy surface of the water.  Inspiration is drawn form aerial photography, maps, phrenology and other sources. The sound Low frequencies, pre-recorded. Similar frequencies to Particle Flux https://gailpriest.bandcamp.com/track/particle-flux Could be independent drone for installation & performance or run from the multichannel software. Audience experience Unmediated - but light reflection is significant both as mirror effect of water with black background  and reflections off the water. Use Installation and performance - pre-recorded. The equipment 4 x e...

The experiment Exploring the resonant frequencies of different glass vessels. The shape and size of the glass means it is responsive to a certain frequencies more than others. The object A number of small tweeter speakers are placed in large glasses, specimen jars and under cloches. The are both sounding objects for smaller, higher sounds in the soundscape, but also aesthetic sculptural items alluding to the idea of sound as specimen, trying to capture the immateriality of the sound wave. Sound Small, high frequencies. Perhaps high vocal material. Could be prerecorded or perhaps live amplification (pitch shifted - possible instrument for Carolyn to play with both as acoustic material and processed). Run from multichannel software  or independent depending final usage. Audience experience Unmediated Use Installation and performance, higher frequencies Equipment 4-6 tweeter speakers amps (check can several tweeters be wired together) various glass vessels, gla...

The experiment A bowl is placed over an oval speaker cone. The vibration of the cone causes the bowl to rock back and forth. When using ball bearings, the balls move around in the bowl adding rattling tones to the sound. When using a liquid, the vibrations make cymatic patterns in the liquid, but also inertia means that the liquid appears to stay in the same place while the bowl moves around it. The object Perhaps four speakers are arranged, two with ball bearings, two with liquid. They can be arranged in a number of patterns or configurations. Sound Responds to low frequency bass sounds - can provide bass lines in overall installation soundscape. Pre-recorded. Audience experience Unmediated Use Installation and performance bass lines Equipment 4 x speakers with oval cones 2 x stereo amps 4 x metal bowls matching the speaker cone size ball bearings rheoschopic liquid Also viewable on Vimeo:  https://vimeo.com/337667196