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I made two versions of the video: one with all the sounds included, and another one for the class presentation, this version removes the handwriting sound (I kept the visuals so everyone can still see what I wrote).

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I borrowed a Zoom H6 from DMU and started recording. I chose to record at night because it’s much quieter. I prepared a lot of A3 paper for writing. I tried switching between different pens while writing (fountain pen, gel pen, pencil) to get different writing sounds, and I think the result is quite good.

While typing, I also changed the typing rhythm and the force I used on the keyboard. I recorded many clips to test and compare the differences.

I also recorded some sounds related to both technology and hand-made actions to add to the background, such as pressing computer keys, clicking the mouse, sliding the mouse, pressing phone buttons, flipping paper, tearing paper, rubbing with an eraser, opening a pen cap, and pressing a gel pen, etc.

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I used AU to reduce noise and adjust the volume

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I used CapCut to match the sound with the video

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I recorded both video and sound based on my proposal. I also started thinking about how to present the work. I might ask my friend to help me, with one of us writing and the other typing (this needs timing and coordination). Or I could just present everything through video (but showing everything in video without making sound live might feel a bit flat).

Paul gave me a really helpful suggestion. He said I could pre-record the typing sound and play it on my laptop in class, while I write on paper in real time and amplify the sound with a microphone.

This is a great direction! Thank you!

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Assignment 2: Proposal

Concept:

My project explores the tension between digital efficiency and physical traces in modern communication (the opposition and combination of technology and human touch in the digital age). By contrasting the mechanical process of typing with the bodily act of handwriting, I want to use sound to show how our modes of expression have shifted from unique and tangible forms to standardized and replicable ones.

Content and Methods:

I will create a split-screen video. One side will show the process of typing on a keyboard, while the other will show handwriting on paper. I will record both the sounds of typing and writing, and add background sounds that represent technology and manual actions to enhance the contrast. For example, the typing side will include mouse clicks and device vibrations, and the writing side will include the sounds of flipping pages and erasing.

The sound design will have three stages: in the beginning, the two sound types will appear alternately; in the middle, they will blend together; and in the end, either one may dominate, or they may continue overlapping.

Writing Content (Maybe):

Typing side:

I am typing. 我在打字

I am typing words on a screen. 我在屏幕上打字

The words are clear. 这些字很清楚

The words can be deleted. 这些字可以被删除

This is a copy. 这可以被复制

I am making a copy. 我在复制

Writing side:

I am writing. 我在书写

I am writing words on paper. 我在纸上写字

The words are unique. 这些字独一无二

The words leave a mark. 这些字会留下痕迹

This is an original. 这是一个印记

I am making a mark. 我在留下痕迹

Testing and Experimentation:

I recorded the friction sounds of different pen tips on various types of paper to test their effects. I also experimented with typing sounds at different speeds and intensities to create variation and rhythm.

Production Location:

All recording and editing work will be done at my home.

Research Plan:

Inspired by R. Murray Schafer’s soundscape theory, I will treat digital and analog environments as distinct acoustic ecosystems. I plan to explore the use of dual-channel audio techniques to emphasize the contrast and immersive experience between the two soundscapes.

Artists Referenced:

Anne F Jacques: Her use of electromechanical devices to create sound from everyday objects inspired me to treat the keyboard and writing tools as sound sources.

Michel Chion: Audio-Vision: Sound on Screen.

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Test 2

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This week we learned about sounds that usually exist beyond human hearing, such as infrasound, ultrasound, and electromagnetic vibrations. We also looked at artists who turn these unheard things into sound, like Christina Kubisch and Joyce Hinterding, who use electric and magnetic fields to make hidden signals audible.

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This week we talked about the line between sound and noise and learned about the different “colours” of noise - white, pink, and brown. We also explored the idea that materials can be instruments. I thought about how sound can be made through different materials, actions, and spatial resonance to create new listening experiences.

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Different from a normal air microphone, it captures surface vibrations instead of airborne sound.

Sound is vibration, and different materials and structures respond to it in their own ways.

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All recordings done. Editing started. At first it felt difficult because there were so many sounds and I did not know where to begin. But after trying different ways, I found the rhythm. Work finished, exported!

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This week there was no class, so I did some recording near my home. I collected sounds in different places and at different times, such as birds in the morning, construction noise, cars passing, the hum of air conditioning, and the sound of the river. I tried to gather as many sound materials as possible to prepare for later editing. I am also thinking about how to combine them in my work to show the contrast and connection between natural and industrial sounds.

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This week we had one-on-one guidance. I shared my first idea with the professor: I want to show the contrast and connection between natural sounds and industrial sounds. In the early morning there are birds, insects, and wind, but as human and industrial activity grows, the sounds of machines and electricity become stronger. I‘m very interested in this change, especially how natural sounds can be edited to sound like industrial sounds, and how industrial sounds can sometimes feel like natural ones. For example, bird calls cut, looped, pitched down, and with reverb can turn into a mechanical rhythm.

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In class we presented the work from Week 3. My clip started with a clear voice, but with each playback and re-recording it became more blurred. In the end the words were no longer clear, and only a humming sound of the space remained. This made me see more clearly how space can slowly change a sound and give it a new meaning.

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We learned how to use audio editing software, Audacity and Audition (AU). We could choose one based on what we prefer. Because I had used AU before, I chose to stay with it.

I started importing the sounds I recorded in the past weeks into AU for editing. I cut out the extra parts and added fade in and fade out to make the transitions smoother. I also tried echo and delay effects to make the sound feel more spacious.

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I chose 4 clips from the sounds I recorded last week to share in class. I collected sounds in different places, some as general background and some as details. I wanted to compare the differences and think about possible connections between them. I also want to try simple editing, such as joining or mixing sounds from different places, to see if I can create a feeling or meaning that is different from the original.

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This week we continued to explore the idea of the soundscape. The class showed us that a soundscape is not only the sum of natural and human sounds, but the whole sound environment as people experience it. We also learned Schafer’s three categories: keynote, signal, and soundmark. This helped me see more clearly which sounds are in the background, which stand out in the foreground, and which are unique to a place.

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This week’s practice was done in groups of three. We tried a method like Alvin Lucier’s I am Sitting in a Room. First, we used the Zoom recorder to record a short reading of about 20 seconds: “I am sitting in a room different from the one you are in.” Then we played it through a speaker in one corner of the room and recorded it again from the opposite corner. We repeated this process about five or six times. As it went on, the voice became less clear, and in the end only a humming sound was left, like radio waves.

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This week was mostly an introduction to the course. It helped me understand what we will be doing later. The class showed me that sound is not only an accompaniment to music or part of the background, but it can also be treated as an independent material for creation. The idea of the soundscape made me see that sound is an important part of the environment. The concept of schizophonia reminded me that when a sound is recorded and taken away from its original setting, it can feel strange or even unsettling.

We also looked at the artistic and historical background of sound. In Luigi Russolo’s The Art of Noise, he wrote that noise could become part of music, and that the sounds of machines should also be included in artworks. This made me think that noises like construction, car horns, or motorbikes could also be used in sound art. Especially today, in the 21st century, with fast industry and technology, these sounds are already part of our daily life. I also found Annea Lockwood’s listening practice interesting. Her river sound maps made me realize that sound can hold time and memory. This means I should not only collect sounds, but also connect with them and think about how they relate to each other.

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Annea Lockwood - A Sound Map of the Danube

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I realized that sound can create new layers and meanings through joining, overlapping, and the effect of space. The relationship between background and detailed sounds, and the way space changes them, gave me ideas I want to use in later work. For example, putting sounds from very different environments together, or using echoes to turn a clear voice into something abstract, could bring new listening experiences.

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More importantly, this week we went outside to record with the equipment. We learned how to use the Zoom recorder. My friend and I recorded many sounds around campus, such as rain hitting the ground and umbrellas, footsteps at different speeds, the sound of opening an umbrella, and turning book pages. We also recorded the atmosphere in the cafeteria, where voices, dishes, and background music mixed together to create a lively space. Walking with headphones on, I noticed that some sounds were louder and clearer in the recording. This made me feel the difference between being in sound and only listening to sound.

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I did a few small experiments with my phone, such as recording the automatic doors on campus, the sound of footsteps, and cars starting in the distance. I also tried to record the sound of leaves, but the fabric noise was too loud. This failure reminded me that where I put the recorder and keeping quiet during recording are both very important.

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For Assignment 1, I started to imagine a structure where sounds change step by step. First, I want to use close and strong sounds, like water or metal. Then I will add sounds from in-between spaces, like doorways or hallways with echoes. At the end, I want to move to loud city sounds, like a train station or a busy street, to show space growing layer by layer.

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The biggest change for me this week was in how I see environmental sounds. I no longer think of them as useless noise, but as potential material for creation. Even the failed recordings helped me see how important technique is. Next, I want to record more sounds and try to capture them in different spaces and distances.

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Through this practice, I found that sound is always changing. Different actions and spaces can create clear layers. Close sounds like turning pages or opening an umbrella can contrast with the busy cafeteria, and then connect with the wider atmosphere of the rain. Together, they can form a movement from near to far. This structure links to my ideas from last week and makes my plan for the assignment clearer.

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Before, I only thought about which sounds I could use, but now I pay more attention to the relationship between sound, space, and action. The recording also showed some problems, like parts that were too loud or too quiet, which caused distortion. This reminded me that technique and method are very important. Next, I want to plan my recording spots better and try soundwalks to capture different layers of sound.

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We also learned about different types of microphones. For example, the lapel mic sometimes makes the voice sound too clean, which can feel separate from the image, like it was recorded somewhere else. In this case, adding some background sounds can make it feel more natural. The shotgun mic with a boom pole is usually placed above the frame, as close to the speaker as possible, to reduce extra noise. The underwater mic can capture sounds in water clearly, like the flow of water.

I tried using each of these microphones. It was a really interesting experience.

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Editing made me think about how sound can be reorganized. Adding echo or delay means the sound does not have to stay true to the original environment. It can be shaped into new meaning and layers.

I‘m still not very skilled at the software. Sometimes the fades sound unnatural, or the effects are too strong. I hope to improve my control of sound layers and create new listening experiences.

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I also started to think about the direction for the Sound Ecology assignment. I have two ideas:

① Use footsteps as the main line. As the steps continue, the background sounds change, creating a journey of sound.

② Focus on one environment at different times of the day. The same place in the morning, noon, and evening will sound very different. By comparing these changes, I want to show the layers of the environment.

I‘m not sure which idea is better, and I also wonder if the work needs to show a story or journey through sound. I still have many questions, and I plan to ask in the one-on-one guidance next week.

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Sound is not only something we record. It is shaped by space and time. Next, I will keep testing both ideas and see which one works better for my final work.

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I played a short sample and got some useful advice. The audio doesn’t need to follow a story, but should focus on the rise and fall of sound and their relations. Because of this, the footsteps I added felt a bit out of place. I was encouraged to keep exploring the idea of turning natural sounds into industrial sounds. I can use changes in volume, tone, and space to create variation. The key point is not telling a story, but exploring the connections between sounds.

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The focus of the work is not storytelling, but showing the contrast and mix of natural and industrial sounds through sound changes. I still have some questions, like if footsteps feel strange, would human voice also feel wrong? But now I have a clearer direction. Next, I will do more tests to make my ideas more clear and complete.

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I made a simple contact microphone using materials bought from Jaycar and connected it to a speaker for testing. I tried tapping the edge of the mic and placing it on the table to listen to tapping and rubbing sounds. I also put it on my throat to see if it could pick up the sound of swallowing, but the result was very faint. I found that it’s not very good at recording body sounds but it reacts more clearly when touching solid surfaces.

Through this experiment, I understood more clearly the relationship between vibration and sound. The contact mic let me hear tiny sounds that are usually invisible to the ear. I think this could be an interesting way to explore the hidden sounds of different objects.

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I need to start thinking about my idea for Assignment 2, which will be different from the first one. I want to try something new, maybe starting from the boundary between sound and noise, or maybe something else. I think this time I want to focus more on the texture and quality of sound, making the work feel more open and experimental.

I tried making sound with different objects like a glass bottle, bracelet, paper, and a metal rack. By hitting, rubbing, and pulling them, I could hear how each material made a different tone and texture. It’s interesting how even small actions can create unexpected sounds.

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Noise isn’t always messy or chaotic. It can be shaped, organized, and even beautiful in its own way. I want to keep experimenting and see what kind of structure or feeling can grow from noise.

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To be honest, I’m still not really sure what I want to do. Should I make something that actually produces sound, or record sounds that I create myself? Maybe I could try something with simple instruments, but that feels a bit tricky.

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I have some scattered ideas, like tying rubber bands around different objects and stretching them to different lengths to “play” them, or hanging materials like fabric, foil, cardboard, printing paper, and wood, then hitting, pulling, or rubbing them to listen to their different sounds.

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My thoughts are still a bit messy, but I think I should just start from practice and see where it goes.

It’s time to start making!

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Cael2041 Assignment2: Trace (Final Version)