#prototype test

These are the notes from the prototype test meeting.

Playback: if the stems different lengths the layers become A-synchronised

Variations of layers through numbers – numbers linked to layers

So far, the system can load 4 pieces with 4 different stems

Testing Rob's prototype

Putting one stem in each buffer

Sample rate issue – some of us did tracks in 44 and some in 48

Igor and Rob developed individual prototypes

One with tempo sync & one without

Igor's system:

Uses a metronome that sends a signal to every 2 bars that changes the stems

So a playlist that's randomly selected – each stem relates to a number

Need to find a way to change between moods

Start with a system that chooses one mood and then create other mood systems that run parallel and connect them together

Use generative effects that could change the sound of stems to increase the diversity of the layers.

External plugins are easier to work with than building them within Max

Arousal valence diagram

Interactive by allowing user to choose where to go based on this graph

This will increase the diversity of stems required. The aim is to create variable compositions to reduce the risk of the project becoming too similar or repetitive

Issue:

System needs to be able to switch between moods so it needs some consistency for the transitional process

Igor's idea: For each mood do intro, central, outro

Playlist of transitional phrases may be too excessive

Crossfades into the next track may improve transitions

No Man's Sky – let the layers go out to change the mood

Intro & outro being used to fade between sections

Luca: Having individual set bars would sync the same

Guideline parameters for each piece

Use reverb to mask transition

Drones or pads will fade quite nicely

Concept of synchronous loops

Issues with memory – Use groove as a playback system to reduce risk of latency and system crash

Next week:

Rob & Igor combine systems & develop

Each person develops one mood to keep it coherent

Need to start gluing things together

Issue with eliminating clip - research seamless looping

Take the tail of a loop and bring to beginning as well as 2nd cycle bounce

Incorporate loops that will work with everything and melodic things that will change

Creating Seamless Loops Sources:

Mcguire, S & Pritts, R (2013) Audio Sampling: A Practical Guide. UK: Focal Press. 

Horowitz, S & Looney, S (2014) The Essential Guide to Game Audio: The Theory and Practice of Sound for Games. London: Focal Press.

Sweet, M (2014) Writing Interactive Music for Video Games: A Composer's Guide. Indiana: Pearson Education.

Emily Collins, the teacher of Girl Stories—a free program for girls ages 12-15, who are interested in telling their stories through filmmaking, animation, and comics—and I have bonded over storytelling and she has been a wonderful resource for this thesis. Last week she opened her classroom to testing some of my thesis concepts: She tested with her Girl Stories’ class the acrylic storyboards for older kids. When I originally showed her the boards, she was intrigued by them and thought the girls would like them when brainstorming and planning their animations. The girls were working on a collaborative “I remember …” poem, consisting of 12 sentences with each girl contributing one “I remember …” line. The final product is going to be an animation of the poem.

Emily started out by modeling on a white board how to use the acrylic boards. Then the girls teamed up in groups of 2-3 students. They used the boards to plan their scenes and materials and used the story box for a sketch and the lines for notes. They worked with wet-erase markers to make sure their plans wouldn’t easily wipe off when moving around and creating their scenes.

Emily loved the boards—she thought it made the planning very easy and she was surprised how quickly the girls were able to create their animations. As they were sketching with markers they were less tempted to draw details, but really just sketch out their idea for each scene. The girls liked the sturdiness of the boards—it was a tool to help them brainstorm their animations.