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Author: s2412995

B228823- Personal Submittion

 

Hello and welcome to my personal report.

Intro：

As a sound designer, I have contributed to more than just the sound component of our project. From the initial concept and exhibition framework to the final presentation, I have been involved in every step of the process. As a result, I believe that my contributions have been integral to the success of the project.

In this report, I will be discussing my contributions to four different aspects of the project: the visual and interactive electronic flower, the project’s recording and sound effects, the project’s music, and my involvement in other parts of the project. Each section will detail my specific contributions and how they contributed to the overall success of the project.

Group1 – Why do we need sound to effect environment

I created an electronic flower with sound interaction because I realized the importance of sound. In addition to designing sound, I also incorporated visual elements into the flower, making it a beautiful and interactive creation. I am proud of my idea and believe that others will appreciate this aesthetically pleasing flower. By highlighting the impact of sound in this way, I hope to raise awareness and appreciation for this often-overlooked aspect of our environment.

Part 1：the Electronic Flower

The visual and interactive electronic flower was the final piece of our group project. As the audience approached the end of the exhibition, they were greeted by the beautiful electronic flower. It was designed to be displayed on a large holographic projection to enhance its three-dimensional nature. The visual and interactive electronic flower not only provides a stunning visual display, but it also serves as a powerful demonstration of how sound can affect our environment. By reacting to different beats of the music, the flower creates a dynamic and engaging experience that shows how sound can alter our perception of space and enhance our sensory experience. This highlights the importance of sound in shaping our environment and underscores the need for thoughtful sound design to enhance our experiences.

Group1 – Sound and Interactive

Part 2：

Max and TouchDesigner are both powerful tools for audiovisual performance and interactive installations. In the case of my project, Max was used to create the music and sound effects, while TouchDesigner was used to create the visualizations that respond to the audio input. The two tools were connected using the AudioDevicelnCHOP component in TouchDesigner, which allowed the real-time microphone input to be sent from Max to TouchDesigner for visualization. Additionally, the project allows the audience to participate in the performance by adding their own sound effects, such as clapping or other sounds. This feature adds a level of interactivity and engagement, making the experience even more immersive and enjoyable for everyone involved. Overall, this project showcases the incredible potential of the intersection between music and technology, and how they can be combined to create stunning visual and audio experiences.

Group 1 – Music and Pre for Sound

Part 3：

Sound effects are a crucial component of this project. The challenge lies in creating sounds that not only match the delicate nature of the flowers but also complement the music. Below is my summary of the sound effects used in this project.

Group 1 – Sound Effects

Part 4：Others

As I mentioned before, my contribution to our group is not just limited to the audio part.

Firstly, the visualization is not just audio, and what I visualized is also very much in line with our theme.

Secondly, I made a significant contribution to the entire concept. During our first meeting, I introduced the concept of “evolution.” It was precisely because of my suggestion that we were able to create an AI video using machine learning. Furthermore, I also taught this method to one of our group members, which comes from a famous speech at the Chinese Central Academy of Fine Arts, where they made some fishes using the same method. At first, I used the “Runaway” software, but later switched to another one due to the former being chargeable. I also mentioned multiple times during our meetings that this machine learning can be run on the cloud, and later taught it to another group member.

As for why everyone did not make AI videos, it was because we really wanted to present more things to the audience, including ourselves. I have good relationships with other classmates in my class, who are in other groups, and we always communicate with each other. I know that everyone has many ideas, and this peer competition has motivated me and my few group members to work hard and learn as much as possible. If we were to compare the workload, I believe that I must be the one who has done the most. My part does not require, nor have I ever troubled my group members, and I have made efforts to assist them in many areas, including taking photos, testing links, and so on. This demonstrates my sense of responsibility. I also wrote some C# code and participated in testing, which cannot be fully documented. I had to postpone completing my personal report because of all these responsibilities.

Because my group members had never used Unity before, I taught them a lot in the second part. Many of the features they wanted were things I taught them. At first, my group members thought all animations in Unity were written in code and wanted me to write all of the animation code. Of course, this is not to criticize them. That’s great to hear that everyone has grown in the end. I think it’s not easy to complete the whole project in the end. I also had many things that I didn’t understand. At first, I didn’t know anything about TouchDesigner, but my group members wanted me to learn it, so I immediately learned it and made the visualization very well. My undergraduate major is directing, so I may be more sensitive to visuals. I don’t really know much about music, so I’m working hard to learn. I know that maybe I’m not doing very well, and I was almost on the verge of collapse when I found out I was the only sound designer. But I got through it and tried very hard to solve any problems instead of passing them on to my group members.

Our team was already very small only for 5 person, and I feel really upset that communication with my some of team members was not always smooth. For several days, I felt really depressed because of language barriers, and one team member had no idea about my workload. I have already done a lot, but in his eyes, I am not as good as him who just used an app someone else wrote. We had ten meetings, but he only showed up four times. I have new evidences for my words and medical records from my visits to the hospital if needed. The pressure is too much, actually I don’t want to complain in my personal statement, thanks for everyone.

Thank you to everyone who took the time to read my personal report. Your interest and attention mean a lot to me.

 

Group 1 – Music and Pre for Sound

Music

c 72
f 65
g# 68
C# 73
D# 75

The chords formed by these notes sound harmonious together. C, F, and G# form the chords of the C minor scale, while C# and D# form the chords of the C# major scale.

C and F: These two notes are typically considered to be natural, calm, and warm, suitable for creating relaxing music. G# and C#: These two notes are considered to be mysterious and enigmatic. C# and D# are often used to create a mysterious or fantastical ambiance. This  add some vitality and dynamism to my music. The combination of these notes can create a mysterious atmosphere.  The use of these notes also be to complement the visual elements which is plants of the project.

Overall, they can convey emotional colors and atmospheres related to the theme of interaction between plants and humans in my music.

 

Drum

Drums are often used in music to create a rhythmic foundation and drive the energy of a piece. In the context of my project, the drum is used to simulate the beating of a plant’s “heart” and to represent the pulsing energy of nature.

I have added a lot of resonance to the drum section, which can help create a more vibrant and dynamic sound, and also add a sense of spaciousness and depth to the overall mix.

I have written the following algorithm to adjust the rhythm of the drums.

if $i1 == 1 then $i1 else out2 $i1

Organ

Organs are known for their rich and powerful sound, which can evoke a sense of majesty or grandeur. The reason for using the organ is to create a mysterious and ethereal atmosphere in the music and to create a sense of  wonder in the listener.

Using the ioscbank~ object in Max is for achieving a multi-timbral effect in the organ section. This may make my organ sound more diverse and colorful, giving it more expressiveness.

 

Mallet

 

Mallet instruments have a bright and sparkling sound that can add a sense of playfulness or whimsy to music. In my project, the mallet could be used to represent the delicate and intricate beauty of plants and flowers and to create a sense of joy.

Adjusting the ADSR in real-time during performance can allow me to follow any irregular changes in the plant’s behavior, which can enhance the overall musical experience and make it more dynamic and responsive.

I used 6 mallets to create a fuller sound and overtones and the way I used could reducing computational load.

Noise:

I also add some noise. Noise is used to represent the unpredictable and uncontrollable aspects of nature.

SET UP

This is a schematic diagram of the sound setup, created using materials from Canva.

As shown in the diagram, the audio effects from the first part of the patchbay and the second part of the looking glass can be listened to using the headphones next to the device. Both are Bluetooth headphones connected to the computer’s audio that is hidden behind the stand. The audio from the first part is directly connected to TouchDesigner, and the audio from the second part is connected to Wwise. The third part has a microphone connected to TouchDesigner for visualization, allowing the effect to be changed based on the audience’s input.

 

Group 1 – Sound Effects

In the initial stages of my project, I consulted with my teacher on how to simulate the sound of a flower opening. My teacher suggested using objects such as unfolded paper to create the sound. However, I found that using a full sheet of tissue paper produced too much noise. Instead, cutting the tissue paper into small pieces, roughly one square centimeter in size, resulted in a purer sound. Additionally, unfolding objects such as tissue paper can produce a lot of noise. To address this, I used small pieces of tissue paper and mimicked the motion of gently stroking the flower petals to create a more delicate sound. Throughout the process, I kept in mind the need to convey a sense of gentleness and delicacy in the sound.

Another approach I took was to use a porous sponge cloth to create a sound effect for one of the flowers. This worked well as the texture of the sponge matched the porous texture of the flower petals. During playback, the sound was transmitted via Bluetooth headphones connected to a nearby tree-shaped audio station. This allowed visitors to experience the delicate sounds of the flowers without interfering with the music playing throughout the exhibition space.

Group1-Personal final summary

My tasks in the group are design, modelling, animation and hand model making. Of course, there is also the sound part of the sound collection work. My team members come from various disciplines, so I imagined that our team can provide a series of interesting interactive experiences for the experiencers through an interdisciplinary approach.

During the whole project process, I have gained a lot of insight and ability improvement. First of all, I have also made great progress in design. I learned how to design models in two different software, C4D and Unity. I learned how to design according to user needs and usage scenarios and use a variety of tools for prototyping. design and test.

Second, I learned how to communicate and collaborate better. In the group, we need to constantly exchange ideas and progress to ensure that the project can be completed on time. Through constant discussion and feedback, I have learned to express myself better and accept suggestions from others. At the same time, I also learned more about the importance and efficiency of teamwork.

In addition, many challenges and difficulties were encountered during the project. For example, when the group communicates and communicates with problems and finds appropriate solutions, we finally complete the project. This communication process made me more aware of the importance of teamwork. In the face of difficulties, teamwork can improve efficiency and reduce personal burdens, and it can also allow us to learn and grow from each other through communication and cooperation.

Overall, I have benefited a lot from participating in the interactive installation group project. It not only improved my design ability but also gave me a deeper understanding of the importance and value of teamwork. I believe that these experiences and insights will be of great help to my future development and career.

 

Group1—plant animation production 3.0（C4D)

After the exhibition, I constantly communicated with the group members and adjusted the model and growth mode of the plants. Finally, a flower is used as an element to connect a series of interactive experiences. We collected information on Scottish flowers and selected the representative flowers of Scotland, thistle and Silene dioica as our inspiration.

Thistle is the national flower of Scotland. In the hearts of most Scots, it is the symbol that best represents their own country and national culture. We hope to better convey our concept through this common and representative flower. In order to pursue the experiencer to have a better interactive experience during the experience.

video 1：

video 2：

video 3：

Group1—plant animation production 2.0（C4D)

After the 1.0 design phase, I communicated the design elements with the team members, and I selected representative plants that grow in specific environments (ocean/desert/forest), coral, vine, and cactus. And think about how to trigger the interactive device and show the plant growth animation.

first edition

 

second edition

 

video 1: Cactus

video 2: Coral

video 3: Vine

Group1—Exploring outdoor sound collection

Sound collection stage: (Chen Boya/Wu Yingxin/Liang Jiaojiao/Li Weichen)

In the early stage of design, our team rented sound collection equipment, went out to Dean Village and around Edinburgh to collect sound materials, and used the sound materials in the sound design part.
Device: H6

 

In the process of going out to explore, we observed the growth status of different plants in the natural environment, and used sound collection equipment to capture the sounds of different plants and environments. From the initial sound of wind and water, birdsong, and tree branches rubbing, to vehicles, buildings, etc., they all have sounds. Inanimate or animate, all are making their own voices. We also use sound as an important sense to perceive the world.

In this process, our team members not only gained a lot of knowledge, such as sound collection. At the same time, after being exposed to natural sound collection, we have re-recognized nature and are constantly thinking about the connection between man and nature.

Group1—plant animation production 1.0（C4D)

In the early design stage, I kept thinking about the presentation of the movement of plant growth, and made the following animation sample.

When designing plant growth animations, our design philosophy is to restore the real plant growth process as much as possible, while also highlighting its beauty and artistry.

First of all, we have carried out a lot of botanical research, and made detailed observation and analysis of the growth process of different kinds of plants. Using C4D software to make animations, the growth process of plants is presented digitally, so as to more accurately restore the real growth process of plants.

Secondly, we are also thinking about integrating the collected sound materials into animations to enhance the audience’s audio-visual experience. We hope to convey our design concept through the growth animation of plants from scratch.

 

Reference video:

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