The debate over which medium to store, record and listen to music is as relevant today as it was when the distribution of music on the compact disc was popularised. With today’s listener’s sensitivity to ever lowering bit rates and harder compression thresholds sub consciously or almost by choice disappearing, the general population, not including audio enthusiasts or ‘audiophiles’, are choosing convenience over listening aesthetic. However, there is a rapidly growing movement into the re-popularisation of purchasing and releasing audio on vinyl [1], with the Entertainment Retailers Association (ERA) revealing that in 2016, 2.4 million pounds were spent on vinyl in the UK, vs 2.1 million pounds of digital sales [2].

The methods of recording audio with either analog or digital equipment, can drastically alter the creative process [3]. When using a Digital Audio Workspace (DAW), the musician has a large amount of control over every aspect, making takes, effects, editing to the millisecond etc., allowing even beginners to create. DAWs are very flexible with mistakes made during recording, ‘punching in’ (recording at specific score moments) of songs by allowing endless amounts of tracks and time control. Whilst extremely efficient and convenient this can significantly harbour a musician’s creativity, by almost artificially forming an instrument part, piece by piece, and not experiencing it as a string of emotional experiences. The analog process is completely different, with luxuries such as endless tracks, time control and hardware limited. This forces the musician to carefully construct their piece, from considerations of instrument tone to assessing the instrument’s overall contribution. It forces the musican to slow down and to consider their piece, as would a painter etc. This process is lost in digital environments where the possibilities are endless.

Recording and listening to music pressed to vinyl or released on reel to reel recorders are subjected to an uncontrollable introduction of impurities, such as vinyl distortion (popping, crackle), audio tape warping or warbling and subsequent frequency dynamic range (the “warm” feeling).  These impurities are not necessarily a bad thing; they provide the music with character introduced by the hardware, which to some is a pleasing, more organic result.

This short music piece aims to explore and utilise the aforementioned benefits and limitations of recording analog hardware. It was recorded solely on a Tascam TSR-8, 8 Track 1/2” Reel to Reel tape recorder, using Roland Juno 106 and Casio CZ-5000 vintage synthesizers. The piece is highly influenced by David Bowie’s Crystal Japan. It attempts to convey the physical struggle of adapting to the more difficult medium of analog hardware, yet the euphoric experience of the recording method and overall sound, through moments of both sad, nostalgic and uplifting emotions. Extreme care was taken when crafting the synthesizer tones and their overall contribution to the piece, as there was not external equalisation or compression etc. hardware and little control over the flow of the music. Tape hiss and warble was left deliberately to provide the listener with the experience of aesthetically pleasing impurities, and the instruments were recorded ‘hot’ to achieve natural tape compression and extra hiss.

When you listen to the piece, please take care in considering each instrument and appreciate its organic response to tape and harmonic blend with the other instruments.

[1] Brands take a spin on vinyl’s comeback: Retailers and marketers want to get in on the good vibrations as record sales surge. Poggi, Jeanine. Advertising Age; Chicago84.34 (Sep 30, 2013): 12.

[2] The State Of Music In 2016: Vinyl Vs. Digital. Hasse, Javier. Benzinga Newswires; Southfield [Southfield]08 Dec 2016.

[3] ED on Audio: Speaking in Tongues: The Analog vs. Digital Debate Tidemann, Pete. Entertainment Design – The Art and Technology of Show Business; New York, N. Y.36.9 (Sep 2002): 34.

Flickr link: https://www.flickr.com/gp/153140530@N03/61PsC0

As soon as I finished shooting the intriguing Tokyo sky rise in front of me I immediately began questioning if that particular photograph would turn out the way I planned, will this moment be lost due to over exposure? Was I holding the camera correctly? What exactly will this photograph look like? These are the most exciting yet nerve wrenching aspects of film photography. Many people would argue that this is superfluous yet for me, it is worth the experience and time because of the sentiment tied to film photography.

Some argue digital photography to be less interesting then film [1] however I still continue to use digital photography for its convenience. The main reasons why some find digital photography inferior is because of hardware limitations for example maximum resolutions, bit depth, lenses and how many digital cameras can be poorly designed [2]. Similar to audio tape, as mentioned in my reflective piece on sound, film has some “good” impurities. These consist of grain (which is very evident in the photographs I have chosen to present), color saturation, which is due to the film that is used and the type of camera. Another thing I find so interesting about shooting on film is how unrealistic perceptions of objects, places and people can be warped due to the crystals in the film’s reaction to light.

An important attribution to the methodology of photography is what photographers call “the decisive moment”. This is so important when shooting with film as one roll contains only 36 photographs. The photographer wants to capture exactly what is in front of them at the most optimal time. As well as capturing the photograph, most professional film photographers will spend long periods of time processing and physically editing their photos. This is a large part of creativity and demonstrates the importance of the creative process and understanding of creative thinking as a whole. Many photographers argue that digital photography does not allow the creative individual to consider or plan for the decisive moment [3]. This is solely due to the fact that using digital allows the photographer to snap as many photographs as they please without careful consideration and preparation, therefore less time and effort has gone into the creation of storytelling. Admiration for the digital photographs produced becomes less prominent rather then the physical form.

This photo series attempts to utilize the aforementioned impurities and limitations that force a photographer to preside over the photo. It also attempts to capture the beauty and organic nature of the film stock by shooting only in Tokyo and Osaka cities at dusk/night. The camera I used is an old RICOH 35mm Auto Half, half frame camera with a maximum ISO capability of 200. I used this camera because it shoots a single photograph onto half of a frame, combining two photographs together. I had to consider what photograph would appear more favorable and aesthetically pleasing next to each other forcing myself to consider the similarity of the images and tell a mini story in one photo. Because the camera has complete control of itself and is relying on its old light meter there is a high chance of miscalculations and “happy accidents”. To manipulate these properties, the photographs are taken at night with 200 ISO film to enhance the gain and intensify the already intense lights of Japanese cities.

[1] Digital photography vs. film: What works for you? Mikle, Toby. Inside Photoshop; Louisville 5.12 (Dec 2001): 11-12.

[2] Ongoing battle: film vs. digital photography. Nelson, Sally. University Wire; Carlsbad [Carlsbad]09 Feb 2012.

[3] The decisive moment photographs and words. Henri Cartier-Bresson 1908-2004. 2007

Flickr link: https://flic.kr/s/aHskRHugek

Nostalgia is an emotion when someone experiences a wistful or melancholy desire to relive or feel the emotions of a period in their past. These memories are not necessarily of happy time periods but can also be associated with feelings of sadness, melancholy and times of struggle [1].

To someone who has never used or even seen a typewriter can find it daunting or intimidating when faced with its numerous mechanical parts. However, after much patience and experience with this machine it can almost become meditative [2] due to the rhythm of the operational methodology and the byproduct of it’s sound and mechanical pulse. The Courier font produced from most standard typewriters, the line spacing and inconsistent print of ink could evoke nostalgia; of the machines smell, sound and environment whether it be work, café, or a lost or changed personal environment.

Many journalists and novelists of the pre digital era who have since merged to the modern computer still romanticize the times where typewriters were the default word processing equipment. Some find themselves idly oiling and feeling the texture of the keys levers and rollers [3]. Creative individuals such as authors, poets etc. may have found it difficult to transfer their writing methods from typewriter to a computer as it may have blocked their creative and imaginative process. This is because a computer allows a high level of rewriting, editing and compulsive writing. A typewriter forces the writer to consider each word and sentence before writing as the processes of actually writing, and fixing a mistake are time consuming. Using a modern computer holds no consequences for constructing a bad sentence.

This piece is a memorable quote from To Kill a Mockingbird. It was written on a 1960’s Adler Tippa Typewriter. The quote was chosen to provoke nostalgic memories as many people have read this novel in their youth and is still highly relevant to modern social issues. The quote, which to someone who has not read the book can be perceived as something written today; combined with the utilization of a typewriter, demonstrates the binding and relatively of old and new media, providing nostalgia to those who have read the book. The random splatters of ink, slight misalignment of words in sentences and corrections of were intentionally left in an attempt to evoke within the reader, memories of their own experiences and methodologies using this machine. In parts of the ribbon, the ink has either dried or become solidified in clumps due to aging of the ribbon itself and the spools, resulting in inconsistencies in the font print depth and form of the letters. Some letters reacted with different sections of the ribbon to produce ‘splotchy’ printing.

When reading, please observe and enjoy the uneven text, chopped off tops of capital letters, inconsistent ink markings, and original font.

“Mockingbirds don’t do one thing but make music for us to enjoy. They don’t eat up people’s gardens, don’t nest in corncribs, they don’t do one thing but sing their hearts out for us. That’s why it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird.” 

[1] Humble typewriter makes a comeback; College students like the simplicity, nostalgia fans collect them. Witherington, Laurence. Edmonton Journal; Edmonton, Alta. [Edmonton, Alta]28 Mar 2008: I.2.

[2] Me & My Typewriters – a meditation. Anthony Toner. Available: http://anthonytoner.net/anthonys-blog/2012/6/30/me-my-typewriters-a-meditation.html

[3] Recalling the days of the typewriter. Wolper, Allan. Editor & Publisher; New York. 129.48 (Nov 30, 1996): 40.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Although not lucky enough to be alive when Twin Peaks was released I still feel a large nostalgic connection with the program. I remember 4 years ago spending a very cold winter watching back to back episodes of this show. I don’t know how, but David Lynch and Mark Frost really take us to this special little town. Every time I want to go back to the world of Twin Peaks, I can do so. This is my favourite type of Nostalgia. I am excited to be taken back again during the new release this year, 20 years later from the last episode. Watching the new season will also really give me a good example of the contrast between old and new.

 

In last weeks class we were given some pieces of photo paper to experiment with. Displayed above are two scanned images of different botanical objects left to develop on photo paper over the period of 15 minutes. Overtime the originals will shift and eventually disappear. This project was definitely one of my highlights from this semester so far.

On Thursday March 9th our class met with Daniel Stanley who showed us around the Museum of Redundant Media. I was extremely impressed and interested with the many different old media equipment on display.

What I really wanted to explore was the Super 8mm Camera. This is because I have recently obtained one myself, have some film in my fridge and want to shoot a short artistic film in Japan over mid semester break.

The Super 8mm camera was firstly manufactured in 1965 by Kodak for their newly introduced amateur film format, which replaced the standard 8mm film format.

“The film is nominally 8mm wide, the same as older formatted 8mm film, but the dimensions of the rectangular perforations along one edge are smaller, which allows for greater exposed area. The Super 8 standard also allocates the border opposite the perforations for an oxide stripe upon which sound can be magnetically recorded.

Unlike Super 35 the film stock used for Super 8 is not compatible with standard 8mm film cameras.

There are several different varieties of the film system used for shooting, but the final film in each case has the same dimensions. The most popular system by far was the Kodak system.”
– https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Real_versus_nominal_value

Typically these cameras would be used by families, friends, groups, etc. to shoot valuable moments such as birthdays, weddings, holidays, etc.

 

Displayed in this photograph is a device used to help reach books on a higher shelves.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Displayed in this photograph is an organised guide used to search for information in different fields of education.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Displayed in this photograph is a device known as a “book shelf”. This device is used by librarians to transport an abundance of books around the library.

Using a generic google search often results in an open ended result. This means that it becomes particularly difficult to find the information you desire without sifting through many different articles.

The role of the RMIT library is to give students access to books, audio, instructional videos, literary journals, citation information and all general information in many different fields of education.

The layout of the Library website is rather easy to navigate, therefor making it easy for myself and other students to gain access to the resources needed as academic students.

It is important to use the resources available to students to achieve the best result during our academic careers.

Ventilation is the intentional introduction of outside air into a space. Ventilation’s main purpose is to control indoor air quality by diluting and displacing indoor pollutants; it can also be used for purposes of thermal comfort.

I believe the ventilation system displayed in this photograph was used for chemical ventilation in a science building where you should not be exposed to many different hazardous products. This is known as Mechanical Ventilation. This includes positive pressure ventilation, exhaust ventilation, and balanced systems that use both supply and exhaust ventilation.

Ventilation systems can be made out of many different materiel’s such as plastics, metal and wood. The materials used to create vents are carefully selected as they need to be durable and able to withstand weather conditions as well as polluted air.

 

Stained glass windows have had a thousand year history mostly appearing in churches, mosques and significant buildings. Traditionally made in flat panels and used as windows, the creations of modern stained glass artists also include three-dimensional structures and sculpture.

Stained glass, as an art and a craft, requires the artistic skill to conceive an appropriate and workable design, and the engineering skills to assemble the piece.

The coloured glass is crafted into stainless glass windows in which small pieces of glass are arranged to form patterns or pictures, held together (traditionally) by strips of lead and supported by a rigid frame. Painted details and yellow stain are often used to enhance the design.

Stained glass must fit perfectly into the space for which it is made, must resist poor weather conditions, and also, especially in the larger windows, must support its own weight. Many large windows have withstood the test of time and remained substantially intact since the late Middle Ages.