My most recent sound project I have named Autotalk. This was based on software I created using Cycling 74’s Max/MSP application, and various piece of hardware.I actually got the idea off the back off hearing Sir Gerry Robinson talking about how annoying it was hearing the “arty types” talking no end of (for want of a better word) bollocks about the art they had either created or were looking at. Although I agree almost entirely with what he was saying, also I understand that it is necessary. It is nonsense to rubbish the whole lot, of what is often invaluable criticism, in one foul swoop. A balance needs to be drawn, and that is something easier said than done.
As Artists (and Art Students) often do, I thought a good idea would be to address the issue artistically. For explorations sake over and above exposition of the issue.
Using sound as a media I thought would add value to the experience. I relish the moments when an inkling of intrigue is earned by eavesdropping on someone else’s conversation, or by stealing a glance at your friends notebook. By creating a sound-based installation piece I could give people that experience. They cannot see the person who may be telling them something very personal, or very interesting, or embarrasing, or plain wrong; but they can hear their voice, and their words. In order to maintain a feeling of sincerity and honestly throughout, I wanted to create something that was entirely self-dependent, something that could only exist by the contributions of the very people experiencing it.
How It Actually Works
The whole thing is controlled from a computer, running a program written in Max/Msp. The computer (which is hidden from view) has four speakers and one microphone connected to it. The only other additional component is a wireless controller (I’m currently using the one from the Nintendo Wii) this serves simply as a trigger.
“At rest” the system will play four snippets of sound simultaneously, but only one from each speaker. These are selected randomly from a library of clips that are recorded through the microphone.
If somebody who is listening to the recordings wishes, they can press a button on the front of the wireless controller. As soon as this is done, the recordings playing from the speakers stop and the computer will record 10 seconds of sound from the microphone. With the recording made, that 10 seconds of audio becomes one of the snippets that play at random when the system is in its “at rest” state.