Project 1: Soundscape Narrative

Your task in this unit is to arrange layers of sound to convey a sense of place and story. In assigning this, I have two main goals for you: (1) to learn how to capture sound and edit it using digital tools, and (2) to explore the affordances of sound as a medium, with particular attention to its ability to communicate immersive environment and narrative pacing and change. The genre of the narrative you convey is open: it could be documentary, fictional, even science-fictional. (The title you choose will help steer listeners' expectations, and thus their perceptions.)

As you start planning your composition, consider: in what place (physical, virtual, or imaginary) could you anchor your soundscape? What kinds of stories happen there, and which of them could you reasonably tell within a few minutes? How can you represent that environment sonically? What sounds are relatively stable, or sustained, and what is incidental? What structures or sequences could help a listening audience follow?

You don't need answers to all of these questions before getting started, but asking them early and returning to them often could help you get a sense of the soundscape you want to make.

Generative constraints

Updated on Thursday, 2019-01-24:

Baseline Criteria

For a minimum grade of B, all projects for this unit must…

• Contain at least 1 minute of original recordings by you or your classmates.
• Contain at least one sound originally recorded by you.
• Have three layers (tracks) of sound overlapping at least once in the file
• Play for 2-4 minutes
• Have something change from the beginning to the end of the piece

Update: GitHub is no longer required for baseline; you can use Box to share files.

Aspirational Inspirations

To target (but not guarantee) a grade above a B, the best projects for this unit may…

• Transitions occur at meaningful points in the narrative (e.g. the music’s volume and alignment occur together)
• Have four or more layers (tracks) of sound overlapping at least once in the file
• Have three or more layers (tracks) of sound overlapping more than once in the file
• Incorporate mystery sound
• Use Github for commit/version history. If you are already familiar with Github, use new features of Github that you haven’t used before!
• Use effects in Audacity

Deadlines and products

At each stage, unless otherwise specified, upload (push) your materials to your own copy of this assignment repository. I recommend that you save often, using meaningful commit messages; for best results, please keep your filenames clear, lowercase, and space-free (use hyphens or underscores).

date	what's due	expected files
Tues Jan 22	Soundscape Proposal	Thinking in writing about what you'd like to do for this assignment. Turn in: A plain text (.txt) or markdown (.md) proposal file, suggesting in prose the place and premise of your soundscape narrative. In a separate file called ASSETS.md, include a prospective assets chart (see Writer/Designer p. 149).
Thurs Jan 24	Soundscape Preview	An early snapshot of your progress, to get the gears turning. Turn in: A layered Audacity project file (.aup), showing the arrangement of your sounds so far (need not be a complete soundscape or narrative yet). A static screenshot (.png or .jpg) of your Audacity file in progress (for comparison later to subsequent drafts). The _data folder associated with your Audacity file, which should contain at least two recorded sounds. A plain text (.txt) or markdown (.md) file, explaining in at least 300 words what you're showing us in this preview. Feel free also to ask questions or lay out next steps for yourself! An updated ASSETS.md, now with the files you actually recorded or otherwise obtained. Add source documentation for any outside sources – and your permission to use them (e.g. licenses, fair use; see Writer/Designer p. 160-165).
Tues Jan 29	Soundscape Draft	A solid attempt at a complete soundscape narrative, ideally at the target length. Turn in: A layered Audacity project file (.aup), showing the arrangement of your sounds so far The _data folder associated with your Audacity file, containing your audio snippets. At least one more static screenshot (.png or .jpg) of your Audacity file in progress. Think about what moments are worth remembering as you go: where did you level up, or realize something, or get stuck? An updated README.md file, introducing the soundscape narrative to a new audience. An updated ASSETS.md file, including documentation of any outside sources – and your permission to use them (e.g. licenses, fair use); see Writer/Designer p. 160-165.
Sun Feb 3	Soundscape Final Draft	Include the same five components as in the earlier draft, but updated.
Tues Feb 5	Soundscape Reflection	Give a sense of the work you put into your soundscape and whether it accomplishes what you wanted it to. Turn in: at least 500 words describing the work you did at least two screenshots showing your work in progress at least one photograph of a notecard with feedback that you responded to in revising (and please say how) your own assessment of how you met the baseline criteria for the class, as well as aspirational criteria as appropriate Post your reflections to the course site's Issue queue, to make it easier to embed images. (If you want to then copy the source code into a file in your repo called reflections.md, I won't stop you!)

Setup

1. Now that you've copied this assignment repository, you'll want a local copy on your computer. Follow the cloning instructions for your operating system, making sure to put the cloned folder in a place on your computer where you can easily find it.
2. Because sound files can take up a lot of space, we'll be using Git Large File Storage, an add-on service that lets you designate certain file extensions as worth tracking and storing off-site, rather than directly in your repository.
   • I've already set up this folder to track .wav, .mp3, and .ogg files this way, but you'll need to install the LFS service to make it work.
   • Simply go to that URL, download, enter the command in step 1, and you're on your way: I've done step 2 for this repo, and there is no step 3!