I came to create this piece by exploring the features of the Cool Edit program in Studio B at Trent Radio. My goal was to learn how to use the editing program and also to express a feeling that I was having. By taking three sentences I was able to play with them and arrange them in different ways, transforming the voice in order to create the effects that I desired.
I wanted the words to build into sentences, the sentences to build into phrases and the whole thing to enfold slowly. It was my intention that the poem itself would sound like it was walking. The poem was only three sentences:
By using the "transform" functions of the computer editing program, Cool Edit, I was able to create an alien sound in the middle of the poem. Partly this was just me playing around with sounds, but I also wanted to express the confusion felt when you are walking and walking with no place to go.
I also used repetition. This was intended to keep the piece moving, to give it rhythm and to synthesize walking. I also used the repetition in order to symbolize someone getting "stuck in a rut" in their life.
My main goal in the creation of this piece was to learn to use the available equipment; this included the microphone and the computer. I recorded my voice using the microphone attached to the sound board in the studio. I recorded my voice directly onto the computer and edited it using the Cool Edit program.
Once the voice was saved as a wave file, I able to experiment with the various features in order to learn what each feature did to the sound. I used various reverb and echo functions. I also played with reversing the sounds (which is what was done to create the weird sounds in the middle of the piece). The entire piece is an experiment with sound in order to learn how to use the program for the purpose of being able to create a larger project in the future.
Through the use of the available equipment at Trent Radio, I was able to create a piece that I am pleased with.
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