Sound design questions and answers; buildings and food etc

[Ugly Nora]

I love sound and texture. I can play 1 chord over and over and be endlessly enthralled by the subtleties of the changing overtones it creates. I also love simple melodies. I can be endlessly enthralled by being bludgeoned over the head with a simple repetitive melody. I also love questions and answers and finding solutions to problems. I enjoy the thought of representing complex abstract thoughts or emotions with simple tools. Finding simple solutions to not so simple problems.

No, I'm not high. But I have been thinking about all of this and what to do with it, and thought some others may want to join in. So, I thought I would post it here. If no one else is game, that's fine, I'll go at it alone.

I was thinking about picking an abstract idea or phrase, or an emotion, or maybe a picture and recreating it sonically as I perceive it with self-imposed limitations on the tools I use. This approach would have a multipronged effect:

1. Learn to get the most out of the gear I have
2. Increase my problem solving ability
3. Have fun
4. A whole bunch of other shit

I was thinking about limiting myself in the following ways:

1. Only allowed to use 3 pedals maximum, plus a looper pedal
2. Can only use 1 category of pedals at a time (for instance, I couldn't use a reverb and delay at the same time because they are both time-based effects. Or I couldn't use an overdrive and fuzz together because they are both dirt. You get the idea.
3. Finished product can be no longer than 1 minute and 6 seconds. The point is not to write a song, just focus on sound design. But melodies etc are fine if that is your solution to the problem.

So for instance, if the phrase was "plate of shrimp", how could this be interpreted into sound? One person may choose to represent what they see, while another may choose to represent what it smells and tastes like. Another person may recall a time when they got sick off some bad shrimp, while another may remember that he and his wife ate shrimp cocktail at their wedding and choose to represent those emotions.

If others wanted to join in, I could post a topic each Sunday, and then people can post their interpretations throughout the week. There would be no limit to how many entries you can submit. This isn't a contest, it is just an exercise. I think it would be neat to see how different people see different things, and how different people use different gear to solve a problem.

Seriously, I'm not high.

Nora

[Chankgeez]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ToUAkEF_d4[/youtube]

[Tristan]

Yeah, seems like a cool idea!

[weed_killer]

I really like this idea. Definitely willing to try it out with you.

[ratrod]

This sounds abstract and awesome, I'm in!

[KaosCill8r]

I think it would be fine to use a delay and a verb. I've always considered delay as a time effect and verb as a spacial effect.

[MEC]

Sounds pretty rad!
I might be down to participate but I only have 4 pedals (OD/Reverb/Fuzz/Reverb) and no Looper.
Maybe each person could set their own limitations.

Also, I don't really give a shit but this thread might fit better in the "Music" section.

[oldangelmidnight]

Have you seen the Disquiet Junto? It's a similar project.
http://disquiet.com/2012/01/27/the-disquiet-junto/
Maybe a little more electronics focused.

[Ugly Nora]

I think it would be fine to use a delay and a verb. I've always considered delay as a time effect and verb as a spacial effect.

Fair enough. We can work out all those items for sure so we are all on the same page. We can define categories. Also, these don't have to be the be all and end all rules. Maybe we can switch them up on different weeks. For example, maybe one week we will only be allowed to use reverb and delay. Nothing else. Another week, only fuzzes. Ain't no man here to keep us down.

Have you seen the Disquiet Junto? It's a similar project.
http://disquiet.com/2012/01/27/the-disquiet-junto/
Maybe a little more electronics focused.

Nope, thanks for the link. I will check it out.

[resincum]

LOVE IT.


THE FUCK DOES THIS THING SOUND LIKE?

[Chankgeez]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jjwj25mI2zY[/youtube]

[Ugly Nora]

Sounds pretty rad!
I might be down to participate but I only have 4 pedals (OD/Reverb/Fuzz/Reverb) and no Looper.
Maybe each person could set their own limitations.

Also, I don't really give a shit but this thread might fit better in the "Music" section.

Yeah I wasn't positive about which forum to post it, but ultimately I decided the thread was about how to use gear to achieve certain results, so I posted it here. I am sure a mod will move it if they feel otherwise.

If that's all you have, that's fine and I think that is great. That is actually kind of what I am getting at with this thread: getting the most out of what you got. Having lots of gear is great to have and tons of fun, but it can also be limiting in a way - almost a paralysis by analysis situation. Always searching for next sound. I think it could benefit people to stop searching for a while a make the most out of what they already got. In today's world of mass information and relatively cheap technology, it is fairly easy to solve issues by throwing resources at it. I think this may hinder creativity, ingenuity, and good old fashion gumption. Read some stories about the recording practices back in the 60's or whatever and see how they creatively got around problems that would be complete non-issues today due to technology. Interesting stuff.

Nora

[lordgalvar]

If that's all you have, that's fine and I think that is great. That is actually kind of what I am getting at with this thread: getting the most out of what you got. Having lots of gear is great to have and tons of fun, but it can also be limiting in a way - almost a paralysis by analysis situation. Always searching for next sound. I think it could benefit people to stop searching for a while a make the most out of what they already got. In today's world of mass information and relatively cheap technology, it is fairly easy to solve issues by throwing resources at it. I think this may hinder creativity, ingenuity, and good old fashion gumption. Read some stories about the recording practices back in the 60's or whatever and see how they creatively got around problems that would be complete non-issues today due to technology. Interesting stuff.

Nora

Totally agree.Count me in.

[Ugly Nora]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jjwj25mI2zY[/youtube]

Unrelated, but I saw the Tom Tom Club a few years back. Chris and Tina were probably the tightest rhythm section I have ever witnessed. I guess that's what happens when you play together for 30+ years. Amazing stuff.

[Uncle Grandfather]

Sounds like fun...