Working with Sound: An Information Session for Beginners

Wednesday, January 17, 2007 / 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.

Hexagram-Concordia Resource Room EV 11-705
Facilitated by Steve Bates
Please Note: This workshop is offered in English.

This information session will introduce participants to some of the topics to consider when working with sound in installation, film and video, radio, web and sound art projects. The intention of the workshop is to cover basics such as different methods of gathering sound (recording original material, using ‘found sound’, sampling and basic copyright concerns, online archives, etc.), how to prepare material for your project (some editing and processing software will be discussed, bit rates, sample rates, file formats, etc.), how to play back sound (basic hardware, multi-channel systems, etc.), and some acoustic considerations (room tone, reverberation, flutter, absorption/diffusion, etc.).

Please note this is not a hands-on training session but rather an introductory discussion of basic issues involved when working with sound. If there is time and group interest, we can discuss the logistics of participant’s projects as examples.

What is the best way to record wind? Where can I find recordings of a Golden Fronted Woodpecker? What is bass management? What sampling rate should I use? What is a standing wave? What is Phantom Power and when do I need it?...

The session will end with a brief overview of the equipment and facilities available at Hexagram-Concordia.

Pre-registration is requested. To register, go to ciam-arts.org. Click on "User's Section", then "formations du CIAM", then "Inscription a une formation". Please note that you must be a CIAM member to sign up for this workshop. To become a member, please go to ciam-arts.org, "Inscriptions d'usagers". contact Laura St.Pierre, Project Coordinator for CIAM – Concordia. tel. (514) 848-2424 Ext.: 5773

Steve Bates is a musician, audio artist, and sometimes curator/programmer. Current areas of interest include site-specific and unheard/ignored sounds, improvised and composed performance, recording, installation and radio projects. He is currently the sound coordinator at Hexagram Institute for Research/Creation in Media Arts and Technologies at Concordia University.