Sound and light are ephemeral, visceral, and abstract by nature, yet they possess an incredible power to manipulate us in ways that words and images cannot. In this weeklong workshop, we’ll explore the tools, technologies, and techniques available for sculpting immersive sound and light environments. We’ll be designing and building custom sound and light instruments using Reaktor: a modular programming software similar to Max/MSP, developing tools and techniques for video projections, as well as examining creative strategies for dealing with site specificity and the interaction between sound and light.
Each day will consist of teaching, examples, and descriptions in order to provide a solid grounding in the technical framework necessary to build to powerful Reaktor instruments, an introduction to DMX lighting, and techniques to control sound and light using Ableton Live (or your DAW of choice), but will also include more theoretical discussions and critical reflections on aesthetic concepts in sound, light, and audio-visual art.
{ Day 1 } Introduction to Reaktor, DMX lighting, and Arena. Preparation for inter-application communication (data and audio).
{ Day 2 } Designing Reaktor instruments for audio-reactive and data DMX control. Sound and Light Art Lecture/Discussion.
{ Day 3 } Designing Reaktor instruments for audio-reactive and data control of Arena video projections. Volumetric Lighting Tutorial.
{ Day 4 } Advanced Reaktor-Arena-DMX synchronization and sequencing techniques. Installation and Performance Techniques Lecture/Discussion.
{ Day 5 } Workshop participants will finalize their multichannel systems and compositions and prepare for a small performance. Each participant will explain and perform/run their piece in front of a small, invited audience.
{ Requirements }
You will work on your Mac or PC computer. Additionally you will need to instal software and bring hardware:
– Reaktor (Version 6 preferred)
– Resolume Arena (demo or fully licensed)
– Headphones
– If you have a multichannel soundcard, please bring to the workshop.
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{ Software }
Reaktor is a graphical modular software music tool developed by Native Instrument that lets musicians and sound specialists design and build their own instruments, samplers, effects and sound design tools. Used by everyone from Radiohead, to Alva Noto, Haxan Cloak, and Objekt, Reaktor is known for it’s incredible flexibility and high-fidelity sound. DMX is the lighting industry standard used to send commands to light fixtures in real time. This can control things like color, tilt, pan, and a variety of effects. Arena is a VJ software for live video mixing, effects processing, and projection mapping.
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{ DORON SADJA }
Doron Sadja is an American artist, composer, and curator whose work explores modes of perception and the experience of sound, light, and space. Often working with multichannel spatialized sound, smoke machines, and high intensity lights, Sadja combines pristine electronics with lush romantic synthesizers, dense noise, and immersive light projections to create hyper-emotive sonic architecture. Although each of Sadja’s works are striking in their singular and focused approach, his output is diverse: spanning everything from 25 speaker sound works to stroboscopic smoke and light shows, 360 degree projection pieces, and custom built motorized speaker systems that can precisely track sound around a room. Sadja founded Shinkoyo Records and the West Nile performance space in Brooklyn (RIP), and currently runs the Sound Portraits lecture/listening series in Berlin. Sadja studied Technology in Music and Related Arts at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music, and received his MFA in Sound Art from Bard College where he studied with Maryanne Amacher, Marina Rosenfeld, and David Behrman.
www.doron.sadja.com
