Zac_McGrath_Assignment2_Cronulla

Walking around the creek

This walk shows the walk from the Hurstville train station to Owen Hodge Lawyers (located on the second floor of the building on Ormonde Parade). You first leave the train and then head to the stairs located by the bread store. Front here you cross the street and walk a straight path until the building will be on your right. The creative aspect that I have put into this walk would be that it is a rainy day. This adds more noises to be heard from the pitter patter of the rain on umbrellas passing by, to the splashing of puddles, to the closing and opening of umbrellas. There can also be heard a bus squeaking to a stop on the wet roads. The techniques used to acquire these sounds involved a zoom mic. I walked around to different locations to gather these sounds, some being around campus while others being somewhat near the site. I also used sounds from my peers; including the walking, rain, and ambiance. There are multiple spots where I have the rain fade out nicely to indicate times where there are cover and the rain cannot be heard as sharply as the sidewalks are mainly covered. The echo is supposed to be simple, not too complex or eery; nor dramatic. Walking to work is an every day task which typically doesn't have much good or bad to it more so just a matter of fact. This is what I was aiming for within my piece. While things could happen to make it very eventful, the likely hood of that happening is rather low. I had to wait for a rainy day to collect the bus squeaking sound of the tires over the water. The context of this walk is that this is one I experience everyday. I do not know of many locations in Sydney as I am still relatively new to the area; moving here in January. To pick something that was familiar and I have walked through for a couple months now felt right and solid to me. Everyday I experience a new ambience of noise, from the people around, to the weather. It is a reassuring and comforting walk; since there's things that are different but yet the main walk will always be the same. I wanted to make it feel like it was a comfortable walk, I didn't want to make it sound like it was scary or uncomforting. I used different types of audio, ones being made from humans, ones being made from nature, living and non living. This is a common usage of sound composition. While as my group members supplied a lot of the sounds that come from human creations to really tie together my composition. I did not want to put too many sounds as to drown out any of the others or to make it seem as though there was too much going on.

An immersive soundscape designed for listening while riding the train between Redfern and Carlton. Make sure that your volume is set so that you can still engage with the world around you while you are on your journey. Listen for shimmering drones, the hissing of trains, and whispers beckoning from outside the tracks... Thanks to the James Eric Bird Collection of Steam Trains of NSW for being a free archive of steam train recordings available under Creative Commons, Gail Priest for being a mentor figure throughout the process of creating this work, and Shopfront to making the development of this work possible through the 2022 ArtsLab season. P.S: As this soundscape uses real-time location data, there may be points along the track (such as long tunnel sections) where location data does not function properly and the journey's audio does not play back. If this happens, you can manually play the echoes by selecting them within the app.

The #mycooksriver hunt begins the first phase of a generative open-ended project and the making of physical and virtual mementos and memories. Use the echoes as location guides for hunting your treasures. The Echoes tell sonic stories, sometimes through voices, sometimes through sounds asking you to open your ears and reflect on their messages. // This project is proudly brought to you by the Cooks River Changemakers. Many thanks to the Cooks River Alliance for facilitation and support.

Maroubra is a popular surfing destination known for its beautiful coastline and consistent surf breaks located in the Eastern suburbs of Sydney, approximately 10 km from the CBD. It is Australia's second national surfing reserve and hosts a walk of fame built into the promenade, highlighting the many greats of surfing and surf live saving. Maroubra Beach also hosts a skatepark, a large kid's playground, an outdoor gym, many shops and a surf club on either end of the beach, with volunteer lifesavers patrolling the beach on weekends and public holidays alongside the lifeguards in blue that patrol year round. Maroubra is a refreshing area that offers an array of experiences in the morning that are yearning to be explored. Join me for a morning at Maroubra Beach. Walk along the sand or the promenade to unearth what a morning at Maroubra is all about. Maroubra Beach hosts a vivacious and vibrant community that is filled with a diverse range of sounds, people and experiences. Listen to this program if you have ever wondered what it is like at Maroubra Beach during the early hours of the day. This composition aims to create a truly immersive experience that completely submerges you into a busy Maroubra morning. This piece is aimed at capturing the true nature of what goes on in Maroubra by exploring a diverse range of sounds that can be heard in the morning, such as the barking of dogs and chatter of dog walkers, the scraping of wax onto surfboards, the hustle and bustle of the cafes, the crashing of waves, the sound of surf lessons, the calls of fitness groups and the bustle of the lifeguards setting up the beach. The composition makes use of a variety of sound elements and technical procedures to accomplish this task. The piece's foundation consists of field recordings that have been manipulated and processed using various sound design and mixing techniques, including fading and layering sounds, to produce a unique and enjoyable sonic landscape encapsulating the authentic character of Maroubra. The program also involves the use of various sound materials, such as ambient sounds and instrumental recordings, to add depth and ensure an enjoyable listening experience. This program utilises the sounds of coffee machines, cups clinking and the chatter of the public to represent the busy cafe atmosphere. Sounds of wax getting rubbed on surfboards, wetsuits being zipped up, and surfers running with their boards to represent the early morning surf hustle. As you listen to this program, you will hear surf lessons and fitness groups running, dogs walking with their owners, beach buggies driving and crashing waves that all represent the busy Maroubra morning. The program is designed to be enjoyed while taking a stroll, but it can also be listened to from the comfort of your home. As you listen to the many sounds of Maroubra Beach gradually unfolding, I invite you to take a walk down the promenade, starting at the southern end of the promenade next to the blue ramp and allow yourself to sink into the sounds as you experience the emotion of a morning at Maroubra beach. Whether you are listening from home or experiencing a walk, "A Morning in Maroubra" appreciates this remarkable place's raw beauty and diversity. The program seeks to open our minds to new experiences and gives us insight into what life is like by the sea. A morning at Maroubra Beach is an experience that everybody must enjoy. Join me as we celebrate the unique charm that the many sounds of Maroubra have encapsulated. Allow your mind to wander as you let the sounds of Maroubra Beach take you over, and don't forget to enjoy your walk!

This 4-minute locative audio project takes the listener on an immersive journey through Earlwood, following a cat named Cudi’s walk home. This chosen idea allows the representation of a generally mysterious phenomenon, a cat’s walk. How often do we know what our cats get up to on their daily walks? Where do they go? What do they do? This project attempts to answer these questions. As the cat is quite a quiet animal, the project focuses more on the atmospheric sounds of the location rather than the sounds of a cat. To enhance the listening experience and allow the idea of walking beside a cat, the narration guides you through the walk, suggesting directions and providing descriptive audio of the things Cudi experiences through his walk. The walk travels through the lovely walk along Cooks River, capturing the atmospheric audio of the location such as the gentle sounds of the river’s water and the sounds of people strolling around. From sitting along the river and recording the natural events and sounds that occurred, I chose the highlights of the recordings and curated an authentic collection of audio capturing the footsteps and conversations of people walking by. After turning off the river you and Cudi will venture onto the streets of suburbian Earlwood. The serenity of the location can be deceiving as you and Cudi will encounter a variety of complications, from a scary dog to crossing the road, things that seem small to us as humans but are colossal to tiny cats. This exaggeration of everyday encounters allows a representation of the world through a cat’s point of view, hence the project focuses on emphasising environmental sounds rather than totally the sounds of Cudi himself. Credits: Narration performed by: Olcay Ozcelik Additional sound effects by: Bea Hernandez

In my production I attempted to capture as many real and accurate sounds as possible with almost all sounds being recorded at the river. This was to provide an authenticity to the walk that could not be replicated. Of course, there were limitations as parts of the soundscape have faded into history. However, I believe this approached has layered an element of depth otherwise inaccessible. The Cooks River has undergone many transformations in its history, from pristine wetland to polluted canal. Having lived nearby my whole life I have seen rapid changes in my lifetime. From a smelly, derelict, polluted river with a rotting bridge and constantly flooding soccer grounds to a re-vitalised place for young family’s having picnics and, for going on runs, with the smell being somewhat more bearable now. One might even see a row boat in the water on occasion. It has had in a sense been three different places. The Native wetland, The hotbed of industrial activity and most recently, the local park and soccer ground. In a soundscape filled with heavy machinery and factories it may have been hard for the sounds of birdsong to cut through. Even now there is the constant hum of traffic and planes. However, there has always been the sounds of birds. In a sense this is what defines the soundscape of the Cooks River more so than the sounds that inhibit it. To people the picture of a place in their mind may be determined visually, however what shapes the memory equally if not more so is the soundscape of the area. Loud, busy soundscapes provide an impression of vibrancy and life, where as quiet, uncluttered soundscapes provide a sense a peace and tranquillity. As you walk through the experience allow yourself to be transported through space and time. Imagine hearing the soundscape before human interference, pretend you’re a factory worker in the 19th century or even place yourself at a family picnic as people laugh and play.

My Echoes Walk attempts to detail the significance of nature's timbre in this busy city life by providing a personal anecdote of recently moving from the Central Coast to the middle of Sydney, where the surrounding soundscape contradicts each other. I attempt to convey the merit of consuming a different sound environment so close to the city with the example of my local park, Redfern Park. I also capture the importance of Redfern Park in terms of its historical magnitude and the connotation it holds to the people of Redfern. Picking my echoes walk location as Redfern Park carried the creative aim of firstly finding a nonlinear area. In Redfern Park, multiple points of entry and pathways give a sense of non-linearity. Additionally, the park's theme makes it so you don't have to walk in a straight line, and it's up to you to traverse and enjoy the space. In my intro, I implemented sounds that would be most common to those who live in and work in Sydney or any city in general, such as waiting at the lights of a crossing and train announcements, trying to create a point of similarity with the average Sydney resident. With sounds that they would hear on the daily. In Part A, I tried to achieve the use of park ambience and softer sounds that were easy on the ear; in an attempt to set the tone and background of the project, I applied a soft midi keyboard playing a simple chord progression to layer it on the back to create depth and interest, which is played throughout the majority of the piece. I add in my narration to describe the park's visuals and atmosphere so that the listener could invoke and relate to its characterisation. Through figurative language such as 'mature fig trees' and 'welcomed me with a gush of wind,' the listener could sympathise with those who previously visited the park, and it allows me to segway the listener's curiosity to the history of the park, which is what I cover in part B. To my narration then compares the coast to the city it ultimately foreshadows the focal point of the message it is trying to give in that by living in a somewhat opposite soundscape, you gain an appreciation for the other Part B tells the story of the park and its historical value to the people of Redfern and Aboriginal culture. Such as telling the coming of the first Aboriginal AFL team and former prime minister Paul Keating's apology speech. Its epicenter as aboriginal activism gives the Echoes listener intel and justifies a reason to listen while traversing the area. Listening to a tour guide through headphones immerses the listener and informs them of information. It continues with the park atmosphere ambience, and chatter to give a comfortable homely feeling. Then adding footsteps to give a sense of progression within the story and to represent the passing of time and the history of the park Part C and the outro use more city sounds, such as street atmosphere, train announcements, and chatter in shops and alleyways, with narration that recounts my past three months since moving to the city and its experiences that made me miss the soundscape of a quieter, peaceful area. Redfern Park acts as a sanctuary of mind that fulfills Sydney's missing nature and serene soundscape, marking its importance in my local sphere. My creative aim attempts to show the difference between city life's soundscape and the central coast. The sound materials consisted of 'city sounds' that could be heard daily in Sydney, which I collected by covering my daily life, such as commuting to university and hanging out with friends. From this, naturally collected sounds that describe the urbanism sound felt in Sydney. Additionally, for the more idyllic lifestyle, its acoustemology was contained in more peaceful quiet areas such as Redfern Park and parts of the coast. Its composition and layering was done through multiple layers of atmos sound that add depth to the Echoes walk; I layered a midi of a simple four-chord pattern and an intro and outro music to keep the audio not monotonous.

Surrounded by a bustling city environment and flowing traffic from all directions Victoria Park can appear to some as a central location for noise pollution and heavy foot traffic. However, through a collation of the many sounds other than that of the urban soundscape that entraps the park, its centrality in supporting the student life of the surrounding universities can be seen. As you walk from the University of Technology Sydney the relentless sound of traffic tapers off as students walk down to the pond as a place of solace and peace. Muddied footsteps and flowing water highlight how whilst the city has been engulfed in one of its wettest seasons, the park and its purpose as an escape for students still thrive. The sounds of gardeners and birds chirping almost hint at a persistent effort to preserve that environment by nature and those who look to uphold its natural beauty. As one walks deeper into the park towards the University of Sydney, the presence of student life, even during quiet study periods, can be heard with compilations of laughter, banter, and conversation. Above that, Victoria Park acts as a cornerstone for student activism and protest, as it offers an open and inclusive space for students to celebrate and protest their beliefs and the change they want to see in their universities. Walking towards Parramatta Road and the gates of the University of Sydney, a student picket can be heard all around the edges of the university as students chant in unison in the hopes of enacting institutional change. It shows the symbolism of the park as a basis point for the future generation of leaders to go about building their campaign for better education, quality of life standards, such as wages, and environmental action. The creative aim of this walk is to represent how through audio, we can illustrate the need for spaces such as Victoria Park for students and young activists to safely and effectively advocate and protest for the change they want to see in their societies. Often through video, these protests are able to be displayed to show the scale and size of these movements, however, through sound, this project points out how in a large environment and soundscape such as Victoria Park, sound can be just as effective as visual aids to illustrate the impact these student movements are making in Sydney. The sound material utilized in the project was collated in between the areas of Broadway (University of Technology Sydney) and the gates of the University of Sydney in Victoria Park. A Rode NTG-3 shotgun microphone was used with a Zoom H6 recorder to capture all content and various mixing techniques were utilized to optimize the audio quality. Subtractive equalizing was used to clean all audio material of resonant frequencies which worsen the listening experience for users, and dynamic processing in the form of a compressor was used for various sound sources in order to control transients and dynamic peaks which cause an un-balance in the mix of the project. Additive equalizing was also used to balance low and high frequencies between foreground and background sounds, with shelf and peak filters allowing for the high frequencies of voices to be heard better in the mix above traffic noise from background sound sources. Further dynamic processing was used on the master channel in the form of a limiter with a ceiling of -1db in order to achieve the loudness requirements for this project. The ‘YouLean’ loudness meter was used to help measure short term and integrated loudness and analyze the mix of foreground and background sounds in order to achieve the target foreground loudness of -16LUFS.