Almanac
Answer to Yourself
Presenting Exploration Into The Ocean of Motion.
An associative flux of visual & audible expression.
In bringing together these animated visual elements in accompaniment with the musical tracks, polymorphous & symbolic interpretations may be made across it’s circular composition - inspired by and dedicated to the artist’s whose works constitute the ephemera, namely Suzan Pitt (1979), Keiichi Tanaami (1975), Alex Toth (1972), the following pages are also committed.
The Ocean of Motion - Creative Artefact
Continuing on from the PDS Portfolio Component - Revisiting The Ocean of Motion LP Post-Production - which saw through the audio post-production & event showcasing of this LP soundtrack. Development has moved into more of a creatively considered artefact piece over the usual professionally oriented production approach. This counter-stance, providing a contextual alternative into the discourse between associated recommendations & considerations - has provided insight into how these two frames of references may be conjuncted.
Googie & The Imaginary Band - Creative Production
In undertaking this project - inquiry has explored the production paradigms given by Geoffrey Hull, in “Malcolm Chisholm: An Evaluation of Traditional Audio Engineering” by Linden P. S. (2013). Hull details the distinction across eras of audio production with the separation between each being technologically defined by the advent and subsequent departure of tape as a recording medium. Set out as : pre-industrial (1897-1925), industrial (1925-1985), post-industrial (>1985). These each contain differing traditional & modern methods to studio productions, notably : single microphone / input source record productions (pre-industrial), live to tape record production (industrial), and in-the-box record production (post-industrial).
NZanZu - B-Sides & Radio Edits - Studio Post-Production
Entering into this mastering production, I received the brief of mastering 10 tracks + 1 B-side of an alternative electro acoustic LP. Receiving reference for levels consisting of - “Search Party” & “Royal Blue Walls“ by Jane Remover, and “The Last High” by The Dandy Warhols.
The Kites “Just Say When” - Studio Production
Being a developmental continuation from the PDS project The Basement Tapes, Jacaranda Records (2024) - I have carried on working with the merseybeat band “The Kites” who I’d brought onto that. In aiming to develop their repertoire with a debut single release, we arranged to work together again in a studio production, for which I planned and produced their debut record as detailed here. Spanning the full scope of production, I was the sole recording / mixing / mastering engineer - and supported them in the afterwork effort of the release stage. This has been a milestone for myself, as it is the production which I would most qualify as a professional undertaking - being that I was hired to work for this client, fully engineering & producing their track.
LP Post-Production Rework for Release Project
A personal production project which has been recently initiated consists of back catalogue material originally intended as two separate releases - an EP and an LP - being reworked into one conceptually continuous LP delivered for surround sound playback intended for event showcasing.
VA Mixing Session - Sound Collage
For the purpose of generating additional texture to accompany the tape cassette EP which has been produced creatively alongside these sessions, a sound collage has been created to texture the noise between track transitions. This has been done to explore the abstract creative potential of VA use for soundscaping and ambient effects processing.
VA Mixing Session - Multi-Track Mix
This documentation covers production of a fully encoded multi-track implementation for mixing, using a set of back catalogue guitar / bass / kit / synth stems as material for use in renders. Stems had then been exported from Logic Pro and imported over into Unity Engine as audio assets, with an additional material component asset being created specifically for use in this session.
VA Mixing Session - What Will Happen ?
In this session some novel placements of audio sources will be utilised to split single stems of instrumentation up into varying positions around the stereo field. For this I will be first using a piano stem from an in-progress production remix track - What Will Happen? - there is the aim to discover some distinct placements working off of new experimentation informed by previous implementation research sessions.
VA Mixing Session - Record Store
Going into this iteration of implementation with the aim of utilising tested setups of VA rendering to incorporate into the mixing process, the session began with the 6-Ch source arrangement utilised in the Session 6 audio project. Again working with Logic Pro and Unity Engine bridged via Blackhole software for on the fly rendering during the mixing process, this project differs with the context of the track itself being a VA remix therefore allowing for more creative flexibility.
Project Post-Production & Mastering Preparation
As the recording and mix stages reach completion for Magic Satin, the final stage of the production comes to the mastering process, including preparing the release for transferability across multiple playback platforms. The playback mediums I will be focusing on will be CD and Spotify Streaming, as these two distribution channels have different technical delivery requirements I will have to produce masters specifically for each.
Magic Satin Recording Sessions
For our project we have undertaken a number of recording sessions to track the various aspects of each arrangement for the final full productions. Going into the project we had scratch outlines of the compositions to each track, and a general concept for the sounds tonality and aesthetic as well as it’s genre influences. During the recording sessions we then worked to instil these ideas of what we’re aiming for into the instrumentation with regard to the style of the albums content and concept.
Magic Satin Production Project Plan & Presentation
For the advanced specialised project module, I will be working with partner Das as our production group and collective name Sociodelic. For the project we will be undertaking the production of two EP releases, along with the business and marketing materials provided for following through with the release process and promotion. As we’re producing two together, I will take on producing Magic Satin, and Das will produce Silhouettes. For clarification all references to EP in these pages will refer to Magic Satin.
The Stamp - Studio Production Reflective - How we Livin’
In our modules covering recording / mixing / mastering, we have been undertaking a production project with local band, The Stamp, with whom we have produced a track for called How we Livin’. This production has been a great success for ourselves in our production team as it has brought around exciting prospects of a full album production with the band after the success of this first production.
Remix Reflection
For the electronic music production module we were tasked to create a remix from recordings which we got during a live lounge session. I feel this project went very successfully, as we went through all the stages of recording the audio to the final remix mixdown and performance with professionalism and cohesion as a production team.
Sociodelic Live Lounge Sessions Plan & Reflection
After undertaking a session with local artist Euan for a live lounge filmed / recorded set I’ve had the idea to go forward with a number of these sessions featuring local artists, as promotional material for themselves and our production team and creative collective Sociodelic. These sessions will follow the format of a live recording session performance from the artist, utilising the Neve studio and live room equipped with film gear.
The Stamp Mixing Session Planning and Preparation
After our successful recording session last week with The Stamp, next we are to go forward with the mixing session alongside the band to finalise the track we recorded. During the recording session we did a fresh take on their previously released track How we Livin, this was an indie rock reggae influenced track with drums, bass, acoustic guitar and electric lead.
The Stamp Recording Plan
Before our recording session takes place, there are important aspects of the production to first consider to ensure that the workflow and process within the session is smooth and maintains a high level of professionalism for ourselves as the production team and for our client, The Stamp.
Remix Production - Burden
During the module, we received stems from a live lounge session to use in practice for our remix production project, these were provided from The Jacaranda Basement Tapes and contained tracks by the local artist Lois Levin. There were a number of tracks in this session and we were tasked to take our pick and produce a remix, for this I went with the track Burden.
Remix Planning - Sapphire
For my production of the remix Sapphire by Mike Blue, I undertook it with the aim to bring the dazed and wispy neon tendrils of nightlife and the atmosphere of busy and detached moods to this track, which itself brings into proximity with it’s mellow jam of jazzy drums, smooth bass and expressive saxophone, along with lyrical context.