Tuesday 13 December 2011

EKG Effect in After Effects (Heart Monitor)


Hey Folks

so if you have been following my blog and watching my storyboard you will notice that the little guy picks up a CD case which has a weird heart rate like monitor on it.

well i came across this tutorial which shows you how to do it. :D

i am making the video as you read this and i will post it to show you my little vid once i am done with it.

Enjoy Muchly

Monday 5 December 2011

Howto: Hack DJ Hero Controller for Computer


Hey Folks

This is a guy who has managed to connect his DJ Hero controller to his computer and use sound mixing equipment to play about with. This is a pretty neat trick and would be cool to try out. This guy is only playing about with it to show you it all works like a real deck but i will see if i can mix my tracks using this. If it doesnt work then i will learn to to play real decks.

enjoy muchly

DJ Hero Video THE VISUALS DJ Hero // Party Play // Herbie Hancock - Rockit // Expert (Hardest Song...


Hey Folks

This is a party play video of DJ Hero the main thing to look at here is the visuals. When the player hits specific notes the video will take effect like for example; change colour invert or make a glitch effect to scratching or jumping between songs its pretty cool so check it out :D the songs ok but not one of my favourites.

Enjoy Muchly

The POS

Hey Folks

This is My Programme Of Study (Updated)



My references so far

Hey Folks

These are my references so far for my Masters project

Animations by John K

Kricfalusi, J. (1991) “The Ren and Stimpy Show Introduction” California United States, Paramount, Nickelodeon

http://johnkstuff.blogspot.com/

Avery, T. (1946) “Northwest Hounded Police” Los Angeles California, Metro Golden Mayer, Quimby, F

Brainheart Music http://www.brainheartmusic.com/

Barnes Luke (November 2007) http://letterstonature.wordpress.com/2007/11/30/a-lesson-in-neurology-from-jimi-hendrix/

Clampett Robert (1938) “Porky in Egypt” Warner Brothers, MGM, united States

Cholodenko Alan (4th April 2011) http://sydney.edu.au/arts/art_history_film/staff/acholodenko.shtml Department of Art History and Film Studies.

George Gibby, (2010) http://drexelpublishing.org/2010/03/26/synesthesia-is-a-gift-not-a-disorder/

Groening Matt (1999) Futurama August 10, 2003The Devil's Hands Are Idle Playthings” 20th Century Fox, United States California.

Michael (January 3rd 2008) http://www.press.uillinois.edu/wordpress/?p=177 University of Illnois

Mixes by The DJ Hero Franchise http://www.djhero.com/en-gb/music/index

Songs by Daft Punk Musique Vol 1 1993-2005 “Rollin n Scratchin”, “Mothership Reconnection” Virgin Records

Songs by Deadmau5; (2008) Deadmau5 Feat Rob Swire“Ghosts n Stuff”, Ultra, (2007) “The Reward is Cheese”

Songs by Skrillex; Skrillex (June 7th, 2011) “Equinox First of the Year” Big Beat

Walt, Disney (1940) “Fantasia” Walt Disney Productions, RKO Radio Pictures, United States.

Critical Theory Alan Cholodenko

Hey Folks

For one of our modules in the Masters we had to find a critical theorist and find out what they get up to.

I was given Alan Cholodenko.

Here is a picture of him

Dr Alan Cholodenko Dept of Art History and Film Studies

Alan Cholodenko explains the articulation of film theory with animation theory and both contemporary french thought. He Explains this through lectures to his students and also in his books.

The Illusion of Life Essays on Animation


The Illusion of Life More Essays on Animation

His influences to write these essays on animation came from his Children when they would watch pleasing Saturday morning cartoons, He took animation for granted as a student and a tutor himself and writing the illusion of life. throughout the years he managed to respect animation during his studies and realised that not only is animation a form of film, but itself is a form of animation.

Film has never not been animation but more as film and film theory which should be re-thought through animation and animation theory to be media studies. Animation has been stated as a form of Graphic art rather than film at all but states that animation is for the public film and as well as media studies.

Cholodenko explains that over the years animation has increasingly moved forward and presented itself as the most compelling subject of contemporary film but also in the contemporary world itself. So for example people do not realise that we constantly animate all the time whether it is making a cup of tea or describing to a friend a theft you saw in the supermarket the other day. People only believe that animation is only displayed in films and based as a lower form of film production. He also explains that this theory is needed throughout the world on television to tell a story or to simulate things on computer screens to explain difficulties.

"We live in a world increasingly animated, at the same time acknowledging that the world was never not animated. " Cholodenko January 30th 2008


This relates to what i explained in my theory of animation about how the world needs it for entertainment, simulations for training and many others wether it is in 2D or 3D.

Fry plays holophonor


Hey Folks

This is the Futurama episode "The Devils Hands are Idle Playthings" Fry (the main character) tries very hard to learn how to play a holophoner flute that can display visuals of the music that is being played. The reason he tries hard to play is to prove to leela his love. Unfortunately he is not very good so he makes a bet with the devil to swap hands in order to play very well. Everything goes wrong and fry must fight back to restore everything to normal.

This shows a good example of synaesthesia in a visual way.

Enjoy Muchly

Where Do I Stand In All of This

I feel that i stand in the front of the queue just now because 2D animation is coming back for the likes of Apps that are now using 2D animations for computer games, programming apps and even videos. Companies are finding ways to use 2D in a cheaper way for production so this is why i want to keep going with 2D becuase i know i will become valuable in the future.

Stevie Wonder His Albums

Hey Folks

Whilst researching Jimmy Hendrix i discovered that Stevie Wonder had synaesthesia aswel. He used Synthesisers in his music to create visuals of harmony in the listener. Stevie Wonder felt love when he listened to music and wanted others to feel the same. I feel that even his album covers show his synaesthesia just by the way the artwork has been displayed on the album.




Purple Haze - Jimi Hendrix


Hey Folks

So I have been Doing a bit more research of Synaesthesia in a more musical term, as mentioned in the earlier posts Jimmy Hendrix had synaesthesia.

So why Purple Haze? Well i have been doing a bit of research and i found out that Jimmy Hendrix made a chord which is believe it or not "The Jimmy Hendrix Chord"

Postdoctoral Researcher Luke Barnes describes the chord as "dominant 7 #9 chord – e.g. C7#9 contains the notes C E GBb D#. The dissonance between the E and the D# (the major and minor third in C respectively) creates the gritty, edgy, crunchy rock sound that Hendrix uses in Foxy Lady and Purple Haze."

Quite Interesting isn't it :D

They say that when Jimmy Hendrix Played this particular chord for the introduction to the song he thought he could see a Purple Haze.

Have a listen for yourself and see what you think.

Enjoy Muchly



Defenition Of Animation+Timeline

Hey Folks

I will explain in my own theory the Definition of Animation.

Aniamtion What is?

well in my oppinion animation is a series of still frames placed to be shown one after the other in a motion of 25 frames per second in which helps to create a moving picture.
However i feel that you should use your imagination as the key advantage to animation. This stuff isnt real so you have to make it interesting. there is no point in creating a piece in which can be done through live action.
On the other hand aniamtion has been used to help in real life situations. For exmple a car accident simulation, exploring the human body or descibing a predatiors movement up close because they are too dangerous to apporach in real life.
The media of animation has changed over the years it can be hand drawn, made in 3D, stop motion and lots more. My discipline comes into the 2D side of it in which i feel that i can push my limitations to the full.

Here is a Timeline of Animation.

The Timeline of Animation explains what has been going on over the past 90 years. The cool thing is that the technology and the skill of animation improves every ten years as described by The Creator of Pixar Animations Alvy Ray.

Friday 2 December 2011

Storyboard the first half.mov


Hey Folks

Hey Folks this is the first half of the storyboard to my masters film.

It shows the introduction to where the little guy lives, what he gets up to and shows what nasty surprises await him

Enjoy muchly

The Epic Headphones

Hey Folks

Take a look at the new headphones by BKL 1 industries haha, Dr Dre eat your heart out we went all the road to make these special headphones for the little guys in the music world.

Enjoy Muchly

Extra Effects

hey Folks

These are some extra little sketches of what i can do with other effects in the film.

Enjoy Muchly
Hey Folks

This is a character sheet for the little guy looking at his CDs and stuff.

Enjoy Muchly

Model Sheet for the Little Guy

Hey Folks

This is a model sheet of the little guy i haven't given him a name yet im not sure what to call him. Anyways he has been improved and looks a lot better. The design is more of a mickey mouse construction but with bigger eyes and more exaggerated features rather than more soft and precise.

Enjoy Muchly

Background Attempt 2

Hey Folks

This is the 2nd attempt at my background design for the environment that out little guy lives in. So i have changed the mountain design to something more Dr Seuss style as you can see plus the mountain is made up of midi cables and there are more of these mountains in the background to show that there are other little guys out there.

I have also shows a silhouette of him sitting on top of the mountain in which i will zoom in to to start off the film. The basses and stuff could be on separate layers for bass effects and stuff.

There needs to be some improvements, i will take the basses out at the bottom of the mountains and add a mist, the cables around the mountain need to be refined. Add a bit more style to the basses at the front make them more detailed and the midi cable at the side could be pushed up to see the whole thing and i think thats it.

Enjoy Muchly

Background attempt 1

Hey Folks

This is my first attempt at a background for the environment that our little guy lives in. I was thinking of like mountains and things with basses and cables everywhere. To be honest i don't really like this one theres not much going on and doesn't explain much

Try to enjoy muchly

Character Effect Models

Hey Folks

Sorry i have been away for a while i have been working at home and doing some extras for you guys to have a look at.

Here are some model sheets of what out little character would look like when certain effects will take place now every one of these will obviously not be able to all go in but i will pick a few of these and uses them depending on how the final soundtrack will look like :D

Phaser Model Sheet

Low Pass Filter Model Sheet

High Pass Filter Model Sheet
Flanger Model Sheet



Bass Model Sheet
Enjoy Muchly

Tuesday 29 November 2011

frequency test.mov


Hey Folks

Here is another frequency test inspired by Fantasia "The Soundtrack" i experimented with more colours and stuff this time. The song is by Ben Mccluskey full credit for the song goes to him.

Friday 25 November 2011

After Effects Test Music by DJ Hero - DJ Shadow Six Days Remix ft Mos Def vs D Code Annie's Horn


Hey Folks this is an after effects test i did with one of my favorite music tracks from DJ Hero. Full Credit goes to these guys. So yeah this is me trying to animate a frequency to the track using after effects this is a good tool to use for my masters film i am doing and will hopefully display it in the story boards.

Enjoy Muchly

Thursday 24 November 2011

Check this out

Hey Folks

I was browsing sites for character designs an stuff and i came across this cool website by an artist named Mark Christiansen who has been a character designer, animator and layout artist for companies such as warner bros cartoon network, Nickelodeon and many others.

His work is inspirational for refining my character design so here is his blog and check it out.

http://www.markscartoonart.com/

Enjoy Muchly

Wednesday 23 November 2011

The Demo Chart Sketch


Hey Folks

This is a basic outline of what is hapening to the character when he listens to the Drop Phaser Demo. There might be a few alterations but this is the layour of it anyways.

Comment and

Enjoy Muchly

The Crazy Pictures



Hey Folks

Here are some sketches of what the character could look like when the effects kick in during the film. I have also refined the character a little bit by giving him a personality.

Enjoy Muchly

Droopy Dog-Northwest Hounded Police


Hey Folks

This is Tex Avery's "Northwest Hounded Police" I cant remember the date of this video which is really bad but it is a cartoon about a wolf who escapes from Prison and Sgt Mcpoodle is after him. In succession the wolf tries to escape but Mcpoodle is always behind him and he lets out these screams whichs gets wackier and wackier all the time. The cartoon deals with Paranoia in a sense when he closes multiple doors for safety.

Enjoy Muchly

First Bit of the Test.avi


Hey Folks

This is the first half of the line test the other ten seconds still needs to be done this is the character interacting with the music CD it then overtakes his body.

Enjoy Muchly

Wednesday 16 November 2011

Bounce Flange pitch Ffrequency


Hey Folks

This is another frequency test i did.

full credit for this demo goes to Ben Mccluskey.

atomic drop phaser frequency. Music and copywright by Ben Mclusky


Hey folks

This is a test that i did in after effects where i was able to turn the music into a frequency wave this is for use of my aniamtion test that i am brewing up just now halfway there now :D. This is quite simple actually to do in after effects but awel you live n learn.

Full credit for creation of this music Demo goes to Ben Mccluskey. Ben is an awesome guy who works in kennys music in the town of Dundee. He offered to help me work on my project and create some cool demos for me to animate.

Enjoy Muchly

Adobe After Effects WaveForm(Modern Warfare 2)


Hey Folks here is a Modern Warfare video it was not created by them but it was to be an influence from the actual game video.

They use after effects to get this effects i am trying to do this myself.

enjoy muchly

DUBSTEP GUNS


Hey Folks

This is Dubstep Guns which was made by CorridorDigital. It is a short action film that is basically bad guys vs good guys but the good guys have these awesome DUBSTEP GUNS these guns shoot beams of light at their enemies which manipulates the music and takes their enemy right out. this was done in after effects using a plug in called TrackPod Particular.

Tuesday 15 November 2011

HTC Sensation XL Ad feat. New SebastiAn Track "X Hollow"


Hey Folks

This is the new HTC XL Sensation advert.

The advert is about a girl who listens to her new Sensation XL phone and while she is listening to it everything she touches reacts to the bass of the music. There are a lot of cool things that happen from beards growing bigger to corn popping like mad. The inspiration for this is i am trying to animate a character getting bigger and bigger every time the bass is heard. The best example of this is when near the end a rabbit grows bigger and bigger. Im sure the beat is in 2/4 which is the same as the demo my DJ has given me.

Anyways

enjoy muchly

Thursday 10 November 2011

Wednesday 9 November 2011

Fantasia 1940 - The Soundtrack


Hey Folks

This is a short clip from the 1940s film "Fantsasia" the clip describes what a line can perform when the narrator asks to play a certain instrument. The line will then show abstract waves or lines that demonstrates the sound the instrument plays. This is a nice example of what synaesthesia is.

enjoy muchly

Thursday 3 November 2011

Mirror bass


Hey Folks.

I was driving home the other night and i was in the mood for some bass so i put the music up loud enough to feel it. I stopped in a flow of traffic and i looked behind in the mirror and saw everyone's light moving in time with the bass. It was crazy but it is what i have been looking for in terms with effects for the short film when the bass hits really high.

Enjoy Muchly

Wednesday 2 November 2011

The Story of my project

Hey Folks

So although i have been doing synaesthesia tests, drawing up characters and looking up influences in animations etc. I have not mentioned what the story is about. I have been giving it some thought and i now have a synopsis.

In a music world filled with instruments and musical accessories scattered everywhere. Our character Midi finds himself bored and frustrated about what music to listen to. He finds a mysterious mp3 player, and with curiosity he plugs it into himself. The music then takes controls his body and mind to make him do all sorts of crazy things.

I still have not figured out an ending yet but knowing me it will be something crazy :D.

Tuesday 1 November 2011

Test Synaesthesia on yourself

Hey Folks

So here are the links to the tracks that you can listen to for my synaesthesia test.
What to do is;

1. make sure you are comfortable, in your bedroom would be best.

2. no distractions maybe a dim lit room would be good.

3. keep hydrated it helps the brain flow more easily.

4. have a pretty good set of headphones don't play it out your laptop it sounds a bit nasty, you could plug in your earphones BUT NO LAPTOP SPEAKERS.

5. listen to the tracks in the order of the tests.

6. play the effects tracks for at least 30-50 secs max the artists tracks can be 1:00-2:00.

here are the links to the tracks

Effects Music FX Live

Flanger
http://www.youtube.com/user/MusicFxLive#p/c/2/_05DJO8Ii0I

Phaser
http://www.youtube.com/user/MusicFxLive#p/c/BD3D98789CD9E985/3/xxs_sNSjXsY

Low Pass Filter
http://www.youtube.com/user/MusicFxLive#p/c/BD3D98789CD9E985/4/PSujdrq8VrU

High Pass Filter
http://www.youtube.com/user/MusicFxLive#p/c/BD3D98789CD9E985/5/qBfclojNlHo

Formant Filter
http://www.youtube.com/user/MusicFxLive#p/c/BD3D98789CD9E985/6/HtHv9xmfxPs

Delay
http://www.youtube.com/user/MusicFxLive#p/c/BD3D98789CD9E985/7/7txgfhAqDOg

Reverb
http://www.youtube.com/user/MusicFxLive#p/c/BD3D98789CD9E985/8/jsJ2Truau1o

Artists Tracks

Photek: "Avalanche"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7PtcCop7G8M


Photek: "Aviator"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BqlQb-nRrDI&feature=related


Deadmau5: "The Reward is Cheese"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D0qXQ2YzVxc


Daft Punk: "Mothership Reconnection"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXE3L0uxOU8


Daft Punk: "Rollin & Scratchin" (Cut in about 2:37 for this track)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_39yau0go1Q&feature=related


DJ Shortee: “Frosty Fresh Cuts”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Wnk-Dnrr5c


Skrillex: "First of the year"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TYYyMu3pzL4

Remember to comment and if you want, type out your report and send them to the blog.
if you have pictures and want to send me them. then post on my facebook or my mail address blindsay@dundee.ac.uk

Enjoy Muchly

Synaesthesia The conclusion

Hey Folks

so you have all looked at he results and here is a summary of what i have gathered for each track. you guys might think different but thats good. if you have any comments or think there is something i have missed then comment and let me know this is good for my research and argument discussions.

so here we go!

Track 1: The Flanger Effect.

There was a lot of positive energy coming from the subjects and some of them were experiencing visuals of jumping beats and circles to represent the beat.

Track 2: The Phaser effect.

The subjects were experiencing heavy pressurised negative energy. This could be the result of why some of them were feeling waves passing through them or a sense of heavier gravity.

Track 1-2

I believe that these two tracks were able to change a persons mood from one to another right away just by the way the effects triggered their minds. this was in a space of 1 minute max between each track.

Track 3: The Low Pass Filter Effect

The subjects were feeling cool colours most particularly blues but what was interesting about this effects was that they were experiencing a change in pressure and felt liquidated like they were underwater. a subject drew a ripple like shape which could represent the water effect.

This track was able to bring the person into an environment beyond belief like underwater.

Track 4: The high Pass Filter Effect.

The subjects were experiencing movement in a mechanical way like a robot. They were experiencing technical visions like digital images like waves and circular shapes and square like patterns moving along like a heart monitor.

Track 5: The Formant Filter Effect

The subjects changed their moods and were happy and jolly, but were moving in an odd way. They were feeling like a coil spring and quite bouncy like a rabbit.

track 4-5

I believe that these two tracks were able to make you move in a certain way.

Track 6: The Delay Effect

The subjects felt a repetitive movement and visuals. Some were seeing squares moving along while another saw a line move like a "Slinky" toy and someone saw what looks like a factory machine moving up and down. this track was able to make the listener see patterns moving from their own imagination.

Track 7: The Reverb Effect.

The subjects felt a sense of speed in a track and having a feeling of anticipation waiting to feel that speed like a roller coaster ride. if you notice some subjects drew a graph or drawings but were ascending.

Artist Track 1: Photek "Avalanche".

The subjects were feeling a dark and serious atmosphere. Some subjects were visualising beats but in the form of a heart monitor.

Artist Track 2: Photek "Aviator".

The subjects were feeling really happy and high, experiencing a sense of weightlessness.

Artist Track 3: Deadmau5 "The Reward is Cheese".

The subjects were visualising a bouncing motion again like the "Slinky" effect and when the build up came in the track the subjects were visualising hot steam coming from a train or a pot.

Artist Track 4: Daft Punk "Mothership Reconnection"

The subjects were experiencing being in an environment of some sort with robots and things being smashed up like glass.

Artist Track 5: Daft Punk "Rollin and Scratchin"

There was a sense of making this track feel like a sound effect, the subjects experienced being in a car but skidding everywhere along a track or a road. some others felt like a bird squawking.

Artist Track 6: DJ Shortee "Frosty Fresh Cuts"

Nobody experienced anything from this track apart from confusion from the scratching effects. however this could be explored more because there were lots of different emotions, ideas, colours and visions.

Artist Track 7: Skrillex "First of the Year, Equinox"

This was the most interesting results of the rest, this track was in the form of a Dubstep genre and this was not experienced in the effects track before. i deliberately put this at the end to see what would happen to the subjects. Every subject was experiencing a vision in thier own head of a happy place or happy environment using their imagination. One in which stands out was aliens on a beach being very happy and relaxing on their home planet. As soon as the dubstep kicked in everyone was feeling a sense of chaos destruction and hatred. For the alien on humans invaded their planet and destroyed everything. Also some subjects were dealing with exploding colours, strange visual patters but these were not repetitive they were all over the place. These visuals were making a new path every time.

Conclusion.

The reason i picked those tracks and those effects is because i can feel a different visual impact from each one i listen to. plus the artists tracks were some of my favourite songs and i need to have fun in my project too you know.

Although the test was successful to show synaesthesia in subjects and to show that everyone is feeling a certain connection with each other in the music. I believe that it is all based on the personality of the person. Some of the subjects i tested loved computer games, opera singer, rock and roll fans, punk fans, pop fans, people from different countries nationalities. Although everybody came up with a common link it was based on their own visual impact. This is what i am trying to research for the visualisation project

So what to do next?

well what i am going to do next is hold a synaesthesia test on myself. If i believe it is all based on the personality of the subject. Then what would happen if i listened to music from other peoples favourite tracks. Could i experience the same type of synaesthesia from their music the same as i can with mines, or will it be something different. could my visual impact share a common link with theirs when they listen to their favourite track.

So i have asked the subjects who i have tested to pick a soundtrack that they feel a great visual impact upon. I will then test myself and report the results. then i will speak to the person who picked the soundtrack and see if my visuals were common with theirs when they listen to it.

The feedback i got was pretty interesting too. Somebody mentioned that what if you made them sit in a dim lit room and made them listen to it on their own with a set of coloured pencils next to them. somebody also mentioned that i need to get different tracks for them to listen to. so i am going to hold another one in the next few weeks and try again.

So there you have it, pretty interesting don't you say?. If you would like to do a synaesthesia test on yourself i will upload links to the effects and artists tracks on here for you to try. Comment and share your thoughts of your own results.

Enjoy Muchly.