Author: Zixi Wen
-
Research and Listening
I spent time listening to multiple Khoomei recordings to understand timbre and structure. I am not aiming to imitate or represent Mongolian culture. Instead, I am engaging with sound as a listener shaped by different environments. I also began reading Jonathan Sterne, which helped me realize that listening is never neutral. The way I hear…
-
First OSC Connection Success
Today I built a small Max patch to connect Data OSC to my laptop. My first experiment was a simple compass controlled playback switch. I had some trouble with Wi-Fi and inet settings at first, even though the phone and laptop were definitely on the same network. After resetting inet and reconnecting, it suddenly worked.…
-
Mapping Compass to Sound
I started studying how to send compass data from my phone to the computer. I sketched a small system diagram with four layers: Phone → OSC → Max → Sound Engine. I realised the compass isn’t a button, it’s a continuous angle sensor that can drive modulation. So I asked myself: What happens if direction…
-
Switching Direction
For days I kept thinking about why I was stuck on this Bela drum machine. Maybe the issue was in the IDE or the environment, but I couldn’t solve it. If that’s the case, I should consider other options. But even while working on the film scoring project, I kept thinking about the drum machine.…
-
Troubleshooting
In class we worked with sensors and accelerometers. Afterwards, I asked Milo about my drum machine problem. He checked both my hardware and software and said there was no obvious issue, so the problem must be somewhere else. We first suspected the cable, but after changing cables, the buttons still didn’t respond. Milo swapped my…
-
First Direction
Today in class we discussed ideas for the audio paper and I was inspired by how sound can reflect political structures. One example from a classmate involved the sound system of North Korea and how authority shapes what people can hear. I shared my initial idea about Mongolian throat-singing because I am fascinated by its…
-
Bela Drum Machine Attempt
Today I tried building a drum machine at home. I finished the hardware first, then moved on to software. I wrote a small C++ program for Bela to recognize each button, and used Pure Data to control the sample and-button. The PD patch ran perfectly on its own, but once I connected the hardware (breadboard…
-
Recording Foley & Rethinking Direction
Han and I went into the Foley studio today. I helped her record first while also observing what materials were available on the shelves. By helping someone else, I realized how much Foley depends on communication, too loud, wrong mic position, wrong surface…everything affects the recording. We completed most of the Foley work in Pro…
-
Film Clip & First Foley Attempt
Jessica asked us to bring a film clip that interests us. I chose Himizu by the Japanese director Sion Sono. The whole film explores the emotional state of young people after the 2011 East Japan earthquake. I think this film is incredible—there’s so much room for emotional scoring, and also a lot of potential for…
-
Patch Architecture Overview
The full patch was structured around three voices: percussion, harmony, and modulation. The drum section included Glee, KickBaba, and Hihat, triggered via a 12×16 Gate Sequencer. The harmonic section used ChordCV, FM-OP, and a basic VCO, all processed through reverb and delay before mixing via MixMaster. The modulation section featured multiple LFOs, chaotic CV sources,…