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soundwalk.

Were you able to find places and spaces where you could really listen?
-Surprisingly, yes. I actually snuck a little away from the group as to not be distracted by their noise and really pick up on some great drone noises.
Was it possible to move without making a sound?
-Absolutely not. Whether it was crushed snow or a sewer grate, there was always some kind of noise to be heard.
What happened when you plugged your ears, and then unplugged them?
-The quieter sounds seemed muted, but I could definitely pick up moreso on the deep bass noises in the parking complex.
What types of sounds were you able to hear? List them.
With the ears plugged, I pick up on many drone noises, cars were still very recognizable. There was a ventilation pipe that was particularly loud and just had an amazing resonance.
Were you able to differentiate between sounds that had a recognizable source and those sounds you could not place?
For the most part, yes. I could pinpoint the direction it came from, then by looking I could ascertain where the sound was coming from. It's easier to distinguish human noises' locations than mechanicals, as mechanicals noises could be buried in the ceilings, walls, behind locked doors, etc.
Were you able to differentiate human, mechanical, and natural sounds?
Absolutely, human sounds lack the consistency that mechanical sounds have, and natural sounds were mostly absent, save the wind.
Were you able to detect subtleties, changes, or variations in the everpresent drone? Extremely close sounds? Sounds coming from very far away?
The drone fades more when I leave the building, but it is always present. It's sort of offsetting when you really listen, it's almost like a Big Brother sort of thing with the never ceasing drone of the machines. The wind is a mystery because I definitely hear is close to me, but it is also far away gusting, pushing dead leaves and trash around the campus.
Were you able to intervene in the urban landscape and create your own sounds by knocking on a resonant piece of metal, activating wind chimes, etc.?
I definitely intervened, banging on pipes to hear it echo quickly, or when I walked across the snow and icy parts of sidewalk, creating crunches.
Do you feel you have a new understanding or appreciation of the sounds of our contemporary landscape/cityscape?
I do think so, I mean this trip took me places on campus I usually never see, so I do think it helps me appreciate things. On the other hand it also bothered me because of how present the drone is at all times.
How do you think your soundwalk experience will affect your practice as a media artist, if at all?
Definitely, I have been getting more and more into sound, and I have an idea for a side project that I can use all the drone noises I pick up for. Sort of a sounds of the city mixed with synthesized instruments, it should end up pretty interesting if I can pull it off.