Metabolae

2005, Video, 12:11 (Colour, Stereo) [clip]

by Rebecca Cittadini, James Reynolds

In conjunction with a series of experimental audio workshops at Paved Art + New Media, James and I (Rebecca) wrote a computer program which allowed raw data of digital images to be transcribed into raw digital sounds. The images were downloaded off a search engine on the internet by typing the word "chaos". We were asking the question: what would these images sound like? How could we retain the integrity of the image by producing these sounds? We ran the image data through the program varying the sample rate each time it was processed. The algorithm produced a series of sounds and rhythms from the image data which was then recorded and sequenced to produce a "soundtrack" for the image. The process was of recycling an anonymous digital image and chewing it up to compose a cacophony of sounds that formed an abstract musical resonance. The math used for the program was based on composer Iannis Xenakis' Formalized Music: Thought and Mathematics in Music (Revised Edition, 1992: Pendragon Press NY). By transcribing the senseless image data into digital notes via a form of metabolic design, this piece becomes a sound experience of "one over #196 noise". As part of the final production, to link the sounds again with the images, we created a video of the original images synched to the soundtrack. A sort of "music video" that could be absorbed by the listener.

ISBN 978-1-55467-715-3