I had some sandbags in the backyard that I used in November during a rainy day. I was moving them to a different spot when I heard the noise of the sand. I thought that maybe I could try a new sound design technique so I bought some piezo film transducers and started to experiment with them.
The entire track is created only out of tuned sand tones. No additional sounds or waveforms.
I emphasized the inner notes of the sand grains and mapped them on a sampler as a series of instruments. The grooves are all played live with various techniques, including taping two piezo films to my fingers.
I'd like to dedicate this work to Mike Oldfield. When I was a child I listened to his music and it opened my mind. That experience triggered my life passion to create the means to access sounds we've never heard before.
Update 06/08/09.
Music From Sand is now available as a high-quality mp3 download. This version is a full track, longer than the version in the video.
The entire track is created only out of tuned sand tones. No additional sounds or waveforms.
I emphasized the inner notes of the sand grains and mapped them on a sampler as a series of instruments. The grooves are all played live with various techniques, including taping two piezo films to my fingers.
I'd like to dedicate this work to Mike Oldfield. When I was a child I listened to his music and it opened my mind. That experience triggered my life passion to create the means to access sounds we've never heard before.
Update 06/08/09.
Music From Sand is now available as a high-quality mp3 download. This version is a full track, longer than the version in the video.
Video
Pictures
This contact mic is designed to be used with a mandolin, but it worked also to record the sand.
Sampling the basic sand tones.
Taping contact mics to my hands to play percussive sounds from the sand.
At the beach, setting up the portable recorder.
