State of Sound: Recording Community

Session Description

In this workshop, two North Carolina State University Librarians will lead attendees through hands-on activities which make use of innovative and accessible sound making and recording technologies and practices. These activities are the same as those used to promote and encourage participation in State of Sound. The first activity - Songwriting in 15 Minutes - will result in everyone in the room writing, recording, and sharing a song to State of Sound in a very short amount of time. All skill levels are appropriate and all outcomes are exciting and inspiring, mirroring the drive of State of Sound to collect work from everyone, regardless of experience. The second activity - Making Music with Music - puts attendees behind the decks in a DJ workshop, showing how records and recorded sounds are accessible instruments that can be remixed to share new ideas. Both of these activities use technologies that are available through our Libraries but which can also be accessed through smartphone apps. All technology will be provided.

Format: 

Hands on Workshop and Play Session! 

Takeaways: 

Sound recording technology has been with us since the 19th century, and in 2019 barriers to accessing this technology have largely been lifted. In fact, many of us carry full-fledged recording studios with us wherever we go and call them “phones.” The ubiquity and age of this technology, however, leads it to often being taken for granted. Understanding and practicing recording sound can lead to stories and ideas being shared to wider audiences faster, can foster creative collaborations, can showcase innovative work, and can build communities of sound makers that motivate one another to develop media communication skills.

At the end of the workshop attendees will have a greater understanding of and appreciation for accessible sound making, sharing, and recording technologies and practices. They will see how stories can be told and how creative work can be showcased using these accessible technologies. And they will see how the State of Sound model inspires community, collaboration, and creativity through sound making.

Organization:

Fully formed with two (maybe three) presenters! 

Contact Information: 

Alex Valencia: aavalenc@ncsu.edu

Jason Evans Groth: jevansg@ncsu.edu