Ottawa Proccessed - Michael North
Ottawa Proccessed is a three piece set of improvisations based on my experience of living in the various communities in and around the city of Ottawa, Ontario. Each piece (Rural, Suburban and Urban) reflects my reaction to the sound environment present in that locale at the time of recording. All pieces were recorded in the field, that is to say in the environment indicated in the title of the piece. There are no overdubs or post-recording proccessing(normalization, eq'ing etc.) save for some fade outs added with the use of the Goldwave audio editor.
All pieces were recorded between June and December 2003. This is my first attempt at digital sound manipulation and as such was/is a document of my experiments in learning to use the tools I employed. The recording project was generously assisted by the Canada Council for the Arts.
Part 1 (rURal)
- Manotick Wind - 11:26
sound source: wind , car
location: Manotick , open field
software: improsculpt & CsoundAV
hardware: Dell Inspiron 1100, Digidesign Mbox, Shure SM57 microphone - Carp-leaves - 5:12
sound source: wind, tree leaves
location: Carp village, orchard
software: Plogue Bidule & various VSTi filters
hardware: Dell Inspiron 1100, Digidesign Mbox, Shure SM57 microphone - Kinburn - 6:19
sound source: stream(water), crickets, Roland SPD-20 percussion module
location: Kinburn, Carp River
software: Plogue Bidule
hardware: Dell Inspiron 1100, Digidesign Mbox, Shure SM57 microphone,
Roland SPD-20 - Carp Road Ride - 3:18
sound source: car, wind, donkey, drum loop,Roland SPD-20
location: Carp Road
software: Plogue Bidule
hardware: Dell Inspiron 1100, Digidesign Mbox, Shure SM57 microphone,
Roland SPD-20 - Fitzroy Park Wind - 6:12
sound source: wind
location: Fitzroy Harbour, Fitzroy Park
software: improsculpt & CsoundAV
hardware: Dell Inspiron 1100, Digidesign Mbox, Shure SM57 microphone - Just Green Leaves - 1:47
sound source: wind, leaves
location: Barrhaven, open field
software: ixi software layers, goldwave (for capturing samples)
hardware: Dell Inspiron 1100, Digidesign Mbox, Shure SM57 microphone - Dunrobin Rain Mud Bass Drum - 1:58
sound source: rain, shoes walking in mud, bass & drum loops
location: Dunrobin, Carp River
software: Plogue Bidule
hardware: Dell Inspiron 1100, Digidesign Mbox, Shure SM57 microphone - Constance Bay Rain Cars - 5:05
sound source: rain, cars
location: Constance Bay
software: Plogue Bidule
hardware: Dell Inspiron 1100, Digidesign Mbox, Shure SM57 microphone - Fitzroy Harbour Ambience - 8:16
sound source: electric transformer, hydro ontario repair truck
location: Fitzroy Harbour, Fitzroy Harbour General Store
software: Plogue Bidule
hardware: Dell Inspiron 1100, Digidesign Mbox, Shure SM57 microphone - Dancing Leaves - 5:04
sound source: wind, leaves
location: Carp Village, Carp River
software: Plogue Bidule
hardware: Dell Inspiron 1100, Digidesign Mbox, Shure SM57 microphone - Fitzroy Electric Tower Drum - 2:25
sound source: hydro electric tower, Roland SPD-20
location: Fitzroy Harbour, Chats Dam
software: Plogue Bidule
hardware: Dell Inspiron 1100, Digidesign Mbox, Shure SM57 microphone,
Roland SPD-20 - Goodnight - 1:34
sound source: cars, organ loop
location: Fitzroy Harbour
software: Plogue Bidule
hardware: Dell Inspiron 1100, Digidesign Mbox, Shure SM57 microphone
Michael North has been involved in performing and producing music since 1969. As a drummer/percussionist he has been involved in projects ranging from concert and swing bands to free jazz , noise and hardcore punk groups.
North began experimenting with homemade percussion instruments, circuit mangling and tape manipulation in the mid 1970's after listening to the works of John Cage, Edgar Varese and Captain Beefheart. Throughout the 70's and 80's he played with a number of 'art' and punk groups, most notably the Animal Slaves out of Vancouver and Direct Action from Toronto.
He retired from active participation in the music scene in 1990 to concentrate on raising a family. During this time off he acquired a degree in Electronics Engineering Technology and later began working in the telecommunications industry around Ottawa.
In 2003 he began working with digital manipulation of live audio after hearing the work of the Evan Parker Electroacoustic Ensemble. In 2003 he recorded the 'Ottawa Proccessed' series with the help of a Canada Council for the Arts grant. In September 2004 he participated in the RE-INVENTING RADIO production by Kunstradio for the Ars Electronica Festival in Linz Austria. On January 7th 2005 he did a live streaming concert for the NOISE CITY production through the Western Front Artist Coop in Vancouver BC and later in the month participated in a live streaming jam session for the Art's Birthday celebration, also through the Western Front.
He has a release on the Phoniq netlabel out of Montreal (Improvisations on Work PHQ 006) and an upcoming release on the Sine Fiction netlabel (A Journey in Other Worlds Sine 016).
