Storytelling

26 Oct 2018

Immersive Audio Podcast – Episode 17 Reality Check Productions

By 1618digital

Summary

In this episode of the Immersive Audio Podcast, host Oliver Kadel is joined in the studio with Thomas Winsor, Pip Brignall and Kudzi Chiwawa – the crew of the startup VR filmmaking company, Reality Check Productions. Tom Winsor founded Reality Check Productions after first being introduced to VR in 2016, bringing in Kudzi and Pip as the writer and producer respectively in their first project as a company, MacbethVR, a cinematic VR adaption of the famous Shakespearean play.

Thomas is co-founder and Creative Director of Reality Check Productions. Prior to his work in immersive mediums, Thomas worked on site specific classical and immersive theatre experiences. He was Screenwriter and Assistant Director on ‘Lapse’, a Cinematic VR experience produced by Eastbound VR and most recently worked with Yuecheng Technology in Beijing as a consulting VR/AR creative. Alongside Macbeth VR, Thomas and Pip continue to develop a slate of mind bending immersive projects and explore the use cases of advanced tech in live performance.

Pip Brignall is co-founder and Creative Producer of Reality Check Productions. He has worked extensively in theatre, as Artistic Producer of Scena Mundi Theatre Company, producing large-scale site-specific productions of classical dramas in historic buildings, and Associate Producer of Anonymous is a Woman Theatre Company, developing and producing immersive feminist theatre for rural audiences across the UK.

Today, Oliver and the Reality Check team discuss the development of MacbethVR, interpreting and adapting Shakespeare to new media as well as collaborating with partners and difficulties with securing funding.

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Shownotes

Oculus Rift – https://www.oculus.com/rift/

Samsung Gear 360 Camera – https://www.samsung.com/uk/wearables/gear-360-r210/

Jurassic world VR – https://www.oculus.com/experiences/go/1096547647026443/

Macbeth, Wikipedia Page – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macbeth

Macbeth, Complete Script – http://shakespeare.mit.edu/macbeth/full.html

Government Immersive Content Fund – https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-funding-to-drive-improvements-in-immersive-content-creation

Reality Check Website – http://realitycheckproductions.co.uk/

Reality Check Twitter – https://twitter.com/RCP_VR

Thomas Winsor Personal Twitter – https://twitter.com/ThomasWinsor

Pip Brignall Personal Twitter – https://twitter.com/pipbrignall

Kudzi Chiwawa Personal Twitter – https://twitter.com/KudziChiwawa

12 Oct 2018

Immersive Audio Podcast – Episode 16 Will Buchanan (RPPTV)

By 1618digital

Summary

For this episode, Oliver is joined via Skype by Will Buchanan, Director of RPPTV. Starting out recording his own music for his band, Will picked up a part-time job in a recording studio whilst studying Astrophysics at the Queen Mary University of London, juggling both personal and client work. He soon moved into becoming a Music Producer for a short time before moving into producing music videos and films as well, eventually landing him the role as Director at RPPTV.

RPPTV develops simple to use media production tools, recently focusing on audio production to support creators. Working closely with experts and academics, they aim to create groundbreaking technology to take the next steps into the future of audio production. They’ve worked with the likes of Innovate UK, Salsa Sound and Mixed Immersion, as well as a variety of educational institutions such as the University of York, the University of Surrey and the University of Salford in Manchester.

Today, Oliver and Will discuss Immersive Audio in the music and film industries, the ASSIGN project and procedural audio, as well as engaging academic research in the creative processes to make more innovative products.

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Shownotes

Sennheiser AMBEO Binaural headphones, Sennheiser official website – https://en-uk.sennheiser.com/finalstop

Queen Mary University of London website – https://www.qmul.ac.uk/

University of Salford website – https://www.salford.ac.uk/

Innovate UK Government website – https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/innovate-uk

International Business Festival in Liverpool – https://www.internationalbusinessfestival.com/

International Broadcasting Convention in Amsterdam – https://show.ibc.org/

Association of Motion Picture Sound – http://www.amps.net/

Collaboration with Queen Mary University – http://fxive.com

RPPTV Website – http://rpptv.com

FXive and Ambisynth Newsletter Sign-Up – www.echomaze.com

28 Sep 2018

Immersive Audio Podcast – Episode 15 Gavin Kearney

By 1618digital

Summary

Today, Oliver was joined in studio by Dr. Gavin Kearney, Senior Lecturer in Audio and Music Technology at the University of York. Gavin received an honours degree in electronic engineering from Dublin Institute of Technology, in 2002 and M.Sc. and Ph.D. degrees in audio signal processing from Trinity College Dublin in 2006 and 2010 respectively. He subsequently worked as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow on game audio, while lecturing on the Interactive Digital Systems and Music and Media Technology masters courses at Trinity College Dublin.

He was appointed Lecturer in sound design at the Department of Theatre, Film, and Television at the University of York in January 2011 where he currently teaches both bachelors and masters level courses on spatial audio and surround sound, audio engineering and sound production and postproduction methods. Gavin also continues to work in the audio industry as a sound engineer and designer.

In this episode, Gavin focuses on ongoing research, industry practice standards and enhancing audio description.

Audio extracts are taken from the first-person drama Pearl, a film produced at the University of York with Binaural enhanced audio, and a music recording session from Abbey Road Studios featuring Nova Neon.

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Shownotes

Dublin Institute of Technology: http://www.dit.ie/

Trinity College Dublin: https://www.tcd.ie/

University of York: https://www.york.ac.uk/

University of York – MA Postproduction with Sound Design: https://www.york.ac.uk/study/postgraduate-taught/courses/ma-postproduction-sound-design/

MSc Audio & Music Technology: https://www.york.ac.uk/electronic-engineering/postgraduate/taught_masters_degrees/msc_audio/

Pro Tools: http://www.avid.com/pro-tools

SADIE Project: www.sadie-project.co.uk

Dolby Atmos: https://www.dolby.com/us/en/brands/dolby-atmos.html

Oculus: www.oculus.com/

Enhancing Audio Description: http://enhancingaudiodescription.com/

AES: Audio for New Realities: http://www.aes.org/press/?ID=390

AES: Audio for Games technical committee: http://www.aes.org/technical/ag/

Unity: https://unity3d.com/

2018 AES International Conference on Spatial Reproduction — Aesthetics and Science (Japan): http://www.aes.org/conferences/2018/spatial/

2018 AES International Conference on Audio for Virtual and Augmented Reality (Seattle): http://www.aes.org/conferences/2018/avar/

2019 AES International Conference on Immersive and Interactive Audio (York): http://www.aes-uk.org/forthcoming-meetings/2019-aes-international-conference-on-immersive-and-interactive-audio/

The Knife that Killed Me: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2087982/

Abbey Road Recording Studios: https://www.abbeyroad.com/

07 Sep 2018

Immersive Audio Podcast – Episode 14 Christophe Mallet

By 1618digital

Summary

For this episode of the Immersive Audio Podcast, Oliver Kadel is joined in the studio by Christophe Mallet, the Commercial Director for the London-based company Somewhere Else. The company specialises in immersive tech, most notably working with virtual reality to help companies improve their relationships both with audiences through advertising, and with their employees through VR training experiences.

Starting out in strategic business consultancy, Christophe moved on further into digital and social media consultancy as well as working with an experimental music label. Through a friend, he was introduced to the world of VR through an exhibit allowing patrons to enter the scene of Van Gogh’s The Night Cafe. This was the defining moment that prompted him to start up Somewhere Else, which has since gone on to work for the likes of Samsung, Adidas and The Champions League.

Christophe and Oliver touch on a number of subjects surrounding VR, including the Artist’s Perspective and immersive properties of art, the purpose in Creating Immersive Content, immersive Storytelling and the Audience’s Role and the Responsibilities of the Creator.

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Shownotes

Somewhere Else’s Official Website – https://somewhereelse.co/

Case Study of Somewhere Else’s work with Samsung – https://somewhereelse.co/project/samsung/

Case Study of Somewhere Else’s work with Adidas – https://somewhereelse.co/project/adidas-vr

Case Study of Somewhere Else’s work with the UEFA Champions League – https://somewhereelse.co/project/uefa/

The Night Cafe: A VR Tribute to Vincent Van Gogh on Steam – https://store.steampowered.com/app/482390/The_Night_Cafe_A_VR_Tribute_to_Vincent_Van_Gogh/

Somewhere Else x Adidas: Delicatessen VR (Trailer) on Youtube – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-1yhQF-rwi4

Shower Scene from Pyscho (1960) by Alfred Hitchock on Youtube – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=atjhOhH-V3E

Orangina official website – http://orangina.eu/

Stanford University Virtual Human Interaction Lab official website – https://vhil.stanford.edu/

Pokemon Go ‘increases risk of death by distraction’ BBC article – https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-37563986

The VOID London official site – https://www.thevoid.com/locations/london

France Televisions Virtual Escape Room case study – https://somewhereelse.co/project/emilie-s/

06 Aug 2018

ASMR – The Feeling Of Sound

By 1618digital

Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response, more commonly known as ASMR, is one of the most curious phenomenons to grace the science of sound whilst maintaining a vast audience all across the globe. Through the power of the internet and word of mouth, more and more people are actively looking for videos of people scratching microphones, tapping fingernails and softly whispering into extremely sensitive mics, giving its listeners a sensory response like no other.

Sometimes described as Brain Tingles, Brain Massages and Brain Orgasms, listening to different triggers results in a small euphoric sensation for those that experience ASMR. The epicentre of the tingles and shivers, with the effects travelling down the shoulders and back (and, in some cases, to limbs), gives a sense of relaxation and peacefulness which some researchers believe may have positive effects on health and wellbeing. Not everyone responds to the same triggers, and some don’t have the response at all.

This is theorised to be linked to the perceptions of closeness and elements of care associated with certain sounds and sensations, which we as humans react to in the same way a child reacts to being held close to their mother, her hand running through their hair with comfort. It makes us feel safe and secure, and less troubled by the world around us because we’ve shut it out to focus our attention on these sensory triggers. So for someone looking for a sense of relationship and being cared for, ASMR offers a form of respite from the lack of those feelings, even if only in the short-term. One only has to search ASMR into Google or YouTube to find a plethora of channels and videos made by ASMRtists, freely accessible for the public to use to their heart’s content.

From what is to be considered the very first ASMR video uploaded by WhisperingLife in 2009 to new content being created every week, videos have evolved and changed to become more and more immersive with role-play and effects, yet they still hold true to their initial intended purpose of audible stimulation. The production of these videos can be complex – props, costumes, camera and SFX being elements in some examples – but in its simplest form, they only require the soft satisfying sounds and a binaural microphone to be effective. This acts to split the audio recorded into stereo sound through your headphones – one microphone for each ear that gives the illusion of closeness and proximity as the source of sound moves around you in a 3D space.

Scientifically speaking, there a is very finite amount of research materials on the subject – the term ASMR was only recently coined in 2010 by Jennifer Allen, with the most prolific of research conducted by the ASMR University, run by Dr Craig Richard. But since its rising popularity online, more and more material is being produced in the aid of the scientific exploration of ASMR. Worldwide surveys, academic papers/pieces and books are just some of the examples of media exploring new angles from biological to social influence to the deconstruction and study of each individual aspect that comes together to create the trigger.

To find out more about ASMR with interviews from a variety of experts and creators, listen to our Immersive Audio Podcast episode about ASMR on iTunes and Soundcloud!

23 Jul 2018

Immersive Audio Podcast – Episode 11 ASMR The Feeling of Sound

By 1618digital

Summary

In this special episode of the Immersive Audio Podcast, we explore the phenomenon of ASMR and talk to a variety of guests to understand how it works, the effect it has on an individual, the subculture surrounding it and the future of it as an art form.

This episode features the input of two of the top researchers in the study of ASMR: Dr Craig Richard, Professor of Biopharmaceutical Sciences at Shenandoah University in Virginia and founder of the ASMR University and Dr Diego Garro, Senior Lecturer of Music and Music Technology at Keele University in the UK. We also got the chance to talk to Avril Furness (VR Filmmaker) and Emma Smith aka WhispersRed (ASMRtist on YouTube), two London-based creative women who’ve worked with ASMR and Immersive Audio both separately and collaboratively.

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Featured Guests

Avril Furness is a pioneering Independent Director, Writer and Virtual Reality Filmmaker specialising in 360 and Action. Avril’s debut interactive 360 VR film The Last Moments was presented at New York’s Metropolitan Museum at their ‘In Our Time Symposium’, as part of their ‘Most exciting and critical spatial projects of 2017’ and at THE WIRED LIVE Event, London, 2017. It was nominated for ‘Best Director Award’ at Underwire and ‘Most Immersive Award’ at Encounters festival 2017. Recently Avril Directed an interactive live action 360 VR film in Beirut, Lebanon with The International Committee of The Red Cross. Avril is currently shooting a VR documentary in the flood tunnels beneath Las Vegas, Nevada; shot from the perspective of a homeless addict.

Dr Craig Richard is a Professor of Biopharmaceutical Sciences at Shenandoah University in Winchester, Virginia. In 2014, he founded the website, ASMR University. Dr Richard has recently completed the book, “Brain Tingles” to assist others understand and apply the techniques, tools, and secrets for every ASMR trigger type. This guide should be helpful for parents soothing infants or putting children to bed, friends relaxing each other, partners stimulating tingles in each other, creators of ASMR media, and practitioners of relaxation techniques at spas, wellness centers, and health studios.

Dr. Diego Garro is a senior lecturer at Keele University, where he contributes to the Music Technology and Music programmes. His teaching focuses on Electroacoustic Music, Music Technology and Computer Video Art. His research interests lie in creative electronic media and his output includes audio and audio-visual works which are regularly selected and performed in UK and abroad. He has also has a research interest in ASMR (Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response) and contributes to the ASMR community with writings, reviews and content under the pseudonym Vobis ASMR.

Known as Emma WhispersRed, Emma Smith was born in Lancaster by the northwest coast of England and moved to London at age 18. She lives with her husband, two children and two dogs amongst fields just outside the chaos of the city. She is an ASMR content creator on YouTube and films her videos in a soundproof shed in my garden, ‘The Tingle Shed’.

Shownotes

ASMR University – https://asmruniversity.com/

ASMR University Research Project – https://asmruniversity.com/asmr-survey/

ASMR University Research Project Survey – https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/ASMRsurvey

Autonomous Meridian Sensory Response – From Internet Subculture to Audiovisual Therapy by Dr Diego Garro – https://ewic.bcs.org/content/ConWebDoc/58105

Avril Furness and Emma Smith 360º ASMR Video – http://www.avrilfurness.com/project/360-audio-sensory-meridian-response-vr-sound-healing-film/

Black Mirror IMDb Page – https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2085059/

Book Pre-order for Dr Richard – https://www.amazon.com/Brain-Tingles-Triggering-Head-Toe/dp/150720762X

Bristol Museum & Art Gallery – https://www.bristolmuseums.org.uk/bristol-museum-and-art-gallery/

Bristol Museum & Art Gallery, Death: The Human Experience – https://www.bristolmuseums.org.uk/bristol-museum-and-art-gallery/whats-on/death-human-experience/

Dignitas Clinic – http://www.dignitas.ch/?lang=en

The Goon Show on BBC iPlayer – https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0072vdz

The Joy of Painting with Bob Ross on Youtube – https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxcnsr1R5Ge_fbTu5ajt8DQ

Keele University – https://www.keele.ac.uk/

Keele University Faculty, Dr Diego Garro – https://www.keele.ac.uk/music/people/diegogarro/

The Last Moments Dignetas VR experience – http://www.avrilfurness.com/project/the-last-moments/

Oculus Rift Official Site – https://www.oculus.com/rift/

Shenandoah University – https://www.su.edu/

Shenandoah University Faculty, Dr Craig Richard – https://www.su.edu/faculty-staff/faculty/craig-richard/

WhisperingLife on Youtube – https://www.youtube.com/user/WhisperingLife

WhispersRed on Youtube – https://www.youtube.com/user/WhispersRedASMR

12 Jul 2018

Immersive Audio Podcast – Episode 10 Jane Gauntlett & Tessa Ratuszynska (In My Shoes)

By 1618digital

Summary

Today we have two special guests in studio, Jane Gauntlett & Tessa Ratuszynska. Jane is a writer for film and theatre. She experiments with new technologies, focusing on designing high-impact experiences with a strong narrative. In 2011 Jane founded the In My Shoes Project, an ever-expanding library of interactive experiences which use story, theatre, audio-visual technology, virtual reality and first person documentary to recreate real-life experiences.

Tessa is a documentary filmmaker, installation artist and creative producer for virtual reality and performance. She is a producer of new media documentary, with particular creative focus in virtual reality, 360 documentary and has a passion for the potential for affecting works of interactive non-fiction. In My Shoes: Intimacy was written and directed by Jane and Tessa was creative producer.

In this episode we speak about early adoption of VR, the advances in technology and keeping ahead of the curve. We discuss reaching out to younger audiences, the importance of not using technology for the sake of it and this new technology as a platform for immersive storytelling.

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Shownotes

Video goggles – Vuzix: https://www.vuzix.com/

Oculus: https://www.oculus.com/

HoloLens: https://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/hololens

In My Shoes: http://janegauntlett.com/inmyshoesproject/

Intimacy: http://janegauntlett.com/in-my-shoes-intimacy/

25 Jun 2018

Immersive Audio Podcast – Episode 9 James Edward Marks

By 1618digital

Summary

In today’s episode we’re joined by James E. Marks, an experimental new media provocateur. He is a creator of award-winning social video edutainment, and maker of immersive mixed and virtual reality experiences. With over 20 years of hands-on collaborations with alternative, pop culture branded and unbranded entertainment, James is Co-Founder & Chief Marketing Officer for DoubleMe, a Silicon Valley transformative tech start-up that’s pushing the boundaries of holographic mixed reality. He is also the founder of PsychFi Lab & Hackstock Festival. At PsychFi, he collaborates with the biggest social video & moving image artists, exploring immersive tech, psychology, psychedelia, sci-fi and pop culture.

In this episode we discuss the importance of sound and all senses in an immersive experience, new technology and how it has changed the approach to composing.

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Shownotes

MWC18 & BBC Click – Mixed Reality For Social Good: https://youtu.be/N97MHHO4XHM

#HackThePlanet & ComiCon VR World Record Setters: https://youtu.be/FRupTnhW3UM

Harry Shotta, DJ Phantasy, 24SevenTV & PsychFi Labs: https://youtu.be/ZJfD71bMl_Y

Hackstock 4.0 & LoopSpace World Premiere: https://youtu.be/Z7X1ejKmXU0

PZYK & PsychFi Top Alt Reality Experience: https://blog.oup.com/2018/03/virtual-reality-games-simulate-altered-states

PsychFi & Webby Awards: https://www.webbyawards.com/winners/2016/online-film-video/general-film/vr-gaming-interactive-or-real-time/hacktheplanet-vr

Summer in the City: http://www.sitc-event.co.uk

GoPro: https://gopro.com/

Subpac: http://subpac.com/

HoloLens: https://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/hololens

Holoportal: http://www.doubleme.me/#holoportal

Third Mind Productions: http://www.thirdmindcreates.com/

DoubleMe: http://www.doubleme.me/

Hackstock: https://sci-fi-london.com/hackstock-stuff-we-are-doing

27 Apr 2018

1.618 Digital to join Czech VR Fest 2018

By 1618digital

We are delighted to announce that 1.618 Digital will be attending the Czech VR Fest 2018 in Prague, Czech Republic. The Czech VR Fest is now in its second year and will be taking place from the 10th until the 12th of May. Oliver Kadel will be giving a presentation on Immersive and Interactive Audio on the 10th of May at 17.30. If you are attending the festival, be sure to drop by and say hello.

Tickets and more information about the Czech VR Fest, including a list of speakers can be found here: https://www.czechvrfest.com

1.618 Digital Team

29 Mar 2018

Immersive Audio Podcast – Episode 6 Catherine Robinson

By 1618digital

Summary

In today’s episode we are joined in studio by Catherine Robinson, Audio Supervisor at BBC Wales. Catherine has worked in radio sound for the BBC since 2001. Her specialism is sound design for radio drama, binaural audio and 3D sound for 360 video and VR. Catherine created the sound design and binaural mix for Ring, a horror radio drama for Radio 4. Following the success of that, Catherine has set up the first operational 3D sound studio in the BBC outside Research and Development, using their tools.

Some of the binaural productions that have been created in the 3D studio are: The Russell T Davies adaptation of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, which was the first ever binaural feature film; six 360 films for Planet Earth 2 using dynamic binaural sound design; and an episode of Doctor Who called ‘Knock Knock’ which is the first binaural TV drama to be made available on BBC iPlayer.

Catherine discusses her role at the BBC, the first binaural episode of a TV program available on the BBC iPlayer – Doctor Who, how content will drive immersive audio consumption and bringing immersive audio to the masses.

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