http://avlab.cybersonica.org/

AV Lab - a week-long residential creative & practical workshop exploring sound, moving image, art and technology.

I done a couple of performances which got recorded. The first was with Shelley Parker and Tom Belton. I used my old diy midi controller (MGI) which was controlling sound in Max and also the panning and spacialisation on the surround system we were using. I also wore an exoskeleton developed by Sonalog which was sending midi data to any computer which chose to log onto the wireless midi network. The idea was then my movements would also control other peoples computers, but no-one logged on for the performance, which was a shame. Shelley Parker was doing some live processing on some sound samples which were then being moved around the surround system. There's an audio recording of it here>>> Ryan Jordan and Shelley Parker live @ The Basement, Brighton. 08/11/08

The next recorded performance was with Sabine Vogel on flute which was being processed in LiSa with the parameters being controlled by some wii remotes on her elbows. Steve Symons was using his iLog and Thor Magnussons iXi. I was using my MGI hardware. There's an audio recording of it here>>> Ryan Jordan, Sabine Vogel and Steve Symons live @ The Basement, Brighton. 08/11/08

I also done a collaboration with Alison Ballard. I quite liked it as we worked away from the computer. I scraped a table across the floor and Alsion layed some metal pipes with some spoons.

Photographs by Andy Crowe.

The following is my feedback evaluation form I sent back for the AVLab:

Cybersonica AVLab ’08 Evaluation

Ryan Jordan

How did the week match up to your expectations?
I expected to be able to do more work in the lab. I feel there was too much time taken up with presentations and not enough time dedicated to working on projects.
The facilitators and contributors were very good and lived up to my expectations, it was just a shame there was not more time to do more practical work with them instead of watching presentations.

What was the high point of the week for you?
Working with Steve Symons and Evan Raskob on my project. Their expertise was very useful and they are both great to work with. Also I enjoyed Rays’ workshop as it took us away from working with technology, which I rarely do, and I was able to think and use different tools (like a table) to make some work. It would be good if something like this could be structured more to be able to be used to develop participants concepts and then lead onto making some av works.
I also enjoyed collaborating with Steve Symons, Sabine Vogel and Shelley Parker in doing some live performances and recordings as I don’t collaborate with people that often.

Which aspect or aspects would you change and why?
I would have the AVLab to be a much more rigorous, practical experience where the participants will work with specific technologies and materials so they can take away something at the end or to build something more substantial during the lab.
Taking up three days for presentations was for me quite frustrating and I feel the time would have been better spent working and developing our ideas, projects and collaborations.
Also to tailor the lab so people with specific projects in mind can really work and develop them in collaboration with others.

What will you take away from the AVLab in terms of new ideas, approaches, technologies, and/or collaborations?
I think what I will take away most from AVLab is to work away from the computer and technology from time to time, as in Rays’ workshop as I feel you can become very sucked into the machine and technology and loose yourself a bit. It’s good to have some space.

Rate the following out of 5 (1=needs to be better, 5=excellent) +any comments

Was the AVLab a good idea?               5
Organisation of the week                      1 – need more time to work, less time to talk
Resources:        Human                         5
                        Physical                        4
Venue                                                  4 – some daylight is sometimes good
Accommodation                                   3 – need bigger beds, my feet stuck out of the end