Plan for final experience

I needed to be as prepared as possible for my final presentation so I booked up all my equipment a few weeks before I knew I wanted to present, consisting of a z5 HD camera and tripod, the Kam 3D Star Cluster, 2 EVL Spin Beams, a strobe light, haze machine and stands for anything that wasn’t to be floor mounted. This was the best equipment I had available to me, the expense wasn’t an issue I just wanted the best equipment. One of the things I had learnt from my previous tests was to black out the space as much as possible, any extra light source takes away from the light show so darkness was essential, so ideally I wanted a room with no windows to present. But then I was left with another dilemma, if I was to present somewhere outside of uni it would be a lot harder to get people there and involved unless I put on a proper event, which considering I had decided not to worry about my budget for the lighting was out of the question, as I would have had to of hired the space and DJ’s to play, as well as promoting it which isn’t cheap either, something I had learnt from my Professional unit where I put on an event myself. The budget for that was £1200, and there was no way I could afford anything near this for the purposes of this unit. So it became apparent that I would have to make do with the space I had for my previous tests, the Port-a-cabin on the uni campus. This was OK, was about the right size etc, but obviously had windows. Last time I blacked them out with heavy duty bin bags, which I did again this time except doubled them up to make thicker and less transparent. This worked quite well and gave me a much darker space to work in then before.

I decided this time to span the lights across the whole back wall, as before I had had it cornered as I felt that would pick up the most light. As I was not using anywhere near as much light sources, it would be easier to position in a symmetrical way so that the laser was in the middle with the smoke and strobe and the beams were on the outside facing in to draw the eye into the main body of the lights, the laser. I’m sure people will be focusing on that anyway but the beams do help to channel your focus. As I said before, if I had only had the laser it would have become a bit monotonous, so something else happening was essential. The beams have a good strobe function that will come in extremely handy when trying to build up energy for the kick too. I feel I have the best equipment ready and in place to give me a really nice, aesthetically pleasing end product, and as long as the set up goes well this time as I know what I need to do straight away when I get there, hopefully I should be able to get a fair amount of people into the experience as it will be on a Friday afternoon again (it’s the only time the room is free properly).

Sourcing the lights I need

So for my final presentation I will look to use KSL, as they have an extensive range of products available. The website is available here: http://www.ksl-online.co.uk/.

From my previous experiments I have found certain lights and techniques that do work, and some that don’t. Going on other peoples reactions and what I experienced, I feel there are certain elements that need to be incorporated, like the use of lasers and beams. Smoke is needed for these to show up, and I feel a strobe is also appropriate, although a smaller one this time. I will also look to find out if there is a way to control all of this together, as elements like the strobe will only need to be operational at certain times and not over the top of all the other lights.

I pretty much looked at every individual light and each package, speakers and controllers to see what deals I could get, and here are the outlined list of what I think I probably need:

Smoke machine: http://www.ksl-online.co.uk/hire.php?search=29&type=category

Lasers: http://www.ksl-online.co.uk/hire.php?search=32&type=category

So I looked at a range of the lasers on offer here, but knew I wanted ones with more than one colour. The green ones are wicked don’t get me wrong, but a bit of variation wouldn’t go amiss. I was debating getting the blue ones, but then I thought they use green for a reason, it contrasts well and is vivid in colour. Due to these reasons, the Kam Star Cluster 3D jumped out as the best one, as it has 2 colours and sound to light sensitivity. Here is a great example of the laser at work:

Beams: http://www.ksl-online.co.uk/hire.php?search=33&type=category

Again, quite a selection to go through, but as with these kind of lights many seemed a bit to school disco, and in ways with beams simple is better. After looking into a selection, the EVL Spin Beams seemed to shape up as the best, as demonstrated in this video. Now admittedly it is really cheesy, but the way the light reacts with the sound is really good:

I think the EVL is the right middle light, but if I can get my lights and colours interacting with each other like this for my presentation I will be more than happy.

Strobes: http://www.ksl-online.co.uk/hire.php?search=34&type=category

This is more how I need my strobe! Something like this just to have activate in crescendo and build up moments, the big strobe I experimented with didn’t do this well at all so again, the simpler the better by the looks of it.

Packages: http://www.ksl-online.co.uk/hire.php?search=15&type=category

Because I need a range of specific stuff, there are only a couple that are an option for me, as they have the things I need but at a slightly cheaper price as a package. From the looks of it, package D and F are possible options. I will also need to get controllers etc but will inquire about getting them as part of the package.

Speakers: http://www.ksl-online.co.uk/hire_item.php?id=85&page=1&type=category&search=44

These will only be needed if the venue I use is not at uni or hasn’t got it’s own speakers. I may need a sound mixer as well, but again only if the speakers are needed.

Shots I need for the strobe tests

To help make things run as smoothly as possible I should consider making a list of shots and variants I will need to cover everything. The strobe and controller has 2 functions, manual and sound, and 10 settings for those functions, as well as an intensity dimmer. I will need these variations:

• Settings 0 – 9 on manual
• Settings 0 – 9 on sound
• Intensities
• Tempo of track
• EQ kills
• All tracks from previous experiments

I need to know which settings are best, which fit to drum and bass the best, whether or not the strobe adds to the experience and what kind of intensities were strong enough but not too overpowering. At the end of the day, I want my crowd to have an uplifting experience, not one they get blinded or a headache in.

Tempo test

Personally, I love the speed of drum and bass, but what do other people think? I want to know if a drum and bass tune sounds better sped up or slowed down, or if in fact it does sound best as it is. Does it even make much difference at all? I will need a camera, a sound system, a room and a computer with Ableton Live, and will again use the tune that was most popular from my previous experiments (Camo and Krooked – Tonight). An interesting thing will be to see if the increase in speed increases heart rate at all. Is the speed directly linked to excitement levels?

For questions, I will need to ask:

• What tempo does the example sound best in?
• Does the increase in speed increase your experience?
• Does it become too fast?

EQ test

EQ’s play a big part in the final sound of any tune, and too much or too little can massively effect the listeners experience. I want to know what kind of levels work best, and a relatively simple test can determine this. I will take a track, a make a sample with reduced, normal and raised EQ levels for each EQ (bass, mid and high), finding out which levels have the largest effect on the track. You would think, as its called drum and bass, that bass is the most influential, but I think all 3 have a huge impact on the overall feel. I will need a sound system, a computer with Ableton Live, a camera and a room. I will use the tune that was most popular from the previous set of experiments, Camo and Krooked – Tonight.

For questions, I will need to ask people:

• Which EQ had the most effect on the tune?
• Which didn’t sound good when effected?
• Which do you feel contribute most to the tune?

Strobe test

As I found from the last lot of light experiments, the one that strobed was my particular favourite and was one people could remember, so looking into strobes further is a good idea. I already know lasers grab people attention, so what about some strobe effects too. To do this I will need to place people in a room testing the settings and intensities of the strobe in as many combination’s as I can. I will need a room, a strobe with controller, a sound system and the camera. Ill play around with the settings, intensities, with the room lighting on, with the tracks I used from the previous tests, as well as stuff like reduced EQ’s and faster and slower tempos.

For questions, I will need to ask people:

• What part of the tune does the strobe look best over?
• Do you like or dislike the strobe?
• Does it make you feel different?
• How so?

Planning for Strobe, EQ and Tempo tests

So from my previous set of tests I have come the the conclusion there are still a few things I need to explore further. Obviously at some point I need to test some of my own sounds, but I still need to look at EQ’s and tempos a little further before I get fully stuck in to making a tune. I also need to look at strobe lights, as that was the only thing really missing for the ‘rave in a porta-cabin’, a prominent strobe light. I went to KSL for the strobe, and picked up a ‘Thunderdrome 3000 with Controller 3000 Watts’, with a stand. Unfortunately due to a family bereavement I was unable to book a room at uni around the time I was available and had the equipment booked for, so I have no other option than to set it up at home and try getting as many people over as possible. The equipment itself will not be hard to set up, as it is only a strobe with controller and a Logitec music system, but I will need to move the my front room around to allow a clear space to set it all up in. I’ll be recording using the Sony Z5 again, and will look at the various things the strobe and controller can do as well as a few EQ and tempo tests, although I feel those to be important so will probably look to do those some other way on a later date.

I will need:

• Sony HDV 10801 HVR-Z5E
• Vinten Pro Tripod
• Room to set up equipment
• Strobe light with controller
• Speaker system

A few ideas for shots

So as well as seeing how it goes and doing some variations of the tests on the spot as problems/new things arise, I need to plan a certain set of shots just in case everything goes wrong and I don’t get many people in there. If this happens I can always play people the footage and gauge reactions, although to get people in there in the first place is the main focus. Having shots with no-one in won’t necessarily be a bad thing as it will give me a good idea of how it all performs.

I’ll need footage of a wide range of factors, from no light to room light, from quiet to loud, with people and without people. I’ll also need footage of each light individually, with and without smoke, and certain lights working together. Ill need to see if the lights react to the music in any way, and whether different styles of drum and bass have different effects on the lights. Is there more movement when there are more or less people inside, and just what difference does natural light make?

After getting people involved I will need to set up a place away from the ‘rave’ and select a few people for interviews asking a few select questions on their feelings throughout the experience.

Equipment used for experiments

Here is a list of the equipment I both hired from WDA promotions and borrowed from the uni.

The lighting (from WDA) at a cost of £100:

• Antari Fog Machine Alpha F-80Z
• Fitzgerald UV light
• 2x Acme Panthers
• Acme Jaguar
• 2x Acme Spot Knights
• Kam laser DMX Star Cluster
• Rigging for laser, Panthers and Jaguar

Equipment from uni:

• Yamaha MG206C-USB mixing desk
• Behringer Eurolive B315 A
• Sony HDV 10801 HVR-Z5E
• Vinten Pro Tripod

Questions for the tests

Here are a list of questions for each test I shall undertake. To make things easier while doing the tests I will group some together depending on the things they are testing, as shown earlier in the experiment outlines (they are numbered according to the previous posts), and what equipment I have set up at the time. I will group experiments 1 with 2, experiment 3 with 7, experiment 4 with 8 and experiments 5 and 6 shall be done singularly.

Experiment 1 (and 2):

• Which was your favourite tune and why?
• What did it make you feel?
• List some feelings you felt for each tune
• Did your chosen tune have the same impact as part of a mix?
• If not, which part does now?

Experiment 3 (and 7):

• Whats lights/colours worked best and why?
• Do you think anything could have been added?
• Does the music have the same impact in a light or dark room?
• Did it improve the experience with the introduction of lighting?
• Does the music have the same impact when quiet or loud?

Experiment 4 (and 8):

• Does it matter what time of the day it is?
• Did any of the substances enhance your experience?

Experiment 5

• What makes rave events so special? What does it for you? Lights/community/music/state of mind etc
• Why do you enjoy the music so much?

Experiment 6

• Testing a range of my own sounds (Questions not yet decided)