This represents the conclusion of my concrete sound project that began to develop watching TH:EC:LO:CK. I was interested in exploring the busy, outdoor, urban space of the performance area for the soundscape and encouraging listeners to consider not just how they were spending their day but also the passing of time, as I had done whilst experiencing TH:EC:LO:CK.

Developments since the third experiment have been smaller feedback from a number of listeners indicated that they they were drawing to in clock rhythm and commented that the layering was unsettling. In this version I have pushed some of the panning techniques I was using before to further open up the spaces between individual sounds, trying to give them a distinct place in space. I spent some time trying to get as much separation as possible between each of the the clocks that are in the piece to try and surround the listener.

Adobe Audition mixer screen shot showing track levels, pans and effects.

I also experimented with the compression settings used on the final mix down to try and retain more of the dynamic range in the soundscape. I have been concerned throughout this development with the need to complement and compete with the environmental sounds of a busy urban street. Previously this had encouraged me to be fairly aggressive with compression during the mix down to make sure there were solid levels throughout the soundscape. Having experimented with play back in a range of sizes of spaces and with sizes of speakers I found that I could take a lighter approach to the compression and achieve a fuller sound that still had enough presence to be heard.

It will be interesting to hear the final piece in its intended site after this development process.