The Identification of Production Methods Exploring Cell-based Repetition and Development in Techno Music and Audio-Visual Display.

Abstract

The Identification of Production Methods Exploring Cell-based Repetition and Development in Techno Music and Audio-Visual Display.

In 2020, accessibility to the tools of electronic music production have become near ubiquitous to anyone with access to modestly powered computing equipment. The use of musical, cell-based repetition as a musical device is straightforward to achieve using these tools, however further production methods are available to augment and enhance this process.

This research investigates production methods exploring cell-based repetition in techno music, whilst exploring the representation of these concepts in visual media to create synchronous audio-visual work.

A practice-based research methodology has led to the creation of this folio of eleven productions of techno music with accompanying audio-visual display. Additionally, this folio is accompanied by a 20,000-word dissertation, exploring the production methods and processes adopted and explored throughout the creative work. The dissertation also contains the compilation of a relevant field of practitioners and audio, that has served as a source of reference for analysis.

Throughout this research, an exploration of temporal time perceptions and plateau-type experiences has served as a guiding aesthetic reference for working with the cellular repetition and exploring methods for creating development over time. In this dissertation, six areas of study are examined: Investigation into suitable construction methods for the creation of repeating cells; the use of polyrhythmic devices; the use of phasing LFO processes to create gradual yet constant, cyclical interactions of timbral variation; improvisation through real-time spontaneous interactive processes and the use of gradual, incremental automation to instrument parameters, exploring non-cyclical, unidirectional change. Lastly, the application of these audio production concepts is explored in the use of repeating visual cells in the creation of the synchronised audio-visual work.