AudioVisual Development and Tests

The conceptual development of the audiovisuals and their utilisation/placement in the space was always going to be a fundamental aspect in how successfully the messages and themes of the project were portrayed to audiences, especially considering the seriousness of the subject matter. However, they also had to be visually interesting to the viewer as opposed to purely informative.

Taking into account the conceptual development of the audiovisuals (using 90 degree corner projection of two televisions), I had to do a series of tests to get to grips with projection mapping software, ensure these conceptual ideas worked and to see whether they would be effective in a small space. I spoke to Rupert, a friend of mine familiar with projection mapping, to see if he could help me understand Module8 and MadMapper and show me the most effective way of corner dual projection. We set up the projector, mapped out projections on to a corner with Madmapper and documented the results:

Screenshots of the corresponding MadMapper/Module8 project.

This test demonstrated that it worked well having two corresponding visuals and the corner placement meant the plain of viewing was easier to comprehend (it was easier to see everything together when mapped to a corner. Also, when the projections were televisions, we would be able to split them into two separate projections and map them to specifically sized screens, positioning them as necessary, giving us more aesthetic freedom than if they were purely just the projected visuals which may look out of place if not joined at the edges.

These tests also helped us in early decisions about projector placement within the space, as we would have to house the projector in a concealed area so as not to ruin any illusion. Our projector for these tests was not a short throw, and was placement across the room (about the distance it would be in the space, and this worked very well. However, we also did tests with a short throw projector, but we found that a short throw would have to be placed on the floor of the space and would most likely be in plain sight. This helped us conclude that not only would a regular throw be more suited due to its size, it would work more effectively and could be mounted and hidden in a corner of the space.

Another aspect of the audiovisuals was the audio element; the ambient sound and how sound would be amplified and travel in the space. Rupert and I agreed that some ambient atmospheric sound would work well very well in the space and help alongside the visual element of the projections, but this was primarily dependant on whether the audio track was suited or not. I knew a few people who made interesting ambient soundscapes (Tom being one), but after looking into a few other people, I asked an old friend of mine Elliot Hurst if I could use his 10-minute ambient track ‘Madwoman in the Attic’, as its dull ambient soundscape would fit well as a soundtrack for the projections and help to create an atmospheric environment in the space.