Business Card Final and Signed Proof

size: 9x5 cm

quantity: 500

colors: cmyk front 1 color gray on back

This is the final design that I sent to print, proof was already signed.

Postcards Reshuffled and Signed Proof

size: 15x10 cm

quantity: 200 each (as the difference between 600 and 1000 postcards was just 15$, this is why I decided to go with printing 5 front sides)

colors: cmyk front, 1 color back (same back for all)

Here are the final ones already signed the proof and waiting for the printing to be finalized.

transitions and flickering frame in FCP after exporting

One thing I understood today:

After applying transition in Final Cut Pro, the first frame of following sequence will flicker.

I selected the clip in the timeline and then went Cmd9 to reveal the properties > it turned out that if the original clip was compressed using the H.264 codec then the outcome will definitely flicker after I apply the effect (say Dissolve) when rendered. It turned out that "H.264 is not a production codec and should not be used in FCP. The media should ideally all conform to the same format as your sequence; you certainly should not be using a codec that is based on interframe compression like H.264. That's for acquisition and for delivery, not for production."

the live documentation

Bread Republic, Hamra, Beirut, Lebanon

30 July 2011, 9:00 pm

An outdoor café with a capacity of approximately 80 people seated outdoors.

The live show took place in this location. I invited my contacts via facebook only, since the place doesn't fit a huge number, so I needed to limit the invitation myself.

I didn't reserve the whole place, just asked the owner and organized the rest of the deal with the manager earlier that week. So some of the people were there for the invitation, and others were just hanging out when the live of the final project happened.

Feedback was very positive in general, A commented that viewing the clips edited instead of 1 clip after the other was essential, the layering in the live and playing bits and pieces of the clips added a "mood" that suits the audio and that is personal. T and R decided that the next time this should be played, I should ask Ziad Nehme, whose voice is featured in the audio, to participate live in the event, with a band if possible, other feedbacks were also encouraging and positive, these are the 2 main ones I adopted.

Some important issues to take care for future lives though:

- The sound's volume was a bit low, despite the fact that I had volumes of both speakers and the iPod turned all the way up. The speakers are purchases (for the show in London) were outdoor speakers, they simply don't do the job outdoors, on the street, when cars are honking and people on the street are talking.

- Self criticism:

I should find a way to be more relaxed in another live, before the show, maybe ask a performance artist or an actor/actress to give me tips that help me to freak out just before the live.

- When the software (Modul8) is shut down then run back, I should either remap the midi controller or upload the saved version of the edited buttons, otherwise, I will end up manipulating the live from the laptop screen!

An edited version of the clips is on its way, I will be posting soon here.

Postcards to print

The back of the postcard for the final show to include statement + narrative biography.

And the fronts are below.

I will be printing 200 for each design = 600 total postcards.

more to dos and miscellaneous

Some of these tasks were already done, still for future shows, it's good to have a list of required tasks ready.

For the media player, I was able to get the WD HD Element Play at the end, it functions well. I heard a lot of bad reviews about iomega, even though every other store here sells iomega and it was harder to find a Western Digital.

http://www.wdc.com/en/products/products.aspx?id=400

Tip for the future 1: Regarding the speakers and every other electronic, always test the product either in store or directly after you reach the house; Speakers weren't functioning, and the exchange was valid for a period of 10 days, the guy was nice enough to accept to exchange these.

Tip 2: Indoors speakers won't do a good job for outdoors, especially if we are working in a public space.

List of to dos and to remember before the live show!

The live already took place last Saturday at Bread, an outdoor café in Beirut. I will be showing documentation soon! but first, I will have to upload the steps, one by one, for archiving purposes. Above is the to do list and the material needed for the live (prepared before the show). I should add on the list a multiple outlet for all the plugs! and a good surface (or screen for the projection) as the grey door was desaturating the colors in the rehearsal, so I had to replace the door with a white wooden board.

I will write in detail about some of the steps listed in the picture above later on.

Configuring Korg to Modul8 – notes to self (for future use)

1- Plug Korg Mini before opening modul8

2-Launch Modul8 and open the project

3-Go to Mapping > Edit Midi Map



4-The different functions will become highlighted in green

5-Click on the function that you want to map on the korg controller, it will create white corners on the function you chose

6-Turn the button (or slider or press button) on korg, the one that you would like it to affect the highlighted function

or

or


7- Go to Mapping > Edit Midi Map to allocate the function to button, end of mapping!

8-If you want to keep the korg buttons and functions the same way all the time, you could go to Mapping > Save Map as Defaults.

9-To give the keyboard functions, same procedure could be applied using the Edit Key Map instead.

Happy Mapping.

FINAL - music edited to sound - part 2

Earlier, we have worked on this option, a bit for upbeat towards the end, I could still keep it as an option for future use. This option lasts for 13 minutes approximately.

FINAL - music edited to sound

I worked along with a friend* of mine on the layering of music to sound.

There are 2 versions we worked on, 1 is continuous and brings a soft ending, while the second gets a bit more vibrant towards the end.

This is the 1st option (the one I used for the live show in Beirut, I'll be explaining more about this live in another post), it lasts for 15 minutes approximately.

*He decided not to get accreditation and to remain anonymous, since it's editing sounds while he usually composes.