Having resumed my research into making intuitive cymatic visuals a reality, I have discovered, with ease, some particularly relevant examples of projected success. A group out of Berlin, naming their project ‘Sonic Water: The Laboratory For Water Sound Images’ appear to have exceeded the attempts of KIMA, primarily attaining the closest attempt, personally discovered, to execute cymatics in real-time visuals. My question is, how did I miss this when completing Research & Enquiry? This leads me to question the search algorithm efficiency of the university’s online library archive, as this was in the first few results of a simple Google search. Never mind, I’ve found it now.

Observing the practical execution of Sonic Water’s installation has given me some ideas as to what is needed to succeed in creating my own working model. Questions such as which camera to choose? How will it be installed? Will it require the camera pointing vertically downwards towards a speaker and dish, or an acute angle? What is the best option for lighting? What is the best method of connecting audio from a DJ mixer? The observation of Sonic Water and presenting myself with these questions, has made me aware of how inpatient I can be regarding this project’s somewhat slow progression. I guess as my environment has changed from the pace of living on university campus with academic focus, I have to self-sustain my motivation without guidance or being surrounded by people encouragingly attaining different objectives in the same field. It’s almost sometimes challenging to justify spending time doing this without having an attainable, graded deadline, or paycheck at the end of it. Cheers conventional, societal indoctrination.

Perhaps the best example of a functioning real-time cymatic visual installation I’ve seen online in a performance medium is by ‘Sophistafunk’ in 2014. Again, this is another example I failed to find during my research a year ago, why? Perhaps the YouTube algorithm does not serve the positive exposure of this educational technology. In over 4.5 years since the video was uploaded it has merely 900 views, seemingly low for something quite groundbreaking in its perfomance execution. Perhaps it’s the suspicion in me, but with the earlier discussed lack of sound research and cymatic presence in mainstream science, is there a reason this is the case?

My research led me to determine that a Panasonic Lumix GH5 would be the best camera for shooting motion footage in 4K, perhaps with or without a macro lens. So, I bought one. Additionally, I also purchased a lens adapting LED light ring and a 10″ subwoofer driver. I also upgraded my studio DJ mixer with the latest and best model on the market, the Allen & Heath Xone 96. However, successfully finding suitable audio cables to connect the 10″ speaker to the Xone 96 has proved frustrating. With a range of speaker cable adapters, it is perhaps a unique type I require compared to other amplifier and speaker setups. Having looked at the possibility of connecting to the Xone 96 with RCA or XLR, the speaker itself seems to require Z type Banana sockets, not plugs as commonly sold online. The fact there are no high street electronics retailers one can drop in, look and choose a suitable option is frustrating. This also makes me wonder if I should ‘up-sticks’ and move to London or, even better, Berlin to absorb myself in this project where necessary resources can easily be acquired.

From the perspective of providing an audio signal, the Xone 96 allows me to connect via USB to my MacBook Pro and utilise Traktor Pro 3 with full turntable scratch functionality. Plus easily play conventional records in the same setup. This has been a personal ambition for some time, but not affordable. I love to play vinyl and layering tracks with loops, so I figured investing in the Xone 96 and Traktor 3 was the most cost-effective option, setting me back less than a single Pioneer CDJ2000 Nexus. My DJM500 mixer of 16+ years needed replacing, so it was a necessary purchase which will also enhance this project.

I sense this post might be becoming tangential, but in writing I feel the need to address certain aspects. Why do I feel the need to justify these purchases? I guess this comes from never easily being able to afford such devices without incurring debt and the associated fear that goes with it. However, I am grateful that I currently have time and money at my disposal to invest and focus on making this project a reality. It is frustrating at times to justify all of this to those around me who don’t understand my intended vision. Those family members, or friends, who perhaps lean towards a conventional, conservative perspective and don’t understand, or relate to what I am trying to achieve. I’m sometimes undermined even by those as deeply involved in electronic music as I am, who truly believe what they think is better for me in the long run, without trying to understand my perspective. I’m not the most confident person at times, but I’m not a fool to take on board the lack of belief others have in me, which is an apparent projection from their own fear of unconventional practice. I don’t fear outside-of-the-box.

In another post I will explore the Love vs Fear perspective and how these are frequencies themselves which are apparent in our everyday lives and influence our decisions, interactions, relationships, opportunities and quality of existence. There is evidence to suggest our DNA is reacts to the frequencies of Love and Fear. Perhaps a skeptical perspective in some respects, but personally I feel that sound and vibration is responsible for a great deal more than we as a civilization are educated to believe.

Undeniably, there will be ups and downs, bumps in the road, times of doubt and these will play on my mental health. However, this is part of stepping outside of one’s comfort zone. Deciding to relocate and pursue a masters degree at the age of 36 seemed like a ‘no-way’ option for some who shared their opinion with me. Others saw it as a great opportunity to get back on track with my love for music and our existence through sound. In the beginning I instinctively knew I had to go tot the University of Hertfordshire. It was an effortless choice, it felt right and I knew after visiting on an open day that I had to go. When I commenced the MSc, I sometimes doubted my decision out of fear, but with emerging belief it flourished and became the best decision I have ever made. Taking a wise leap of faith from one stepping stone to another is a necessity in life, it helps us grow. This project is the next stepping stone in this experience known as life. The seed is planted, may it grow and flourish.