Locus Sonus is an audio streaming platform, allowing listeners to stream the audio from phone mics or ‘open mics’ anywhere on the planet. I thought it would be a good idea to test out the radio feedback piece I’m planning on making using this streaming platform first.

Experiment #1

For this experiment Both me and my girlfriend Astrid started streaming audio on our phones via the Locus Sonus app at the same time. We were in different locations, she was in Kingston and I was near Streatham. Using our laptops we then connected to each other’s stream and placed our phones next to our laptop speakers. This meant audio streamed to the laptop would be picked up by the phone mic, creating a feedback loop. In addition, sounds from the environment around the mic will also be picked up meaning new sounds will constantly be added.

Experiment #2

I experimented with creating feedback loops using just myself. I started streaming audio out of my phone which I placed next to an amp. I connected my laptop to my phone’s audio stream starting the feedback loop. The audio streamed from my phone was played out of the amp which was then picked up again by the phone’s mic. This time I played around with introducing varying sounds from my room into the loop such as tin foil, glasses and shakers. On the amp is eq control so also played around with that to see how it affected the stream.

Reflection

Experimenting with creating feedback loops via streaming has definitely been a beneficial experiment towards the radio project outlined in earlier blog posts. I think the addition of noises that slowly fade out over time, joining the wall of feedback in the background fits into the parameters and ideals I set myself originally. From a listening perspective I wish the sounds introduced into the loop would hold their fidelity for a longer period of time, looping back for at least 20 seconds or so before joining the wall of feedback would be ideal. I believe the second experiment created more pleasing sounds to listen to. This may be the use of an amp instead of inbuilt laptop speakers for audio playback, increasing the fidelity of sounds added into the feedback loop.

Listening back to these has made me realise I should experiment with using a loop pedal to stagger playing back a monologue into the stream. Maybe try read out automatic writing as Jose suggested and see how I feel.