30/07/09

Date:  30/07/09

Phase:  Engineering

Version:  None

Summary of Activities:

Activities thus far this week have been focused on the core objectives that are meant to complete the environment for beta.  Changes have been made so that now the playlist edit window has been merged into the main window.  This will give the user "ease of use" that was not present within the formerly planned structure.  Additionally, the duplication process has been successful and the second module has now been amended to the environment. 

Notes:

Activities of the following days will be to duplicate the final two modules into the environment's main window as well as debug any existing issues with the environment so that it may be ready for beta promptly. 

Weekly Summary 20/07/09 – 26/07/09

Weekly Summary 20/07/09 – 26/07/09

Phase:  Engineering

Version:  None

Weekly Summary of Activities:

This week's objectives surrounded the final preparations for beta testing and debugging. Key to this goal was the completion of delay and filter effects for the prototype module and the beginning of the duplication of it.  Majority of these objectives were finished and some further work on duplication will be needed.  Additionally, this week a form will be created to keep a record of the bugs that the beta participants encounter.  Moreover, it was decided to make an adjustment on environment's main window.  With some wasted landscape in the environment's main window, it  was found that it would be appropriate to merge the playlist window into the main window.  This will give the user better "ease of use" and allow changes to playlists to be made without interruption or whilst listening to the current generated soundscape.

This Week’s Objectives:

This week's primary objectives will comprise of:

1. Merging playlist window/functions into main window
2. Finishing the duplication process of the prototype module
3. Finalizing and debugging
4. Preparation for debugging

23/07/09

Date:  23/07/09

Phase:  Engineering

Version:  None

Summary of Activities:

As mentioned in the weekly summary, one of this week's objective is to complete the functionality of the delay/filter section, which is on schedule and nearly completed.  The only step left is to complete functionality of the comb filter.  As promised, the following is a screenshot and a summary of the updates made to the surround1 sub patch and the prototype module.

Seen on the right of the first screenshot above (the prototype module), the delay filter section will allow the user to apply a delay as well as a filter to the signal.  The filter section comprises of an on/off toggle, filter type selection (6 types total), and channel selection. The delay section contains an on/off toggle, delay length (ms), and channel selection. The user will have the capability to shape the timbre as well as the finite time in which recorded material will play, thus reproducing acoustic effects found within our urban environment.

Additional Information:

Filter types

• Low pass
  
• High pass
  
• Low Shelf
  
• High Shelf
  
• Peak/Notch
  
• Comb

Maximum Delay Length

50 milliseconds

Notes:

As the first objective of this week is nearly finished, the next stage will be started by Saturday.  This includes some testing/debugging of the prototype module as well as the beginning of the duplication process.

Weekly Summary 12/07/09 – 19/07/09

Weekly Summary 12/07/09 – 19/07/09

Phase:  Engineering

Version:  None

Weekly Summary of Activities:

Work last week has comprised of new objectives that will make a major impact on the functionality of the environment - ultimately for the better.  Originally, the anticipated objectives of the past week were to start the duplication process of the module prototype, however this has now been slightly delayed to the middle of this week.  The nearly completed module delay and filter will give an impression of realism to the urban soundscape, as well as, allow the user to have more control when tweaking the digital audio.  Both of these effects will be imperative to giving the sense of placement within the horizontal (haas effect) and vertical plane (head-related transfer function) that we has humans are all too familiar with when localizing sound sources.  A summary of these new parameters for the environment will be posted within the next few days.

This Week’s Objectives:

This week's objectives will consist of:

1. Completing the prototype module's delay and filter parameters and functionality
2. Duplication of the prototype module

14/07/09

Date:  14/07/09

Phase:  Engineering

Version:  None

Summary of Activities:

Today's activities have been significant to the development of the environment.  Particularly in terms of the environment's structure, where it was decided some major changes needed to occur in order to meet the needed functionality of inducing a soundscape with a sense of realism.  Two of the major facets of doing so may have been overlooked, more specific the delay (inner-aural time difference) and the timbre (inner-aural intensity difference) of the recorded digital audio, which is imperative to human sound localization.  Therefore, the following are the changes to the environment's structure:

1. Added channel-specific filter for tweaking of the audio's timbre
   
2. Added channel-specific delay (milliseconds)
   
3. Number of sound modules has changed from 6 to 4

Notes:

The next couple of days will be focused on meeting this task and tentatively the completion of the beta.  These changes will allow the user to have greater control as well as the ability to correctly implement pertinent sound effects and theory (haas effect, head shadowing, etc.).  The number of modules was reducing in order to help meet deadlines for beta.  The change is not expected to adversely effect the quality of the environment.

Weekly Summary 06/06/09 – 12/06/09

Weekly Summary 06/06/09 – 12/06/09

Phase:  Engineering

Version:  None

Weekly Summary of Activities:

This week's primary objectives comprised of finishing the surround1 sub patch, engineering the reverb section, and other assorted tasks pertinent finishing the core of the environment's main window.  These tasks were completed and duplication of the prototype module is now the key focus of this week's work.

This Week’s Objectives:

The coming week will surround the completion of the environment for beta release.  These activities will include the following:

1. Duplication of the prototype module
   
2. Debugging
   

10/06/09

Date:  10/06/09

Phase:  Engineering

Version:  None

Summary of Activities:

Activities of the past few days have surrounded a few different aspects of the environment.  First being the surround1 module, which is near completion and requires some debugging.  Second, debugging the playlist loading function (duplicate files loaded in playlist and open window appearing twice) of the main window has also been a central focus.  The playlist loading function has been successfully debugged and now loads the playlist without any errors.  Lastly, the recording and audio interface, which includes the ability to delay certain surround channels (for the haas effect), toggle on/off audio, and record outgoing audio is also nearing completion.  The following is a screenshot of the recording interface as it now stands within the environment.

Notes:

The next few days will be centered upon debugging any issues with the first module and other various tasks in an attempt to start the duplication process of the modules later this weekend.

08/06/09

Date:  08/06/09

Phase:  Engineering

Version:  None

Summary of Activities:

Since monday, activities have comprised of finalizing and debugging the surround1 sub patch as well as the engineering of the reverb unit.  The optional reverb unit has been completed and will allow the user to create the perception of "space" to their generated soundscape composition.  The following is a screenshot of the reverb section along with an audio file example of the effect.

Audio File Download & Instructions:

1. Click here and allow the page to load
   
2. Once the page is loaded, scroll to the bottom of the page
   
3. Click the link (or right click the link to save to destination) next to "Save file to your PC"
   

Notes:

The remainder of this week will be devoted to tweaking the reverb unit along with finalizing the surround1 sub patch and the beginning of the duplication process.

Weekly Summary 29/06/09 – 05/06/09

Weekly Summary 29/06/09 – 05/06/09

Phase:  Engineering

Version:  None

Weekly Summary of Activities:

Objectives of this week comprised of finishing the surround1 module and preliminary work on the optional reverb for the environment.  The surround1 module is near completion and may take a few days to work out an known bugs that might persist.  Additionally, some research has been undertaken in regards to the design of the reverb for the environment.

This Week’s Objectives:

The focal points for this week will be upon making finishing touches on the surround1 module and engineering the reverb.  Tentatively, by the end of the week I will be able to start the duplication process of the main module into six.  The following underlines the main objectives of the coming week.

1. Finish the surround1 module
   
2. Engineer and finish the reverb section for the environment
   
3. Begin duplication of the main module

02/06/09

Date:  02/06/09

Phase:  Engineering

Version:  None

Summary of Activities:

Activities of the last few days have surrounded the development and engineering of the "surround1" sub patch, which handles the panning automation of each module.  The  sub patch will be duplicated along side the player sub patch for each module, thus allowing the user control over the movement of sound within the three-dimensional spatial field.  These parameter settings will be stored as a part of the action storage system.  As of right now, the sub patch is near completion, however is in need of minor adjustments.  The following is a screenshot of the sub patch along with an audio file example of it in action.

Audio File Download & Instructions:

1. Click here and allow the page to load
   
2. Once the page is loaded, scroll to the bottom of the page
   
3. Click the link (or right click the link to save to destination) next to "Save file to your PC"
   

Notes:

The rest of the week will be devoted to finishing the surround1 sub patch along with preliminary engineering of the optional reverb unit within the main window.