This week, our Media Creation lead, Max Wentzlaff, made significant progress on both the audio and visual components of our installation. For the soundtrack, Max used FL Studio to craft an immersive, ambient soundscape filled with gentle synths, ambient paths, and soft piano tones. Leveraging the powerful sound-design software Serum, he manually shaped unique sounds and incorporated live recordings to add a layer of natural texture. Currently, Max has completed the initial melody but plans to further refine the track to achieve a richer, more enveloping soundscape.
Moving into the visual creation, Max focused on bringing our concept to life through dynamic, fluid visuals. He started by creating a large, blurred noise map to form 'blobs' that fluctuate across the design. By adding an edge node, he isolated the edges of these noise blobs, creating a striking ripple effect. Through several feedback loops, he enhanced the visual depth, giving rise to a wave-like motion around the blobs. After achieving this effect, Max experimented with color combinations until he found one that aligned with our theme, adding a subtle glow to accentuate the edges for a cohesive, mesmerizing look.
In TouchDesigner, Max then expanded on the visuals to work towards the final version. He shifted to a particle noise system, incorporating a simulated gravity effect. Starting with a noise map to guide particle movement, he added a point transform to control the direction of the particles, simulating the flow of a river. As particles drift and swirl, they mimic natural water ripples and waves, creating a sense of flowing water.
To add further complexity, Max integrated a vortex feature, causing particles to naturally swirl and respond to mouse interactions, amplifying the immersive experience. Finally, he adjusted the particle colors to harmonize with the installation’s theme, ensuring a cohesive visual language that resonates with the project’s ambiance.
Max’s meticulous attention to detail has brought our installation closer to a fully immersive experience, where both sound and visuals engage the viewer in a dynamic, multi-sensory journey.
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