What does it take to create sound art? In the modern age it feels like everything requires a computer of some description in order to fully use everything available to you, internet access and a computer opens up a whole world of opportunity and feels like an essential in order to create and be seen doing it. Is it as essential as it feels? It all depends on what we create sound art for, is the purpose of art to be seen? Can art be considered successful or unsuccessful?
In terms of what it take to create sound art, my own journey started with, at the bare minimum looking for a mic and a Daw in which I could edit, it never occured to me that what I was making could exist in a non-digital format, the world of audio drama podcasting was born in the digital/internet age, there was no other way to so effectively promote and distribute what I made, this is, now more than ever, true of music. If you look at any article on the internet about “essential equipment” for music production there are many common items. According to Roland
If you want to get started in computer music production, there are four essential pieces of studio equipment you’ll need:
- A computer
- Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) Software
- An interface
- Monitors or Headphones (preferably both)
Of course if you’ll want to do vocals you’ll need a whole extra plethora of items to get the cleanest recordings. These four items represent the modern state of sound art, it works under the assumption (often rightly so) that the artist wants to digitally distribute. It is the standard, vinyl and tape may persevere but only in the worlds of those who care for such things, existing in nostalgia or caring about the fidelity to such an extent. But for everyone else streaming is a major method of music consumption. As of 2019, 81% of respondents to IFPI’s study across 21 countries used some kind of on demand streaming service, and in the midst of a major global pandemic, it does not require a terrific stretch of the imagination to say that this number will only have increased. What does this mean then for the new sound artist entering the world in this age? For those that these four items are an impossibility? Is there a world for them to work in? Is there a solution? It all depends on what the purpose of creating sound art is for an individual. If it is to be heard, to have your work be put out there, it’s getting easier, with a majority of people able to access the internet (some 59.5% according to statista). If the gradually impending threat of global warming doesn’t destroy the global south before it can develop a stronger internet infrastructure then soon it seems like this number will only increase.