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DJ Beatmatching // October 2023

DJ Beatmatching is an ongoing project. The work will continue to evolve and develop over the coming months. As the work is gradually resolved it will be archived on this page.

I am publishing blog posts that elucidate the development, and progress and they are archived here: [SMQB AIR Blog].

To establish the foundation for our beat-matching research, our team has crafted two reference tracks, denoted as A and B. These tracks serve as our symbolic starting point, laying the groundwork for the exploration and analysis of beat-matching techniques.

My objective was to visually represent the fundamental beats within tracks A and B. Employing the music production software Reaper, I meticulously isolated each instrument.

I fashioned a musical “loop” using a concise snippet of the instrument in the track, precisely 0:00:00.010 seconds in duration.

I aimed a laser beam at a mirror attached to a sub-bass speaker. The resulting play of light danced onto a material screen, and I captured that fleeting moment through the lens of my camera.

In these visual patterns, I perceive the presence of harmonics – a language spoken by the music. These patterns act as a direct representation of the audio within the beat, akin to icons of sound.

In my eyes, these elements conjure a unique alphabet, featuring logograms reminiscent of Chinese characters and syllabic kana. Each element encapsulates a distinct moment within the entirety of the composition.

Green, S. P. (2023) DSCF7949 Laser Projection Track A 130 BPM KICK16 Start: 0:00.000 End: 0:00.010 Duration: 0:00.010 60 dB 80 mm 1/30 sec f1.7 ISO 50. [Photograph]
Green, S. P. (2023) DSCF8012 Laser Projection Track A 130 BPM RIM22 Start: 0:00.000 End: 0:00.000 Duration: 0:00.010 60 dB 80 mm 1/30 sec f1.7 ISO 50. [Photograph]
Green, S. P. (2023) DSCF8018 Laser Projection Track A 130 BPM jungle4closedhh Start: 0:00.230 End: 0:00.240 Duration: 0:00.010 60 dB 80 mm 1/30 sec f1.7 ISO 50. [Photograph]
Green, S. P. (2023) DSCF8059 Laser Projection Track A 130 BPM 000_01 Start: 0:00.000 End: 0:00.000 Duration: 0:00.010 60 dB 80 mm 1/30 sec f1.7 ISO 50. [Photograph]
Green, S. P. (2023) DSCF8059 Laser Projection Track A 130 BPM HC50 Start: 0:00.000 End: 0:00.000 Duration: 0:00.010 60 dB 80 mm 1/30 sec f1.7 ISO 50. [Photograph]
Green, S. P. (2023) DSCF8059 Laser Projection Track B 135 BPM 000_BD Start: 0:00.000 End: 0:00.010 Duration: 0:00.010 60 dB 80 mm 1/30 sec f1.7 ISO 50. [Photograph]
Green, S. P. (2023) DSCF8059 Laser Projection Track B 135 BPM HANDCLPA Start: 0:00.444 End: 0:00.450 Duration: 0:00.010 60 dB 80 mm 1/30 sec f1.7 ISO 50. [Photograph]
Green, S. P. (2023) DSCF8059 Laser Projection Track B 135 BPM OH00 Start: 0:00.221 End: 0:00.231 Duration: 0:00.010 60 dB 80 mm 1/30 sec f1.7 ISO 50. [Photograph]
Green, S. P. (2023) DSCF8059 Laser Projection Track B 135 BPM 18088_daven_13-sb-bass-hit-c Start: 0:00.000 End: 0:00.000 Duration: 0:00.010 60 dB 80 mm 1/30 sec f1.7 ISO 50. [Photograph]
Green, S. P. (2023) DSCF8059 Laser Projection Track B 135 BPM HC00 Start: 0:00.000 End: 0:00.000 Duration: 0:00.010 60 dB 80 mm 1/30 sec f1.7 ISO 50. [Photograph]

A mirror ball stands as an iconic symbol, gracefully suspended above the dance floor. Over time, it has evolved into a historical and traditional element within any club environment.

Recognising the significance of this tradition, I felt compelled to incorporate a mirror ball into our project.

Initially I considered a conventional round mirror ball, then a more intriguing idea struck me – I could create a feature mirror ball that harmonises with our research.

Inspired by the essence of our DJ beat matching project, I enhanced the meaning of the mirror ball by incorporating elements representing both the music and visual components. 

Reflecting on universally recognisable icons, I made a camera and a loudspeaker.

Green, S. P. (2023) DSCF8503 Camera Mirror Ball 80 mm 1/20 sec f10 ISO 1600. [Photograph]