Soundscape

The soundscape is the component of the acoustic environment that can be perceived by humans. There is a varied history of the use of soundscape depending on discipline - ranging from urban design to wildlife ecology. An important distinction is to separate soundscape from the broader term acoustic environment. The acoustic environment is the combination of all the acoustic resources within a given area - natural sounds and human-caused sounds – as modified by the environment. The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) standardized these definitions in 2014.(ISO 12913-1:2014)

Historical Context

The term soundscape was coined by Canadian composer and environmentalist, R. Murray Schafer. According to this author there are three main elements of the soundscape:

A soundscape is a sound or combination of sounds that forms or arises from an immersive environment. The study of soundscape is the subject of acoustic ecology. The idea of soundscape refers to both the natural acoustic environment, consisting of natural sounds, including animal vocalizations and, for instance, the sounds of weather and other natural elements; and environmental sounds created by humans, through musical composition, sound design, and other ordinary human activities including conversation, work, and sounds of mechanical origin resulting from use of industrial technology. Crucially, the term soundscape also includes the listener's perception of sounds heard as an environment: “how that environment is understood by those living within it” and therefore mediates their relations. The disruption of these acoustic environments results in noise pollution.

Soundscape (New Zealand festival)

Soundscape is a music festival held in Hamilton, New Zealand, held during Orientation week of University of Waikato. A section of Alexandra Street is closed off, with seven stages in the surrounding nightclubs and on the street. Although the event has predominantly featured electronic dance music, the 2011 festivals have featured live rock, reggae and hip hop.

The first Soundscape featured three stages of electronic music: Club Classics, Dirty Electric and Destructive Dub. The July 2010 festival expanded to five stages across four Hamilton central city nightclubs. The March 2011 Soundscape was the first to feature live music and international acts, which over 4000 people attended.

In March 2012 the event increased in size, yet again, and sold out at 5,500. It featured acts including Kora, AC Slater, Carl Nicholson, Redial, Distrakt and more. In July, Greg Stack and James Lawless launched a sister event called Homestyle - which follows a similar design, albeit smaller.

Pulse (Pink Floyd album)

Pulse (stylised as p·u·l·s·e) is a live double album by the English progressive rock band Pink Floyd, released through EMI Records on 29 May 1995 in the United Kingdom and by Columbia Records on 6 June 1995 in the United States.

The album was recorded during the band's Division Bell Tour in 1994, specifically the UK and European leg, which ran from July to October 1994 (See Pink Floyd live performances).

Content and recording

The album includes a complete live version of The Dark Side of the Moon and features a booklet with many photos from performances on this tour. It also features "Astronomy Domine", a Syd Barrett song not performed since the early 1970s.

Unlike Delicate Sound of Thunder, David Gilmour and producer James Guthrie have stated that no parts of the songs were re-recorded in the studio (James Guthrie confirmed this in an interview with Pink Floyd fanzine Brain Damage). However, the band and Guthrie fixed songs that had bad notes (as heard on some bootlegs) by lifting solos and corrected vocal lines from other performances as the band recorded most of the European leg. The CD says it was mixed in "Q Sound" which produces a 3D audio effect even on a two channel stereo system.