Category Archives: Journal Entry

Sound Journal #2 Laundry Night
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1. 2/6/2014, 8:00 PM, Vander Poel Hall laundry room

2. Identify the sounds farthest from you: The medium sound of all of the machines does a pretty good job droning out distant sounds, but I can definitely hear the two squeaky doors opening and closing now that the girl who was in here with me is leaving.  The heavy thud of the door to the laundry room has a secure weight to it.  Before each door, I can hear the girl’s slippers shuffling along.

3. Identify the sounds at medium range: The combination of the 6 washers and 6 dryers ALL working at the same time creates a chorus sounding like a small factory.  The washers have more of a spinning and shaking sound, and the two rows of stacked dryers all tremble together.  They would probably shake more wildly if they stood alone, but on top of and next to one another, they are more contained.  I can hear that they are all working together to make the room VERY warm.  On days when I am not doing a sound journal, I try to be in and out of this room because it is loud and hot, although I have attempted to read in here and definitely taken a phone call or two in the past.  In the one of the dryers further from where I’m standing, I can hear a button or zipper consistently scratching the inside of one of the machines.

4. Identify the sounds closest to you: Even with all the noise, I can hear my feet on the floor as I transfer my weight from one foot to the other and change how I am standing.  Like my laundry comrade who has left for now, I am wearing my “in the dorm” Ugg boots; they are very old and have a distinct shuffling sound to them.  If I really try I can hear myself breathing, but I have to intensify my breath to do so.  I can certainly hear myself crack my knuckles.  The sound doesn’t get swallowed up by the medium range, but rather stands out because it is so different in comparison.

5. General sound level and activity:  This room is expectedly loud.  It isn’t painfully noisy or particularly annoying, but it has a general loudness to it.  The sound of all the machines working together is like an unorganized round of some tune they all have learned the exact same way.  The air circulation seems to mimic the general sound level, and the heat and general sound seem to go hand-in-hand.

6. One word to describe the sound environment: operational

7. 3 essential sounds to the sound environment: 

-The shaking and spinning of the washers

-The tremble of the stacks of dryers

-The squeaky doors opening and closing

Sound Journal #2
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1- DATE-TIME-LOCATION of the sound environment
Thursday, February 6th, 2014 5:31P EST Nassau Room 602C Hempstead, NY

2- Identify and list the sounds farthest away from you.
• Multitudes of cars of varying makes, models, and states of mechanical wellness passing on Front St
• Occasional gust of wind against tree branches
• the shrill chirp of an alarm near the ROTC barracks

3- Identify and list the sounds at a medium range from you.
• Hollow-sounding footsteps coming from the hallway
• Suitemate and his impressive surround-sound entertainment system, watching a nondescript movie
• Wind whining against the brick exterior of the building

4- Identify and list the sounds closest to you (You can include internal sounds if noticed or relevant).
• A color-changing light in the shape of a cactus cycling thru its color scheme
• Soft hum of Christmas lights
• Laptop Whirr
• Finger strokes against a keyboard

5- Describe the general sound level and amount of sound activity.
The atmosphere is calm. The general amount of sound activity is low, yet strikes a fine balance between thought-provoking and insignificant.

6- Assign a one word description to the “sound environment”.
Sharp

7- Select and list 3 sounds which are essential to the sound environment.
• Cactus Light
• ROTC Alert
• Trees rattling in the breeze

Sound Journal #2
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1- DATE-TIME-LOCATION of the sound environment
>Friday, February 7th
>2:30 A.M.
>Study Lounge, 6th floor of Nassau Residence Building

2- Identify and list the sounds farthest away from you.
>Michael Jackson’s Smooth Criminal playing all the way down the hall.
>A first responder’s siren lightly pulsing a few blocks aWay.
>Footsteps approaching from down the hall.
>Trash being thrown away down the hall. It contain glass. I hope they recycle.

3- Identify and list the sounds at a medium range from you.
>The couple making out in the room next to me.
>A very bass-filled male voice vibrating the wall.
>A t.v. playing in the room next to me.

4- Identify and list the sounds closest to you (You can include internal sounds if noticed or relevant).
>The heating unit that clanks and chinks every 23 seconds.
>The buzz of the light that seems to overpower everything.
>The cracking of my big toe.
>The sound of the couple hitting against the wall behind me as they make out.

5- Describe the general sound level and amount of sound activity.
>Sound level is at a filling dull roar.
>Sound activity can best be described as casual and lightly paced.

6- Assign a one word description to the “sound environment”.
>Alive

7- Select and list 3 sounds which are essential to the sound environment.
>The heating unit.
>The couple hitting against the wall
>The muffled television.

Sound Journal #2
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1. 2/6/14, 10:43, Hammer Lab

2. Identify sounds farthest from you.

  • The sounds of mouse clicks and keyboard pressing from the computer lab side of the room
  • Varied whispers and conversations from the next room over
  • Footsteps against the floor as someone with a heavy step changes tables

3. Identify sounds at medium range.

  • A conversation about shoes held by the girls three tables over
  • The sound of the PridePrinter pushing out new pages
  • Someone’s keys dangling as they swipe into the lab

4. Identify sounds closet to you.

  • The sound of my friend turning the pages of her Shakespeare play
  • The vibration of her phone as she receives a notification
  • The crunch of a snack bar as the person next to me enjoys their snack
  • The clicking of my fingers against my MacBook keyboard

5. One word to describe the “sound environment”: Hardworking

7. Sounds essential to the environment.

  • The keyboard clicks
  • the turning pages
  • the PridePrinter whirring

Sound Journal #2
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1. 2/4/14 10:23 pm Walking from Nassau/Suffolk to Colonial Square

2. Identify sounds farthest from you.

  • Traffic from the road behind me
  • Muffled voices and slamming car doors

3. Identify sounds at medium range.

  • People climbing the snow banks at the side the HofUSA parking lot.
  • Shouts of “I made it up!” and “I’m not wearing shoes! No regrets!”

4. Identify sounds closet to you.

  • The sounds of crushed ice and salt beneath my feet.

5. One word to describe the “sound environment”: Alive

7. Sounds essential to the environment.

  • People yelling with excitement.
  • The sound of my footsteps through the ice and snow.

 

 

Sound Journal #2
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1.  2/6/14    Lowe 216  8:10 PM

2. Identify sounds farthest from you.

>Screeching students on their way to begin a Thirsty Thursday night.

>Someone pacing in the hallway

3. Identify sounds at a medium range.

>Abbie’s playlist over the studio’s speaker.

>Abbie humming and singing along.

> Noah erasing and adjusting his paper

>Phil tapping on his desk.

4. Identify sounds closest to you.

>My keyboard clicking as I type.

>My hiccuping.

5. This room is relatively quite. The loudest thing in the room is the music, which is not very loud. I would say that the room is calm and conducive to work. It is relaxing, easy to think, and happy.

6. Friendly.

7. Sounds essential to the environment.

>Music over the speakers

>Abbie’s humming

>Phil tapping

Sound Journal #2
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1 – 2/6/14 – 5:10pm – Costco, Nesconset

2 – Identify and list the sounds farthest away from you.
-A piece, that sounds like it’s in a Major key, being played loudly on one of the demo baby grand pianos.
-A Costco worker’s voice as she describes “Brownie Brittle” to customers.
-Customers talking back and forth.

3 – Identify and list the sounds at a medium range from you.
-Multiple cart wheels rolling on the concrete floor.
-Someone opening a refrigerator door and closing it suddenly.
-A customer picking up a cereal box.

4 – Identify and list the sounds closest to you.
-The constant humming of the refrigerators.
-A fellow shopper saying “Oh, I’m sorry,” as he brushed past me.
-A Costco employee operating a beeping, motorized hand cart in order to move pallets and stock items.

5 – Describe the general sound level and amount of sound activity.
-It wasn’t as busy as it normally is at Costco, probably because I was there in the early evening. Both the sound level and sound activity were tolerable this time around. It was easy to have a conversation with the person next to you without having to shout or ask them to repeat themselves.

6 – Assign a one word description to the “sound environment”.
Tame.

7 – Select and list 3 sounds which are essential to the sound environment.
-The Costco employee asking customers to sample the food.
-The refrigerators’ humming.
-The operation of the motorized hand cart.

Sound Journal #2
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1- February 6, 2014, 6:00PM, Enterprise 6th Floor

2- Identify and list the sounds farthest away from you.

Furthest away from me, I can hear the Green Day Music my residents are playing in their room down the hall. I can hear them walking around talking really loudly about their plans for the evening and how their days went so far. Their voices become louder and softer as they pass by my door.

3- Identify and list the sounds at a medium range from you.

At medium range from me, I can hear the two boys talking right outside my door about their rugby team and how excited they are for the season. They’re telling each other how they think their team is better this semester and that it should be really exciting.
4- Identify and list the sounds closest to you (You can include internal sounds if noticed or relevant).

Closest to me, I hear the sounds of Law and Order: SVU on my tv as I’m laying in my bed trying to breathe. I hear the sound of my sniffles and coughs and I blame the residents for getting me sick.
5- Describe the general sound level and amount of sound activity.

It’s always really rowdy on my floor, but in the most inclusive way possible. My residents have an “open door” policy among them, since they’re all friends, which means something is always going on. It keeps things interesting.
6- Assign a one word description to the “sound environment”.

Exciting
7- Select and list 3 sounds which are essential to the sound environment. Note: you need to try and figure out what sounds make up this environment and which of those sounds need to be there for the feeling of the environment to stay intact.

The sound of the music coming from down the hall, the conversations being had right outside my door, and the sound of Law and Order: SVU on the tv are all essential to the sound environment.

Sound Journal #2
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1. 2/6/13, 1:10 pm, Netherlands

2. Music from the radio, turnstile rotating, register going, and doors opening and closing.

3. Television, conversations, people eating in nearby booths

4. Myself eating, my friend eating, the sounds of bags crunching.

5. There is a medium level background noise. All sounds are constant and the levels are constant.

6. Lunch

7. Eating, register, and music.

Journal 1: “Do you understand decaf?” Wednesday, at Starbucks
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1. 1/29/2014, 7:30 PM, Starbucks on Hempstead Turnpike

2. Identify the sounds farthest from you:  Sitting by the window, I can hear the muffled sounds of the turnpike, as cars (some with reckless drivers going above speed limit) race past the ice-cold glass.  I can also hear the sounds of the parking lot: patrons getting in and out of their cars and walking towards the doors of the store.  The people sitting on the other side of the shop are talking, but the sounds at medium range mask them enough so that I can still hear that people are exchanging words, without understanding their conversation.  I would definitely be able to tell if the baristas, Doug and I were the only people present.

3. Identify the sounds at medium range: The lovely tunes of the Starbucks playlist seems overly prominent, while I focus on listening to my environment in this familiar coffee shop.  The fun and very flamboyant Chinese barista is having an animated conversation with the Spanish barista (who is in an unusually giddy mood).  He sassily asks her, “Do you understand DECAF???” They then continue pronouncing types of coffee in silly, over-exagerated accents.  I enjoy hearing them laugh, and the sense that their shifts are almost over makes me happy for them.  Of course, I can hear the water running in the sink behind the counter, and the baristas cleaning up, while there are no customers ordering.

4. Identify the sounds closest to you: Doug looking up from his homework and asking me “Why?” when he sees me sitting still, with my eyes closed and voice memo recorder on.  Luckily, he assumes it’s homework, and I can continue listening to his squeaky mechanical pencil and surprisingly loud page turns.  I can hear myself swallow down my soy vanilla latte.  I hear the increasingly hollowing sound of my cup as I place it back on the table.  I adjust my hair, and hear the sound of my fingers on my skin above my ear.

5. General sound level and activity:  With my eyes closed, it sounds like Starbucks is exceptionally loud this Wednesday.  There aren’t even many people around me, but the combination of a few conversations in a setting comfortable for the speakers, playful baristas, the tunes, the bustle of the Starbucks kitchen area, my internal sounds and the turnpike outside combine for a general sound environment that doesn’t come across as the best one to focus in.  Part of the reason why I like doing work here so much is that there is some environmental aural business.  There’s company, even when you are working alone.

6. One word to describe the sound environment: Unapologetic 

7. 3 essential sounds to the sound environment: 

– The sounds of the appliances and utensils behind the counter.

– The exaggerated conversation between the baristas.

– The Starbucks music filling the store.