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Prix2008
Prix 1987 - 2007

 
 
Organiser:
Ars Electronica Linz & ORF Oberösterreich
 


HONORARY MENTION
Magnetic Flights
Christina Kubisch


Magnetic Flights is entirely composed of electromagnetic field recordings, made at international airports and inside airplanes. All recordings were made with the help of special sensitive wireless headphones, which detected aboveground and underground electromagnetic fields and made them audible. The transmission takes place via electromagnetic induction coils that respond to the electromagnetic waves and fields in our environment.

The piece starts with an electromagnetic sound recorded just before departure and continues with the material of flight radiation recorded inside various airplanes. These electromagnetic fields change pitch slightly during departure and arrival, but remain quite constant during the flight itself. The relatively high and compact sounds gradually build up a dense layer of vibrations with continuous minimal variations.

In the second part, some of the previous flight radiation recordings are gradually filtered. The individual signals merge into a mix of small, short, nervous and very rhythmic signals. Their origin might be radio waves, communication signals with the tower, internet data transfer or atmospheric disturbances, but these are only guesses.

The third part is a mix of electromagnetic "wind" sounds (originating from large neon advertisements) mixed with various other signals in the security areas of airports and the deep vibrations of the monitor screens, which slowly fade in and out.

The piece ends with the electrical flickering of an electromagnetic field of unknown origin.

Produced and mixed at the Electronic Music Studio of the Technical University Berlin. Mix: Christina Kubisch
Audio engineering / final mastering: Eckehard Güther