Audiovisual Studio Workshop

Audiovisual Studio Workshop

Course content #

Audiovisual Studio workshop is a studio course that explores real-time video art, generative art and audiovisual performances through hands-on experimentation, lectures and screenings.

The content includes but is not limited to:

  • Experimental video art
  • Real-time video
  • Generative art
  • AI generated audiovisual art

The workshop introduces TouchDesigner as the main tool for experimenting with the topic, but students are able to use other tools as well. Students are expected and encouraged to develop their personal strengths and existing skills to find their own distinctive styles and workflows as audiovisual artists.

Learning outcomes #

On successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

  • Experiment with audio-reactive visuals and other real-time video processing techniques using TouchDesigner software
  • Apply generative AI tools in their real-time visual workflow
  • Outline and explain historical and contemporary examples of audiovisual art

Tools, tutorials and resources #

Archive materials #

Schedule: Autumn 2023 #

All classes are in room H003 at Väre.
This is a computer classroom in the G floor that is a little bit hidden. You can access it either through the Mechatronics workshop (G014) or the Laser Cutter/Plastics room (H001).

We also use the Screening Room H005 in the afternoons.

Monday | 16/10/2023 #

Detailed materials for Monday

  • 09.15–10:00 Introduction
  • 10:15–11:00 Timeline of AV Art #1
  • 11:15–12:00 Introduction to TouchDesigner
  • 12:00–13:00 Lunch
  • 13:00–15:00 Building a Chromatrope
  • 16:00–17:00 Screening

Tuesday | 17/10/2023 #

  • 09.15–10:00 Timeline of AV Art #2
  • 10:15–11:00 Audio Analysis
  • 11:15–12:00 Visualizing Sound #1
  • 12:00–13:00 Lunch
  • 13:00–15:00 Visualizing Sound #2
  • 16:00–17:00 Visit to the IglooVision 360° space at Aalto Studios (Otakaari 7)

Wednesday | 18/10/2023 (Calvin Guillot) #

  • 09.15–10:00 Introduction to AI Generators
  • 10:15–11:00 Models and Prompts
  • 11:15–12:00 Scripts #1
  • 12:00–13:00 Lunch
  • 13:00–15:00 Scripts #2 and Animation
  • 14:00–16:00 Touchdesigner and AI
  • 16:00–17:00 Screening

Thursday | 19/10/2023 #

  • 09.15–12:00 Project Work
  • 12:00–13:00 Lunch
  • 13:00–15:00 Project work
  • 16:00–17:00 Screening

Friday | 20/10/2023 #

  • 09.15–12:00 Project work
  • 12:00–13:00 Lunch
  • 13:00–14:00 Preparing the Screening (rendering, moving project files)
  • 14:00–17:00 Screenings of Workshop Results (O102 and F005)

Workload #

3 ECTS ≈ 80h

  • 35h contact teaching (including some independent experimentation)
  • 40h time for reflection and processing the lectures (not active work, happens mostly passively outside the class hours and even after the workshop)
  • 5h documenting your work and preparing the video recording of your project work, writing the documentation

Evaluation #

To successfully pass the course, the student needs to:

  • Have a minimum attendance of 80% in the workshop
  • Produce a short experimental AV work that is presented on the final day of the course (Friday 20/10/2023)
  • Provide a video recording and a short written documentation of their work during the workshop. (Deadline 03/11/2023)

Grading #

This course is evaluated with a grade between 0-5.

  • 5 Excellent
  • 4 Very good
  • 3 Good
  • 2 Satisfactory
  • 1 Passable
  • 0 Fail

Grading criteria #

  • Attendance 25%
  • Project work 50%
  • Project documentation 25%

Attendance (25%) #

  • You need to be present minimum 80% of the classes
  • Each missed class (without a valid reason such as illness etc.) will affect your attendance grade negatively.
  • Each time you arrive late in class will affect your attendance grade negatively.
  • Active participation and attitude in class will affect your attendance grade positively.
  • Helping others will affect your attendance grade positively

Project work (50%) #

  • Aesthetic quality of the work
  • Novelty and creativity of the concept
  • Command of the technology
  • Attention to detail

Project documentation (25%) #

  • Audiovisual quality and attention to detail in the documentation video
  • Detail level of the documentation
  • Use of sketches, images, videos
  • Ability to reflect on your learning process