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A Digital Recording Consciousness: Analysing, Mixing and Evaluating Audio in the Mashup Community

Research output: Contribution to Journal/MagazineJournal articlepeer-review

Published
<mark>Journal publication date</mark>1/06/2016
<mark>Journal</mark>IASPM@Journal
Issue number2
Volume6
Number of pages15
Pages (from-to)139-153
Publication StatusPublished
<mark>Original language</mark>English

Abstract

This article investigates a specific musical sensibility that plays a role within the mashup community and makes it possible for participants to re-use and recombine recorded songs in new and imaginative ways. Inspired by the work of H. Stith Bennett, I call this sensibility a “digital recording consciousness”. In order to be able to participate in the community, mashup enthusiasts need to develop an in-depth understanding of digital audio files and interrelated software programs. By tinkering with existing tracks and by commenting on each other’s work, mashup enthusiasts strive to collectively explore and develop such technical knowhow further. Based on a (virtual) ethnographic investigation of mashup community Mashstix.com, this article investigates these communal processes in detail. Instead of highlighting topics such as piracy and theft, it develops a focus on community interactions, competences and skills. These aspects play a key role in the values and meanings assigned by mashup enthusiasts to their practice.