TY - JOUR

T1 - A Digital Recording Consciousness

T2 - Analysing, Mixing and Evaluating Audio in the Mashup Community

AU - Michielse, Maarten

PY - 2016/6/1

Y1 - 2016/6/1

N2 - 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.

AB - 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.

KW - Mashup Practices

KW - Recording Consciousness

KW - Digital Technology

KW - Skills

KW - Learning

U2 - 10.5429/2079-3871(2016)v6i2.8en

DO - 10.5429/2079-3871(2016)v6i2.8en

M3 - Journal article

VL - 6

SP - 139

EP - 153

JO - IASPM@Journal

JF - IASPM@Journal

SN - 2079-3871

IS - 2

ER -