Johann Gatty’s Soundwalks

By Johann Gatty

Lobos Creek

Hello everybody, My name is Johann Gatty. I am orginally from the Bay Area, but taking this class helped me explore parts of the Bay Area that I had not previously explored. Additonally, taking this class taught me all of the different ways to listen to all of the different sounds around me because prior to taking this class I did not know how to listen to and record all of these different sounds. I recorded nine sound pieces throughout the course of the semester that are on this page for everybody to listen to.

Coyote Hills

I hope you enjoy listening to each and every one of my soundwalks as I put a lot of time and effort into making each and every one of my soundwalks. Walking along different creeks throughout the Bay Area while tuning into all of the sonic characteristics around me has revealed to me that if I slow down, pay attention, and listen to all of the sounds around me for me to hear regardless of where I go. In addition, this class has taught me how to slow down, pay attention, and listen to all of the sounds around me because there are lots of sounds for me to listen to regardless of where I go. For example, more affluent areas are peaceful and quiet because more neighborhoods are built away from busy streets and freeways where cars are constantly passing by.

Alameda Creek

But, less affluent areas are noisy and chaotic because more neighborhoods are built next to busy streets and freeways where traffic is constantly moving. In addition, less populated areas are more likely to have creeks and trees because people will do whatever it takes to preserve the environment so that the natural beauty in these areas can be enjoyed for future generations. But, more populated areas are more likely to have houses and roads because people would like to get from point A to point B without having to cross multiple creeks in certain places.

San Lorenzo Creek

These methodologies prove to me that other geographers and other researchers should slow down, pay attention, and listen to all of the sounds around them regardless of where they are. Over the course of the semester I have used my sound recorder by keeping most of my recordings the same length so that I do not have long sound recordings to listen to when I make my sound clips. Now, I use my sound recorder by limiting the number of recordings I make throughout the day so that I do not have to decide what sounds to keep and what sounds to get rid of in case I end up with two clips that sound similar right next to each other.

Wildcat Creek

But, over the course of semester I have edited my sonic works by going from making slow transitions while letting one sound slowly finish out and then letting the next sound slowly ramp up. Now, I edit my sonic works by cutting from the peak of one sound to the peak of the next sound because I want my sound pieces to flow from one sound to the next sound. I have gone from learning how to make slow transitions to learning how to make quick transitions by learning how to listen to when two sounds peak.

Pinole Creek

My guiding inspiration for me this semester has been to find faster ways to upload my sound clips onto my computer, make my sound clips, and then edit my sound clips into one sound piece so I can work more efficiently. My edited sonic works express every adventure that I went on in all of the places that I walked through over the course of the semester because in all of my sound pieces I take people on all of my adventures through every soundwalk that they listen to. In addition, through all of my soundwalks I intended to communicate my experience on all of my adventures by intentionally arranging all of my sound clips in all of my sound pieces in the order that I made all of my sound recordings.

Bushy Dell Creek

For example, all of my soundwalks communicate to everybody who will listen to all of my soundwalks that some places in the Bay Area have not been altered by urbanization while other places in the Bay Area have been heavily altered by urbanization. In addition, all of my soundwalks communicate to everybody who will listen to each of my soundwalks that I like when everything including my soundwalks are consistent and orderly. Now, I hope that everybody who will listen to all of my soundwalks will get to experience the adventures that I went on by listening to each of my soundwalks because all of my sound clips in all of my sound pieces are intentionally arranged in the order that I made all of my sound recordings.

Codornices Creek

This semester I went from not knowing how to record and edit my soundwalks to becoming a professional sound recorder and editor. I would like to thank my instructor Joel Wanek for teaching me how to record and edit all of my soundwalks this semester. Thank you to everybody who listened to all of my soundwalks. I hope you all enjoyed listening to all of my soundwalks as I put a lot of time and effort into making each and every one of my soundwalks this semester. 

Strawberry Creek

- Johann Gatty