Bio

Hi, my name is Zsolt Krizsai. My interest in audio technology originates from my passion for electronic music. I was fascinated early on by the wide spectrum of synthesized and acoustic sounds used in some compositions; divergent from each other, yet complementing one another.

My main interest areas in audio include: sound engineering, synthesizer programming, sound design, composing and software design.

The main purpose of this blog is to serve as a portfolio. I will publish posts about my recent and any upcoming projects.

Please feel free to download my Showreel DVD in IMG image or ISO image format. It contains a soundtrack for video and a 4 minute version of an audio-only track. Although the DVD will play in stereo, I highly encourage you to listen to it on a 5.1 surround system if you can as the content was written and produced with solely the 5.1 arena in mind.

If you would like to contact me please click here or choose ‘Contact’ from the menu.

‘The Trespasser’ – A synthesizer connecting analogue sound with digital control

info coming soon..

Artificial Dreaming Experience – Interactive Installation

An interactive audio-visual installation which uses movement as well as less usual modulation sources – like human brainwaves – to create an “artificial dreaming” experience.
The installation was designed as an assignment for the Contemporary Audio Technology module at the University of West London (formerly known as Thames Valley University) and was displayed during Electric Music Week (2010) as well as the university’s Summer Showcase later that year.

Equipment used:
- laptop running Ableton Live & Max for Live (or Max/MSP/Jitter)
- camera
- green screen
- large LCD TV (or projector)
- audio amplifier + pair of speakers

Sources of the visual elements include both pre-recorded video and images generated in real-time. In some cases a significant amount of video feedback was utilised as well as some other graphic effects.

Data of sampled human brainwaves were used to create a visual representations of the waves, while the cumulated output of the brainwaves also serve as a source of modulation to control the colour changes of the visuals elements.
The movement of the spectator/performer is interpreted using color tracking and the installation practically acts as a MIDI controller. By “touching” the dots at the top of the screen (or projected image) the performer can play melodies on a synthesiser. The scale of the notes is adjusted to the key of the backing tracks (by Robert Henke) to avoid dissonance.
The game element of the installation is also strong: after the phase of discovery when the performer became accustomed to the “virtual reality”, he/she might experience the hidden tricks in the installation. These tricks try to emphasize the element of playing by either confusing the performer by mirroring the image and changing the directions of his/her movements, or by pulling him/her out of the virtual reality by “flashing” the real image of the person for half a second instead of showing the visuals inside his/her silhouette. (Unfortunately both tricks are much overused in the short video clip above and also lacking the effect of surprise/confusion.)

Special thanks to Jonathan Warner & Colin Steele for their help in obtaining brainwave samples.

Soundtrack and Sound Design for Video

As part of a university assignment produced a 5.1 surround soundtrack for an already existing video (a circa 4 minute excerpt from the Richard Linklater film ‘A Scanner Darkly‘).

Process included sound design (synth programming, re-sampling & layering sounds, automation of synth and effect parameters), sequencing/arranging, recording piano (in surround) and guitar tracks.

Special thanks to Dor Carmeli (keyboard) and Matt Hollinshead (guitar, piano) for their contribution!