The Invisible College Audio Drift FAQs - MailChimp

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KILMAHEW AUDIO DRIFT FAQ's www.theinvisiblecollege.org.uk/AudioDrifts. What is Kilmahew Audio Drift No.1? It is a sound work, around 48 minutes long, ...
       

  KILMAHEW AUDIO DRIFT FAQ’s www.theinvisiblecollege.org.uk/AudioDrifts

What is Kilmahew Audio Drift No.1? It is a sound work, around 48 minutes long, designed to be listened to on a portable MP3 player, ideally whilst walking around the former Kilmahew estate. It is composed from: •

recordings of sounds at the site, and sounds which relate to it



recorded interviews with people who have a connection to Kilmahew, both past and present



recordings made during three research days at Kilmahew during 2012

How should I listen to it? We suggest you download it onto an MP3 player and listen to it on headphones whilst walking around Kilmahew. But of course you can listen to it wherever and however you like. It might work well if listened to whilst walking around other sites where there are woodlands and ruined buildings. We advise listening on headphones, because some of the spatial effects are designed specifically for that. We suggest you set the volume to a level where you can hear the sounds happening in the world outside, as well as the sounds from the headphones, so that they blend together.

 

What equipment will I need to listen to it? You will need a computer to download the file, an MP3 player with at least 90 megabytes of free space, and a set of headphones. We recommend using the best quality headphones you can get hold of.

How can I download the file? Click the download button on the audio drift page. The file is quite large, so it may take some time to download, especially if you are on a slow connection. Most web browsers have a download window to check the progress of the download. Try going to the ‘window’ menu and clicking on ‘downloads.’ Make sure the file has downloaded completely. Then connect your MP3 player to your computer and copy the audio drift file across to it. If you are having trouble, please email [email protected] Where is the former Kilmahew estate and how can I access it? Kilmahew is near to the village of Cardross, to the west of Glasgow. The estate is overgrown and muddy. Access requires walking. Because of the nature of the terrain, the site is unsuitable for people with mobility difficulties. By road, Cardross is on the A814, between Dumbarton and Helensburgh. There is a small space to park at the south entrance of the Kilmahew estate, on Carman Road. There is a train station at Cardross and regular trains from Edinburgh and Glasgow. The best way to get to Kilmahew from Cardross on foot is to walk up Barr’s road and then across the golf course road.

You can download a map of the site from the Locale page: www.theinvisiblecollege.org.uk/locale Is the site safe? Kilmahew contains various decaying structures, is fairly remote and has no facilities. Staying safe there requires some care and preparation. For your safety: •

We strongly recommend that you do not enter any of the buildings at Kilmahew. The seminary ruin has many physical hazards, and a survey has found dangerous levels of asbestos in and all around the seminary buildings. The castle has loose masonry that may fall, and the glasshouses in the walled garden contain rusting metal and glass. You may see other people exploring the ruins, but this does not mean that they are safe.



We recommend you wear strong walking boots or wellies, take waterproof clothing and take care when moving around the site. Bear in mind that there are no toilets or other facilities at the site. Bring anything you will need with you. Treat your visit as you would a walk in the countryside or on the hills.

Please be aware that you visit Kilmahew at your own risk. You must take full responsibility for your safety. Neither NVA, nor the University of Glasgow, nor any of the people involved with the Invisible College project will take any responsibility for injury or accident suffered at the site. I don’t have an MP3 player. Can I still listen to the audio drift? The researchers can send you a CD of the audio drift should you require it. Please email [email protected]

Who are the people featured in the drift? A mix of local residents from Cardross, Renton and other nearby areas, people who have lived, worked and played on the estate in the past and present (including two priests who trained at the seminary in the 1960s and 70s), academics, woodland managers, members of NVA and various other people who have visited the site during 2012 as part of the Invisible College project. It’s confusing to hear several voices at the same time. Why did you do this? Kilmahew is a messy and contested place. The seminary, for example, provokes lots of debate and differences of opinion, and includes elements from several time periods. The Invisible College project has therefore tried to allow for the co-existence of different ideas and perspectives, rather than imposing one version of events. The audio drift reflects this approach. Why ‘drift’? Initially we were planning to produce an ‘audio walk’, but audio walks usually have a set route which listeners then follow. Part of the attraction of Kilmahew is that the place invites exploration, with its looping overgrown paths, hidden nooks and crannies. So we wanted the audio piece to allow people to ‘drift’ around the site rather than sticking to a certain route. This has some loose similarities to situationist practice of the derive. Why ‘No.1’? There might be more audio drifts in future.

Where did the music in the ‘rave’ section come from? It is an excerpt from side B of ‘Equalised #005’, a 12 inch white label record released in 2011 and distributed by Hardwax. The producer behind it is widely believed to be Shed. Do I have to listen to the drift at Kilmahew? It was designed for that, but you can listen to it wherever you wish. My question isn’t answered here/I want more information. Please email [email protected]