SØUND

The Mixer Is a Collective Device

At the heart of the camp is the sound ship, which we can all board together to ride the wild waves of collective sound making.

Each night, we set sail again and dedicate ourselves to the unexpected character of improvisation and real-time composition. There are many different ways to approach improvisation, and we actively encourage a wide range of techniques, concepts, and playful structures. In the past, we have explored formats such as conducting, live scoring to film or visuals, working with shared topics, associations or emotions, genre-based prompts, passing sounds between performers, call and response, tuning circles, and many more.

We will share a few concepts each night, but contributions and new proposals are always welcome. If you have experience or simply an ideas you want to try, bring it with you! we are looking forward to your suggestions.

For the sessions, all media and materials are invited: text, voice, synths, bodies, dance, movement, objects, sculpture, materials, lasers, light, code, scent, taste, thought and beyond.

During Montage Camp, there is no strict time limit for sessions. We have a whole week to enter extended, trippy improvisation zones together. Of course, we still need to take care of a fair distribution of time between all participants. We recommend trying out different durations: What can happen in one minute? What’s the difference to thirty?

This year, with a stronger focus on performance, we also want to encourage dramaturgical, choreographic, or narrative formats. The evening sessions can therefore also become a space for rehearsals, pre-presentations, feedback, outside eyes, and testing unfinished ideas in front of others.

The sound system can also be used during the day in research phases. There will be fixed times when technical support is available on site to help with setup and sound checks. Outside of these times, the main hall will mostly remain open for working on projects, preferably with headphones. Occasionally, but rather rarely, workshops or lectures will also take place there.

Technical Details

A 6-channel sound system, several patchbays, submixers, and a central digital mixer allow us to connect individual, solo, and group setups in many different constellations.

We provide basic equipment such as cables, adapters, tables, and submixers. Assistance with setup, wiring, and sound checks will be available throughout the week. If you have multiple outputs, we recommend bringing your own mixer. For specific cables or adapters, please make sure to bring them yourself. Synchronization via MIDI or CV clock is possible, and the basic infrastructure will be provided.

Most sessions will be recorded, but sometimes things go wrong: the recording was not started or something was not patched correctly and so on. The amount of data is huge, and we do not always have the capacity to prepare and share everything afterwards. If it is important for you to document your sound or research session, we recommend bringing your own recording or documentation equipment.