A radio play interpretation of Dan O'Brien's

The War Reporter Paul Watson and Ghosts of the Hindu Kush

Tim O'Brien

This is an interpretation of Dan O'Brien's poem The War Reporter Paul Watson and Ghosts of the Hindu Kush, part of a forthcoming collection of poetry by Dan O'Brien entitled The War Reporter. More info at danobrien.org. Many audio samples were added, and the final product was mixed from four-channel audio to a binaural stereo file as per the guidelines of CCRMA Music 220A homework 2.

The Audio

download final binaural .wav file download four channel .zip file

Chuck Files

I used the 4-channel binaural simulator, Binaural4.ck, provided by the class. I also created binauralTim.ck to read my four mono .wav files into the binaural simulation. Finally, I recorded the output with the provided StereoRecorder.ck. Note that the bulk of effects processing, arrangement, and 4-channel mixdown was done in Audacity.

Audio Samples

In addition to a recording of my own voice reading the poem (which was then pitch-shifted downward by 2 semitones), I use various sound samples culled from freesound.org. These are:

Water leak

Rushing stream

Gasp

Call to prayer from the Prophet's mosque

Wind blowing

Voice shouting stop

Wooden chair scoots

AK-47 shots

Russian speech

Russian speech (2)