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Looper's Delight
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Tomorrow I get the opportunity to demonstrate electro-acoustic
music, random computer effect processing and looping in an interactive
way, right in front of the Boise City Hall and hundreds of people milling
around. I just found out yesterday, so I have been madly creating a alt version
of my max rig and preparing my materials. I will have four instruments on a
table, all running into my computer system, which randomly effects the input,
loops, etc: Vocal mic, the Joe Rut Machine, Madagascar bamboo harp, and Tongue
Drum.
People will be able to walk up, play with the instruments, and
experience or interact with the randomly generated output. They can put
headphones on or listen to the output through the PA. I am creating my
documentation right now, which will accompany each instrument. Below is the
handout and instructions for one instrument. I also have a handout that defines
improvisational music, avant-gard, electro-acoustic, and experimental.
Thanks to all of you for the ideas! Kris An
interactive electro-acoustic demonstration
Background This demonstration allows you to
experience the fundamental principles behind electro-acoustic music. The main characteristic of most
electro-acoustic music is that a performer plays an acoustic instrument and
processes or manipulates the sound of the instrument with the computer and a
software program. In some contexts,
the processed output of the acoustic instrument is accompanied or mixed with the
original sound source; on other contexts, the original acoustic sound source is
replaced completely by the processed output. This demonstration features four
acoustic instruments as original sound sources: The tongue Drum, your voice, the Madagascar Harp, and a newly invented
instrument, the “Joe Rut
Machine.” The sounds of
these four instruments are routed into a laptop computer, which is running
Cycling ‘74’s software program, MAX/MSP. The software program is
running a custom “patch” that randomly chooses various effects and sound
manipulators, randomly alters the parameters of those effects, and randomly
samples and plays back the final output in real time. In essence, your spontaneous input is
accompanied by the spontaneous input of the computer, resulting in hybrid
human-machine performance. Instructions – 1.
Pluck or
strum the strings of the harp with your fingers 2.
Listen to
how the computer alters the sound of the drum 3.
If
possible, try to react to what the computer does, complementing or accompanying
the processed output
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