14 Oct 04 / jazzmutant multi-touch control surface

It's called Lemur (not to be confused with LEMUR), and it looks pretty interesting.

There's a school of though in computer-based instrument design that says the controller should be flexible in order to match the flexibility of the software. Hardware tends to have a difficult time being flexible, which leads to controller like Lemur, which is "a handy and modular touchpanel based conroller designed for audio and multimedia real-time applications."

It's basically a 12" touchscreen (capable of detecting multiple contact points) in a nice silver case with a dedicated processor, graphics card, and ethernet port. You can configure the UI on your PC, then it'll send OSC control data over ethernet.

One can only wonder how much it'll cost...it's supposed to be available in the first quarter of 2005.

15 Apr 04 / game boy vs. basic stamp

Maybe my geeky side is taking over, but I think this is pretty freakin' cool. Programming basic stamps is all well and good, but using a Game Boy Advance...

Besides, who prefers PBASIC to C++?

25 Mar 04 / upcoming performances

Last semester, I created an interactive video performance system (using Max/MSP and Jitter) that responds to audio input for a jazz duo here in Pittsburgh. It started as my final project for Roger Dannenberg's computer music class here at Carnegie Mellon, but it has taken on a life of its own.

Here's the announcement: we'll be playing two gigs at the Distillery Jazz Festival in Toronto. I'll bring my tech toys, and Lee and Ravish will improvise up a storm.

Here are the dates:
Friday, May 28 - 11:00pm
Saturday, May 29 - 2:30pm

Lee Robinson - saxophone
Ravish Momin - drums
Jesse Kriss - interactive performance system creation

8 Jan 04 / cutting cables

While OTC's wireless display adapter can't handle full-motion video yet, this technology is clearly well on its way.

At first glance, wireless technology may seem like a mere improvement in convenience, it has the potential to fundamentally change our relationship with computers. Yes, it means one less cable on your desk, but it also adds a physical fluidity and ease that shapes the entire interaction.

Imagine a meeting where anyone with relevant information can immediately project it in front of the entire group. Or a pocket-sized computer that wirelessly connects to a nearby monitor, keyboard and mouse when it's within range. And those are just the immediate, simple ideas.

Wireless may just look convenient, but it's going to change the game entirely.

7 Jan 04 / more wireless fun

Wireless is the new black. Here's an interesting project:

CodeBLUE: A Bluetooth Interactive Dance Club System [pdf]

Also, feel free to leave comments...

6 Jan 04 / game controllers as instruments

I've been intrigued by game controllers for some time now. There's something very satisfying about hijacking them for musical purposes. As it turns out, there are a number of tools that make this fairly easy (like max/msp and junxion). Also, you can get a Playstation -> USB adapter, which will let you use any number of cool PS2 controllers.

After a bit of research, I ended up with the Logitech Cordless Wingman. It's a PC/Mac controller with 11 buttons, two analog joysticks, an 8-way D-pad, and a mini fader for throttle control. That's a ton of input possibilities, and my computer can be way over on the other side of the room.

This controller will be put to good use shortly...there'll be more updates as the projects develop.

24 Dec 03 / wireless midi

Here's a new product that has some interesting applications: a wireless midi system. This means as long as you have a way to power sensors and convert them to midi, you can lose that annoying tether cable.

Apparently, it's got impressively low latency -- about 2ms. The only problem is that it looks like you can only use one transmitter per receiver. Hm...

23 Dec 03 / city as instrument

I was looking at the papers presented at the last NIME conference, and I came across this one: the urban environment as a musical interface.

Even with all the new technology we've seen in recent years, the basic musician-instrument relationship really hasn't changed that much. Yet. The idea of an explorable evironment as a music controller is, I think, pretty neat. It starts to seriously break down the standard ideas of musician, audience, and performer.

For more on NIME '03, check out Eric Cook's recap.