Interactive Musical Devices

This week i have been looking at new and old interactive musical devices! one being the 'Personal Orchestra'. it enables the user to simulate conducting an orchestra with real video footage in front of you and audio being played back in real time. the user can change the speed of the piece, the dynamics, basically all the things you can do as a conductor in real life. this is done so by actually using real conducting gestures and movement which is monitored by sensors. the amazing thing about this is how the video footage corresponds with slowing down the music. it apparently works very smoothly.

check out http://www.garritan.com/GPO.html

A more recent project existing is the 'Toy Symphony Maestro.'

The Music Toys developed by Tod Machover and his team at the MIT Media Lab for Toy Symphony are very sophisticated instruments designed simply to be played by any person with the desire to make music, with the specific needs and capabilities of young people in mind. There is no skill prerequisite-only the willingness to participate. There are three principal instruments used in the work for general audiences, and a fourth instrument for a more sophisticated musician. Through the use of Music Toys, children and adults alike can shape and modify musical lines with expressive gesture and delicate touch (Beatbugs, Shapers); use special software to draw lines that turn into musical compositions (Hyperscore); and also learn about the Hyperviolin, the latest in a series of enhanced expert performance instruments devised by the team. Each toy has a very specific musical and pedagogical function.

http://www.media.mit.edu/hyperins/ToySymphony/press.html

Gibson's self tuning guitar

gibson in the near future will have self tuning guitars in the shops. it allows you to have customised tuning presets aswell as standard tuning. its essential purpose is for live performances, enabling the guitarist to not have to keep changing guitars for differently tuned songs.
this is a small step in the possibilities of advancing anolog instruments. this however caused a stir amongst musicians claiming that you should be good enough to tune it yourself.
it is stepping in the direction of making it easy for people to play instruments.

The Tenori-on

researched the 'tenori- on'.. a futuristic music making device covered in a grid of interactive lit buttons. 16x16 grid of buttons, midi out, sequencing, built-in sampling and motif sound capabilities with internal speakers.

did not like it! its not visually obvious to use, and looks too plastic like! its sequencr capabilities are also rather limited. i can picture its future as a hand held sequencer (gameboy like) being used by japenese kids on the bus to school. no more than a funky sound toy. available to you for a whooping £500.... i say go buy yourself a nice gibson guitar instead!

15/10/07 Over the past week!!

have been researching a broad range of everyday technologies to experimental new ideas. after going to the natural history musuem last weekend and looking at dinosaur bones got me thinking about bone mutation and the possibilities in the future..

have narrowed my research to the area of music, and instruments. what will they be like in a decades time. will analogue instruments such as violins, guitars still be around? computers are already becoming increasingly popular but will it just be computers generating musical sounds? will the use of analogue instruments become an underground movement and can only be played by a limited amount of people! an elitest underground movement!

must get my idea nailed in the next day or so and really crack on..
research musical software - teneri yamaha
- menome