An article I thought would be of interest, especially to Bens of the Green variety.
http://www.factmag.com/2017/02/16/justin-walter-breath-powered-synth-unseen-forces-kranky/

Group Blog #2

The idea I will be delving into is the use of electric trumpet with a groove based interaction. Specifically I will be talking about variations of the electric trumpet.

1. The first possibility is that we use electronic trumpet synonymously with the groove based production and just simply pick up the trumpet. The interaction between the producer and instrumentalist is improvised and organic, all humanly made etc.

2. The second possibility is using the electronic trumpet and the groove based production but adding in effects/pedals for the electronic trumpet sound, creating another dynamic to the improvised piece. The effects could either be done with pedals or with a digital sound processing program.

3. The third possibility is again utilizing electric trumpet and a groove based production but adding in an AI component into the mix, letting a computer (randomizer etc) choose what effects are being applied to the trumpet sound as well as the groove based track. This will bring another form of improvisation to the performance on top of a human organic one.

Group Blog 2

The idea that is going to be fleshed out is the electrified hammered dulcimer combined with cinematic drums and triggers, with both instruments controlling some lighting and imagery. Three different variations are:

1) Putting contact mics within quadrants inside the hammered dulcimer, using these to effect certain images and/or lighting, while the drums would trigger different and contrasting images/lighting.

2) Having no live audio controlled visuals but rather predetermined ones that me and mark could react to live, or just play along with.

3) Use projection mapping to split the room up into distinct separate areas to represent each instrument, and having a sort of battle or call and response between me and mark that is represented aurally as well as visually, with an arc in intensity and climax.

Collaboration 1 ideas

Our first idea is to use the hammered dulcimer and synth (Mark) along with some heavy drumming and possibly stark visual effects, possibly a silhouette for example (Ben) to create a very cinematic hi-tech meets world music piece. Our second idea is to combine visual motion tracking (gesture recognition, perhaps) or picking up from sensors attached to strings to allow hammered dulcimer performance itself (Mark) to control other effects (Ben). Finally, Ben is interested in projection mapping to map musical control onto a physical surface. Mark could assist in performing this technology and/or interspersed with augmented, programmatically controlled piano.

Idea/Concepts

My first Idea for this class is a Groove based project utilizing some sort of electronic music along with an amplified trumpet. This Trumpet amplification will be done in the style of Miles Davis. the amplified trumpet will then be amplified with effects.

My Second Idea for this class is utilizing the electronic trumpet alongside motion tracking to creat some sort of digital response program that can control what happens to the amplified trumpet sound with the movement of the body.

My third idea is to be able to motion track or use some other method of sensor to track a ping pong ball as 2 people play pingpong. Then, divide up the field into sections that create different pitches in response to the signal reaction and then perform on this new instrument.