An end-pin controller for the double bass developed at STEIM Research Residency, Amsterdam. Hardware development, performance (duration 45 minutes) and paper
Date
2003-08-01
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Other
Peer reviewed
Abstract
Description
The research imperative was to develop a new diffusion ‘instrument’ that would enable a performer within the context of an ensemble to explore some of the possibilities of controlling and diffusing sound on a fixed medium from the double bass, and to interact with physically moving sound sources. The term ‘performance-controlled’ sound diffusion was adopted to define a method of sound diffusion whilst simultaneous performing on an instrument. The diffusion is performance-controlled in that the practice is linked to other instrumental performance practices. The research also explored alternatives to the mixing desk as an interface for sound diffusion. The end-pin controller contributed to the initiation of the OIK Project at STEIM: low cost input devices for laptop performance (http://www.steim.org/steim/oik.html). The research towards developing the hardware was innovative in that a relatively high resolution analogue to digital input device for a variety of sensors was produced by reconfiguring computer game controllers. This hardware approach has been used by other musicians, for example, Kristina Andersen for her 'Ensemble' project (http://ensemble.lockergirl.com), and has been instrumental in STEIM re-evaluating their analogue to MIDI interface the SensorLab.
In addition to the hardware, the research also culminated in a performance as part of the STEIM No Back-Up Concert Series, Frascati Theatre, Amsterdam, 2002. The conclusions of the research were also articulated in the paper “Performance-controlled Sound Diffusion” and presented at the conference Music and Gesture, University of East Anglia, August 2003.
The research received funding from the AHRB, Small Grants in Creative and Performing Arts, £4410, and by the Dutch Fonds voor de Amateurkunst en Podiumkunsten €8000.
Keywords
RAE 2008, UoA 67 Music