Browsing by Author "Johnson BD"

Now showing 1 - 4 of 4
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    Assessment techniques for new mechatronic instruments as applied to speaker.motion
    Johnson BD; Kapur A
    The field of mechatronic instrument design has developed substantially over the past decade. With these new instruments the common musical assessment techniques that are generally applied to western art music are no longer sufficient as the instrument builders need to assess the design and production of the mechatronic instrument itself as well as the way it might be used musically and expressively by composers and performers. This paper introduces ideas about the new approach to the assessment of mechatronic instruments that is needed to fully assess them. After introducing the new assessment technique principals and discussing why a holistic approach is needed in this particular field the authors then go on the provide a case study on the speaker.motion mechatronic loudspeaker system that has been assessed in the proposed way. The paper provides details on both a qualitative and quantitative assessment of the speaker.motion system and how the combination of the two studies is what allows a full assessment of the instrument, and of its expressive potential.
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    Diffusing diffusion: A history of the technological advances in spatial performance
    (http://quod.lib.umich.edu/i/icmc/bbp2372.2014, ) Johnson BD; Norris M; Kapur A
    This paper assesses current trends in diffusion performance practice. It aims to identify the most important stages of development in diffusion and its related fields, and how historical events have continued to influence modern diffusion practice. The main focus is on advancements in spatialisation techniques and the way they helped catalyze new movements in diffusion. A split in two schools of thought within diffusion is recognized and each of these is discussed. The paper also looks at the way both stems of diffusion have more recently, embraced the design of custom interfaces focusing on the ways they aim to increase spatial expressivity in performance. Three main areas of diffusion interface design are discussed in depth and examples from each category are given.
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    speaker.motion: A mechatronic loudspeaker system for live spatialisation
    Johnson BD; Kapur A; Norris M
    This paper provides an overview of a new mechatronic loudspeaker system: speaker.motion. The system affords automated positioning of a loudspeaker in real-time in order to manipulate the spatial qualities of electronic music. The paper gives a technical overview of how the system’s hardware and software were developed and the design criteria and methodology. There is discussion of the unique features of the speaker.motion spatialisation system and the methods of user interaction, as well as a look at the creative possibilities that the loudspeakers afford. The creative affordances are explored through the case study of two new pieces written for the speaker.motion system. It is hoped that the speaker.motion system will afford composers and performers with a new range of spatial aesthetics to use in spatial performances, and encourage exploration of the acoustic properties of physical performance and installation spaces in electronic music.
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    tactile.motion: An iPad based performance interface for increased expressivity in diffusion performance
    (14/09/2014) Johnson BD; Norris M; Kapur A
    This paper presents recent developments in interface design for the diffusion performance paradigm. It introduces a new custom-built iPad application tactile.motion, designed as a performance interface for live sound diffusion. The paper focuses its discussion on the intuitive nature of the interface’s design, and the ways it aims to increase expressivity in spatial performance. The paper also introduces the use of autonomous behaviors as a way to encourage live control of a more dynamic spatial field. It is hoped that this interface will encourage new aesthetics in diffusion performance.