computer interfaces

AES: Cycling ‘74 today demonstrated the recently released version 1.5 software for JazzMutant Lemur control surface. The update is available via download to all current Lemur customers. New software features in version 1.5 allow the Lemur to control many popular DAWs including Logic, Digital Performer, Live and Cubase.

JazzMutant Lemur is a hardware controller for new media applications featuring a proprietary multitouch LCD touchscreen. The Lemur uses OSC messages to communicate with a Windows or Mac host computer over 100-base T Ethernet.

Version 1.5 features an improved JazzEditor that provides more efficient design tools and improved routing of control data-MIDI and OSC-to media applications. Thanks to the Lemur’s extended MIDI control capabilities, audio software applications can update the user interface display while you are using the touch surface. This allows the Lemur to function as a flexible two-way control surface.

Symbolic Sound has announced that Kyma X.1is now shipping. Kyma X.1 delivers support for using a Wacom pen and tablet as a 3 dimensional control surface, 3 new kinds of oscillators, modules for turning presets into a 3 dimensional parameter subspace, plus other enhancements and improvements to the Kyma X sound design software.

Using a Wacom Tablet as a 3-D Sound Control Surface

Sound designers can use a Wacom pen and tablet to perform creature voices or match SFX to picture. Musicians can quickly and intuitively explore the parameter space of a patch or even perform the tablet as a new musical instrument.

“Our goal is for sound designers and musicians to be able to shape sounds with their own hands. The human hand is virtually a direct connection to the human brain,” said Symbolic Sound president Carla Scaletti. “Using your ear and your hand, you can explore and refine sound design patches with incredible speed.” Read more…

Out of MIT comes a composition and performance instrument for electronic music which tracks the positions of objects on a tabletop surface and converts their motion into music.

The Audiopad is being developed by a pair of MIT grad students, James Patten and Ben Recht. It is an application of earlier work they’ve done on new computer interfaces.

A video projector placed above a table is used to project the computer screen onto the table. The table is a custom table that has sensors built into it. These sensor track the placement of several “pucks”, which are colorful plastic disks. When the disks are moved, the sensors in the table relay the information to the computer, so the computer can track their placement.

They’ve developed a sampler/sequencer that can be controlled using the interface. The pucks control various aspects of the audio tracks that make up a piece of music. As pucks are moved, the projector displays graphics that give feedback on the performer’s movements.

“It’s more expressive than a laptop interface (for creating electronic music),” says Patten, 26. “It’s easier to improvise a more expressive style of play. Because it’s physical, there’s also a dynamic that engages the audience. They can actually see what the performer is doing.”

You can see a video of a performance and find out more about Audiopad at MIT’s site.