Rocketboom Tech’s Ellie Rountree explains generative music and talks to laptop musician Luke Dubois about his work in this medium.

It’s not a very clear take on generative music, but it’s interesting to see this covered in (relatively) mainstream Internet media.

via ROCKETBOOM:

This episode was made in collaboration with Intel!

Generative Art
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Generati…

Luke DuBois
http://lukedubois.com

For more information on this episode visit: http://rocketboom.com/generative-art

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If you’ve been worrying about how you can incorporate more onanistic pantomime into your act, you may want to check out Eric Singer’s Sonic Banana.

The Sonic Banana may not quite as cool looking as a keytar, but the instrument is completely original, offers unique performance opportunities and could be the perfect excuse for the occasional single-entendre pickup line.

Click here to view the embedded video.

The Sonic Banana consists of four bend sensors in a row, running the length of a rubber tube, with a pushbutton switch at the end. Software in Max converts this data into musical functions, turning the Sonic Banana into a versatile performance instrument.

More info is available at Singer’s site.

John Keston demos a sound art performance application that he’s developing in Max/MSP. The control is handled with TouchOSC on the iPhone or iPod Touch.

In addition to Ableton’s announcements today about Ableton Live Intro and their giveaway of 10 free Live Packs to celebrate Live’s 10th anniversary, it announced the release date for Max For Live and the beta release.

Max for Live will be available on November 23rd, 2009. It will cost USD 299/EUR 249. If you already own Max 5, the discounted price is USD 99/EUR 79.

If you’re a Live 8 user already, you can join the Max For Live beta.

Max for Live, co-developed by Ableton and Cycling ‘74, puts the power and potential of Max/MSP inside Live. Max for Live is a tool kit for making new devices. You can build new devices from scratch, modify existing ones or simply use devices that others have made. Max for Live includes several ingenious example devices and plenty of tutorials to take you from using to tweaking, and then to building.

Key Features:

• Build your own audio effects, MIDI effects and instruments
• Use the API to control Live Sets, tracks, clips, devices, notes, loops, parameters etc.
• Extend your hardware’s feature set: provides objects to access any hardware controllers that are connected to Live
• Includes a specialized version of Max for creating and editing Max devices (Please note: does not run independently of Max for Live)
• Comes with a selection of MAX devices that are ready to use out of the box for audio and MIDI processing, algorithmic composition, real-time performance and hardware control
• Devices keep playing in Live while they are being edited in Max
• Flexible user interface design: the UI can look like Live or completely different
• Includes hundreds of built-in Max objects for logic, MIDI, scripting, audio and video processing
• Supports video synthesis and animation via “Jitter” objects
• Includes step-by-step tutorials for learning to program with Max for Live

This video captures Tristan Wurst’s first performance with his FTIR Multitouch controller.

This is a Lemur-like multi-touch device, with zoom, a 3D controller for sound application using Max/MSP/Jitter & Ableton live. All the Buttons, faders, Pots, Pads XY are 3D objects (.obj).

Music, Multitouch table & Program (patches) by Tristan Wurst.

This video captures a demo of Arvo Pärt style Max/MSP algorithmic composition.

via akihikotube

Just when you think it’s safe to buy that cool matrix sequencer MIDI controller monome thing you’ve been jonesin’ for, out pops the $399 Livid Block matrix sequencer MIDI controller monome thing.

Description:

The Livid Block is a compact programmable MIDI control surface designed for interactive audio performance. Built on the same bi-directional and adaptable platform as the Livid Ohm64, Block provides an interface for creating and interacting with sound in a small easy-to-transport body.

Sixty-four LED buttons provide visual feedback with the instrument by connecting it to Ableton Live, Max/MSP,  pen source sounds apps, or any other software that supports MIDI.

The open source blockEditor application lets you reprogram any of the controller’s sixty-four clip buttons, eight knobs, two faders, and seven function buttons. Block is hand crafted from lightweight wood and aluminum for easy portability.

Block has bi-directional talkback communication allowing the controller to talk to your software, and software to your device. MIDI messages can be sent to the Block to light up the buttons for an interactive performance. Completely programmable and mappable, Block provides a flexible control surface that be used with any software or setup. Completely USB powered means you don’t have to worry about adapters and and power strips, and it is plug and play so no drivers are required.

The Livid Block is expected to be available starting Nov 1st for $399.

More details and photos below!

Features:

• Portability – A compact and lightweight design lets you slip this controller into your backpack. Plug it into your computer’s USB, and you are powered to play.
• Design – Block is completely plug and play and USB powered. This means you don’t need drivers to use it and it works with a single USB cable.
• TalkBack – Reprogrammable buttons with LED talkback provides visual feedback by sending MIDI commands back to the controller.
• Software – A growing collection of open source sound applications and utilities provide a wide range of uses and endless customization.
• Home Grown – Handcrafted by artists in Austin, Texas.

Specs:

• 10.25″ x 10.25″ x 1.5″ (WLH) / weight 3 lbs. (26 cm x 26 cm x 3.8 cm, 1.36 kg)
• USB Powered
• Bi-Directional MIDI communication (talkback)
• Class-compliant: no drivers needed for Mac, Windows, or Linux.
• 64 Programmable backlight buttons for talk-back and interactive performance
• Programmable MIDI mapping allows you to change the MIDI settings on the hardware
• Anodized Aluminum Faceplate
• Open Source software tools to create your own LED talkback interaction
• Editor included for MIDI editing, and LED talkback programming
• Made in the USA
• Compatible with any software that supports MIDI learn
• ROHS compliant
• USB cable included

Graphic Score Max/MSP/Jitter

via akihikotube:

Graphic Score Max/MSP/Jitterhttp://homepage.mac.com/sinx_music/

MaxMSP Glitch

via Quadrange:

Unintentional Glitch Program i made when trying to make a graintable synth. i then elaborated on it and added a couple things to it to make some glitch action.

Experimentations In Plugins
Edward Loveall
Spring 2009

Presented are 3 plugins, a Downsampler/Bitcrusher (Downplay), an LFO based, modulation plugin (Modlove) and a granular delay buffer playback effect (DelayGrains). All plugins were created with Max/MSP 4.6.3 and the Pluggo API. The interfaces are custom designed and coded as well, using Max’s JSUI Objects and the OpenGL language.

Also the song “Net Neutrality” is an example showcasing the plugins abilities on live tracks. A video describing the plugins and delivering the song is included.

You can find the plugins and song here: edwardloveall.com/

Strange Music Instruments: The Concertinome is a custom made instrument combining the concertina accordion with the monome style keyboard and electronic air pressure sensors.

It was made by Espen Sommer Eide 2009 and demonstrated in this concert at Visningsrommet USF, Bergen, Norway.

via materialvision

Richard Devine’s “first little messy beat jam with the Monemur patch for the Lemur controlling MLR.”

Monemur is a Monome emulation for the JazzMutant Lemur.

This video documents Daito Manabe’s sound experiments with laser tracking of tangible images.

Note how the laser tracking and sound adapt to changes in the illustrations.

Daita Manabe previously documented his experiments with electrocuting his face to create a bizarre music video.

via daito:

Alvaro Cassinelli: concept, software and hardware development
Daito Manabe: sound concept and sound generatio
Kuribara Yusaku: latest software development including contour
tracking and interface
Stephane Perrin: participated in early development of the smart
laser scanner technology used for tracking.

This video documents Generative Music ProtoType, an “implementation of Brian Eno”, or at least a generative music sequencer, created in Max/MSP.

Part 2 below.

Click here to view the embedded video.

via kinksaiz

Here’s a little Sunday Synth Jam featuring some Native Instruments Reaktor and Maschine remix action.

via timexile:

A live mashup of this amazing 16bit tune using a patch I made in Reaktor using the Maschine controller from NI. FX on the pads and twisters, bar progress on the top 8 buttons, track section on the 8 buttons to the left of the pads.

Two clips from performances at Cal Arts demonstrate using the MLGI (Multi-Laser Gestural Interface) in musical performances.

via deadwaiter:

The first clip is of myself and Curtis Bahn, Professor of Computer Music Composition/Performance at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

Curtis is using his eSitar and laptop running Max/MSP. I am using the MLGI and laptop running ChucK and Reaktor.

The piece is an improvisation inspired by the recent tragedy that took place at the Taj Mahal in Bombay, India.

The second clip was taken from the MTIID Musical Robotics concert. I am using the MLGI again with ChucK and Reaktor, but also using it to control our newly designed musical robot, as well as Ajay Kapur’s MahaDeviBot (unfortunately off camera in the clip).

The MLGI is a multi-laser gestural controller built and designed by Meason Wiley at California Institute of the Arts.

The controller uses Dan Overholt’s CUI interface along with an array of photocells and laser modules to send out control data, which can be converted to OSC or MIDI using various programming platforms such as ChucK and Processing.

This video demonstrates the MLGI working with ChucK, which is sending OSC to a custom built live instrument created using Native Instruments Reaktor Software. The controller is still in it’s development stages, but will be featured at the NIME conference at Carnegie Melon in June.

More info here.

Tweet A Sound is a Mac desktop application that uses Twitter as a platform for sharing sonic tweets.

Pushing the idea of “social sound design”, Tweet A Sound allows you to design a sound and share it in a community of like-minded folks. It is an opportunity for fun interaction with sound.

Here is an introductory video showing you how to get started with Tweet A Sound.

If you give this try, leave a comment with your thoughts!

This video demonstrates a modular synthesizer sequencing video along with sound.

Details below.

via bubagoo:

modular synth + arduino micro controller + MAX/Jitter video player.All of the sound is coming from the modular synth. The analog sequencer is sending a varying voltage to the arduino which is communicating with the computer and tweaking a video player I made in Max.The video is a promo clip from a balloon enthusiast website.

Kreol turns the computer’s keyboard into notes and chords, while the mouse is used for expressive movements. Kreol is designed to give the average person the ability to play real music with real people.

via KreolMusic:

Live music performance of Kreol. Kreol is software that turns your computer into a musical instrument.

See the Kreol Music channel on YouTube for more demos.