MLGI

A short demonstration of the MLGI (Multi- Laser Gestural Interface) designed by Meason Wiley at California Institute of the Arts.

Strap it on a dolphin, and you’d have a lethal weapon.

The Multi- Laser Gestural Interface is an open source and modular “free-gesture” controller that uses beams of laser light along with photo resistors to create a physical, fluid musical instrument.

With the MLGI, Wiley is attempting to bring a physical interactivity to electronic music performance. By removing the performer from behind the laptop, the audience becomes aware of the performer’s interaction with the controller, which creates an instant visual connection between the sound and the performer.

The MLGI was created using Dan Overholt’s multi I/O CREATEUSB or CUI interface, which, along with the programming language ChucK, can be made to send MIDI or OSC via USB port.

For more information about this open-source + modular controller,  visit www.cyclespersecond.net.

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.