Protoype 4

An exploration in to the possible designs for the screen-based software used with the controller

Protoype 2

This experiment focused on the size, shape, and general button-placement for the device. After completing my first experiment, I realized that it was crucial to develop the shape and size of the instrument before moving on to other factors. Only after the physical properties start to take shape can the sonic properties be adequately mapped. In other words, the form begets function. To answer the questions I set up 3 small experiments, each focusing on a specific aspect: size, shape, and button-placement.

Porototype 1

A Max/Msp patch that allows the user to play musical leads and/or patterns. The patch uses simple equations to generate every key in standard western notation (A through G, including all of the sharp/flat combos - i.e. A#/Bb) and applies the four most common scales: major, minor, harmonic minor, and blues. In the future, this can be easily augmented with more obscure and interesting scales, but I was more curious to test my assumptions before I continued much further. Would be something that the user would find interesting and useful? Is the option to easily play melodic patterns a benefit, or would this notion, already so prevalent in existing instruments, seem tired and not useful? To answer these questions, I attached the series of eight note buttons to a block of wood.

History

The Gesture Controller Exploration is an extension from the synthMonster, an earlier exploration in music controllers and synthesis. It attempts to create a hardware / software musical interface that explores the relationship between musical exploration and synthesis in an engaging way.