Audio Cookbook

Ostraka with Dial System Performance

My new experimental music project with Graham O’Brien, Ostraka with Dial System, will be performing on December 20, 2009. Originally I had written that we were performing on December 8, 2009 as well, but that performance has been canceled due to a prior engagement.

Ostraka with Dial System is myself on laptop using my custom developed application, the Gestural Music Sequencer (GMS), and Graham O’Brien on drums. For more details, including audio examples and video produced using the GMS, checkout the GMS category. There’s also a Gestural Music Sequencer Documentary Short produced by Josh Clos, that does a good job of illustrating what the software does.

GMS Beta Release, September 28, 2009

I have decided on September 28, 2009 as the release date of the GMS, coinciding with my performance with Graham O’Brien, and my birthday. We can call it a combination Ostraka with Dial System and DJ Zenrock show, GMS beta software release, and birthday party. Currently I am releasing a binary version of the software for Mac OS X only. A windows version is in the works, with no prediction of when it’ll arrive.

The GMS is a Gestural Music Sequencer that I developed in Processing (processing.org). The application samples video and displays it either normally or inverted so it looks as though you’re looking into a mirror. Each frame is analyzed for brightness, then the X and Y data of the brightest pixel is converted into a MIDI note. These notes produce a non-repeating sequence based on movement within the range of the capture device.

For more details, including audio examples and video produced using the GMS, checkout the
GMS category. There’s also a Gestural Music Sequencer Documentary Short produced by Josh Clos, that does a good job of illustrating what the software does.

500 Million Years From Now

It was recently estimated by Edward Guinan at the XXVIIth General Assembly of the International Astronomical Union that our lonely planet is nearing the end of its habitability for life as we know. Albeit, on a cosmological timescale. Between .5 and 1 billion years from now, increases in the Sun’s temperature will cause the Earth’s oceans and atmosphere to evaporate.

Shortly after reading this article I opened up my Ableton Live set from Sunday night to listen to some of the loops I had captured with the GMS during the show. After opening the document I pressed play and heard a stark landscape of reverberation. I saw visions of a lifeless, peace 500 million years from now.

What had happened was that when saving the document I had left all my master effects in their last position. I decided to capture these sounds and vary them over time. The effect chain on the master track included a low pass filter, bit reduction, delay, and reverb with nine parameters mapped to knobs on a controller. Here’s what I ended up with on the second take.

500 Million Years From Now

Getting Reacquainted with the GMS

I have had a number of problems migrating my Processing.org application known as the GMS from my old MacBook Pro running OS X 10.4.11 to my new one running 10.5.7. The first issue was alack of support for the IAC drivers in Java, next were some funky conflicts with the Java class I was using to load and save presets. With the help of Grant Muller I have solved these problems.

While I was at it I took on a couple of other issues as well in preparation for my performance on Sunday. All that’s left is for me to become reacquainted with the application in tandem with Ableton Suite 8.

This is actually the hard part because I have use the application effectively as an instrument and real-time visualizer. One problem is running out of hands and fingers while producing the visuals and capturing the MIDI clips. Another danger is the music becoming repetitive while making adjustments. Here’s a quick recording I made while practicing.

Reacquainting Myself with the GMS

Ostraka with Dial System Live

My new duet, “Ostraka with Dial System” (John Keston and Graham O’Brien) is performing at the Kitty Cat Klub in Minneapolis on Sunday, August 9, 2009. This group combines the stochastic, angular melodies produced by the GMS with live drumming. Gestural video input is simultaneously projected onto a screen and processed into musical data. The results are captured in real-time and molded into spontaneous compositions. Special guests include DJ Zenrock and Terr the Om.

To get an idea of what you might hear, have a listen to these examples from a rehearsal recording that was made in May, 2009.
Ostraka with Dial System Jam #2
Ostraka with Dial System Jam #3

Artists on the Verge Opening Reception Show

This Thursday, July 9, 2009 I am participating in a performance by Andrea Steudel with David Steinman at 9:30pm just outside the Weisman museum in Minneapolis. The performance involves projection, pantomime, and live sound design produced with the GMS. Without giving it away, there will also be things being broken and all sorts of chaotic fun. The performance is part of the Art(ists) on the Verge opening reception which starts at 8:00pm. Here the sound our carts of gear and props made as we wheeled them from the Regis building on the West bank to the Weisman museum on the East bank yesterday.

Rolling Carts

Hammering

These last three sounds are examples representative of what I’ll be producing during a performance outside of the Weisman Museum at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis this Thursday, July 9, 2009. The performance is scheduled during the Art(ists) on the Verge opening. My part is to create audio accompaniment using the GMS during a projection piece by Andrea Steudel that includes live acting by David Steinman.

Hammering

Call and Response Part 2

Call and Response Part 2

Call and Response Part 1

Call and Response Part 1

GMS Ensemble Live Performance Segment #2

Here’s another segment of video from the Flashbelt after party on June 8, 2009. The music is still Graham O’Brien on drums and me using the GMS.

However, the visuals shown are mostly part of an excellent piece on gender transformation by Sinan G. of minneapolisartonwheels.org.

I think this short chunk of video is an accurate illustration of the spirit of the party.

In my mind the best parties are always in alleyways, sometimes in warehouses, and once in a while in apartment kitchens.

Click to view a 640 x 480 version of GMS Ensemble Live Segment #2.