Bicycle Converted into a GMS Input Device

Checkout this video made by Chris LeBlanc. Chris is using LEDs attached to a rotating bicycle wheel as an input device for the GMS. Chris and I had a session recently where I showed him ow to sync the GMS up with Ableton, and the next thing you know he’s come up with a new way of using the software. Nice one, Chris!

Upcoming Ostraka Performance and New Album

My experimental music project, Ostraka with Graham O’Brien on Drums, is performing on January 27, 2010 at Big V’s in St. Paul, Minnesota. I’ll be on laptop using my custom developed application, the Gestural Music Sequencer (GMS). I’m also using my iPod Touch controlled grain-table glitch generating Max patch for another layer of texture. Chain Fight and Juhyo round out the bill.

It’s also about time I mentioned that I’m in the process of producing a new Ostraka album that features Graham O’Brien on drums. We recorded it recently at Masters Recording, formerly Flyte Tyme of Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis fame. The studio was just sold again and from what I understand will be called Madison Media Institute. In any case it was an amazing facility to lay down tracks. Here’s a shot of our setup in Studio A.

GMS Video Experiment with Reason

GMS Video Experiment w/ Reason from Dane Messall on Vimeo.

My student, Dane Messall, has been experimenting with the GMS over the break and just posted this video experiment. He imported the video into the GMS and then interfaced it with Reason’s Thor synthesizer to generate the sound. Nice one, Dane!

Almost 300 GMS Downloads, Responses Needed

ods_sessionAs the GMS approaches three-hundred downloads, I’m starting to get a few questions regarding technical problems. It’s exciting that people are starting to use my software, but as an individual developer, who is also a composer, instructor, performer, and student, I don’t have time to diagnose and troubleshoot every problem on every system.

Therefore, I am asking for your help. If you have downloaded the GMS, please post a comment here describing your success stories or problems. In either instance, please include details about your environment including the operating system, computer specs, camera in use, and if you’re using internal or external sync.

I’ll do my best to respond to Mac issues, but I don’t have consistent access to Windows. If you’re up and running on Windows please respond to questions if you have ideas on how to fix the problem. As always, I’m interested in hearing what you do with the GMS, so post a link to your tracks, and thanks to everyone for participating.

GMS Now Available for Windows

GMS v0.10 beta binary distribution for Windows is now available, thanks to Grant Muller, who compiled the latest source code for the GMS under Windows. Please visit the GMS page to download the Windows version. If you’re interested in the source code for the GMS you can find it at http://code.google.com/p/gestural-music-sequencer/.