An early prototype of the augmented PsychoPhone

Abstract In this poster we present the early prototype of the augmented Psychophone -a saxophone with various applied sensors, allowing the saxophone player to attach effects like pitch shifting, wah-wah and ring modulation to the saxophone, simply by moving the saxophone as one would do when really being enthusiastic and involved in the performance. The possibility of scratching on the previously recorded sound is also possible directly on the saxophone. Keywords: Augmented saxophone, Physical computing, hyper instruments, mapping. Introduction In this poster we present the early prototype of an augmented saxophone, aiming to emphasize the effect of the natural gestures of the saxophone player, as well as transform the saxophone into a multi instrument and sequencer. The aim of this project was to create an early prototype of an augmented saxophone with a predefined mapping system. One of the most important motivations behind the design of the mapping system, was to do an attempt to copy the most vivid gestures of an average expressive saxophone player, and attach a relevant effect to the most noticeable expressive movements. An example of this could be when a saxophonist is tilting the saxophone up in the air in the middle of a solo. This is often done when the player is blowing extraordinary hard, playing a very high pitch, or when expressing himself in a more aggressive manner. Another important motivation for this project was to implement an interface allowing the saxophone to be the sole instrument on the stage -playing and controlling all the different aspects of a musical performance -instead of being a simple wind instrument. Applied sound effects Four different effect were applied to the saxophone. These effect were chosen in an attempt to make four very audible different effects. 2.1 A wah-wah bandpass filter effect The wah-wah effect is very successful for playing rhythmic and almost percussive phrases on the saxophone. 2.2 A ring modulation effect In order to implement a distorted bold saxophone solo sound, a ring modulation effect has been employed. 2.3 A pitch shifter effect In order to play bass-like, low-frequency sounds, a pitch shifter was used -only passing the lower octave of the original sound. 2.4 Scratching on the recorded sound As a last effect, it was decided to implement the possibility to scratch on a recorded sound. This would give the user a very percussive and rhythmic sound to play with

The Hyper-Hurdy-Gurdy

(Abstract to follow

Computed fingertip touch for the instrumental control of musical sound with an excursion on the computed retinal afterimage

In this thesis, we present an articulated, empirical view on what human music making is, and on how this fundamentally relates to computation. The experimental evidence which we obtained seems to indicate that this view can be used as a tool, to systematically generate models, hypotheses and new technologies that enable an ever more complete answer to the fundamental question as to what forms of instrumental control of musical sound are possible to implement. This also entails the development of two novel transducer technologies for computed fingertip touch: The cyclotactor (CT) system, which provides fingerpad-orthogonal force output while tracking surface-orthogonal fingertip movement; and the kinetic surface friction transducer (KSFT) system, which provides fingerpad-parallel force output while tracking surface-parallel fingertip movement. In addition to the main research, the thesis also contains two research excursions, which are due to the nature of the Ph.D. position. The first excursion shows how repeated and varying pressing movements on the already held-down key of a computer keyboard can be used both to simplify existing user interactions and to implement new ones, that allow the rapid yet detailed navigation of multiple possible interaction outcomes. The second excursion shows that automated computational techniques can display shape specifically in the retinal afterimage, a well-known effect in the human visual system.Computer Systems, Imagery and Medi