Xth Sense, biophysical generation and control of music

Location: Space 4/5, Culture Lab, Grand Assembly Rooms, King's Walk, Newcastle, NE1 7RU
Starts: Monday, 21st November 2011 at 09:00
Finishes: Friday, 25th November 2011 at 22:00

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The workshop offers an hands-on experience and both theoretical and practical training in gestural control of music and bodily musical performance, deploying the brand-new biosensing technology Xth Sense (XS). 

Developed by the workshop teacher Marco Donnarumma within a research project at The University of Edinburgh, XS is a framework that enables a performer to control and process interactive music generated in real time by her muscle sounds. It consists of a low cost, DIY biosensing wearable device and an Open Source based software for capture, analysis and audio processing of biological sounds of the body (Pure Data-based). Muscle sounds are captured in real time and used both as sonic source material and control values for sound effects, enabling the performer to control music simply with his body and kinetic energy. Forget your mice, MIDI controllers; you will not even need to look at your laptop anymore.

The XS biosensor was designed to be easily implemented by anyone, no previous experience in electronics is required. Students will build their own XS biosensors by soldering, cutting and wiring; next, they will learn about the XS software in order to start developing patches for future applications. At the end of the course participants will be invited to perform during an open jam session. The applications of the XS technology are manifold: from complex gestural control of samples and audio synthesis, through biophysical generation of music and sounds, to kinetic control of real time digital processing of traditional musical instruments, and more.

Workshop outline: http://marcodonnarumma.com/teaching/xth-sense-biophysical-music/

Registration is compulsory, please sign up here