The Limitations of Mapping as a Structural Descriptive in Electronic Instruments

Joel Chadabe

Proceedings of the International Conference on New Interfaces for Musical Expression

Abstract:

Mapping, which describes the way a performer's controls are connected to sound variables, is a useful concept when applied to the structure of electronic instruments modelled after traditional acoustic instruments. But mapping is a less useful concept when applied to the structure of complex and interactive instruments in which algorithms generate control information. This paper relates the functioning and benefits of different types of electronic instruments to the structural principles on which they are based. Structural models of various instruments will be discussed and musical examples played.

Citation:

Joel Chadabe. 2002. The Limitations of Mapping as a Structural Descriptive in Electronic Instruments. Proceedings of the International Conference on New Interfaces for Musical Expression. DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.1176402

BibTeX Entry:

  @inproceedings{Chadabe2002,
 abstract = {Mapping, which describes the way a performer's controls are connected to sound variables, is a useful concept when applied to the structure of electronic instruments modelled after traditional acoustic instruments. But mapping is a less useful concept when applied to the structure of complex and interactive instruments in which algorithms generate control information. This paper relates the functioning and benefits of different types of electronic instruments to the structural principles on which they are based. Structural models of various instruments will be discussed and musical examples played. },
 address = {Dublin, Ireland},
 author = {Chadabe, Joel},
 booktitle = {Proceedings of the International Conference on New Interfaces for Musical Expression},
 date = {24-26 May, 2002},
 doi = {10.5281/zenodo.1176402},
 issn = {2220-4806},
 keywords = {mapping fly-by-wire algorithmic network interactivity instrument deterministic indeterministic},
 pages = {38--42},
 title = {The Limitations of Mapping as a Structural Descriptive in Electronic Instruments},
 url = {http://www.nime.org/proceedings/2002/nime2002_038.pdf},
 year = {2002}
}