The FrankenPipe : A Novel Bagpipe Controller

Turner Kirk, and Colby Leider

Proceedings of the International Conference on New Interfaces for Musical Expression

Abstract

The FrankenPipe project is an attempt to convert a traditionalHighland Bagpipe into a controller capable of driving both realtime synthesis on a laptop as well as a radio-controlled (RC) car.Doing so engages musical creativity while enabling novel, oftenhumorous, performance art. The chanter is outfitted withphotoresistors (CdS photoconductive cells) underneath each hole,allowing a full range of MIDI values to be produced with eachfinger and giving the player a natural feel. An air-pressure sensoris also deployed in the bag to provide another element of controlwhile capturing a fundamental element of bagpipe performance.The final product navigates the realm of both musical instrumentand toy, allowing the performer to create a novel yet richperformance experience for the audience.

Citation

Turner Kirk, and Colby Leider. 2007. The FrankenPipe : A Novel Bagpipe Controller. Proceedings of the International Conference on New Interfaces for Musical Expression. DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.1177151

BibTeX Entry

@inproceedings{Kirk2007,
 abstract = {The FrankenPipe project is an attempt to convert a traditionalHighland Bagpipe into a controller capable of driving both realtime synthesis on a laptop as well as a radio-controlled (RC) car.Doing so engages musical creativity while enabling novel, oftenhumorous, performance art. The chanter is outfitted withphotoresistors (CdS photoconductive cells) underneath each hole,allowing a full range of MIDI values to be produced with eachfinger and giving the player a natural feel. An air-pressure sensoris also deployed in the bag to provide another element of controlwhile capturing a fundamental element of bagpipe performance.The final product navigates the realm of both musical instrumentand toy, allowing the performer to create a novel yet richperformance experience for the audience.},
 address = {New York City, NY, United States},
 author = {Kirk, Turner and Leider, Colby},
 booktitle = {Proceedings of the International Conference on New Interfaces for Musical Expression},
 doi = {10.5281/zenodo.1177151},
 issn = {2220-4806},
 keywords = {FrankenPipe, alternate controller, MIDI, bagpipe, photoresistor, chanter. },
 pages = {301--304},
 title = {The FrankenPipe : A Novel Bagpipe Controller},
 url = {http://www.nime.org/proceedings/2007/nime2007_301.pdf},
 year = {2007}
}