Brainwaves-driven Effects Automation in Musical Performance

Giorgos Filandrianos, Natalia Kotsani, Edmund G Dervakos, Giorgos Stamou, Vaios Amprazis, and Panagiotis Kiourtzoglou

Proceedings of the International Conference on New Interfaces for Musical Expression

Abstract:

A variety of controllers with multifarious sensors and functions have maximized the real time performers control capabilities. The idea behind this project was to create an interface which enables the interaction between the performers and the effect processor measuring their brain waves amplitudes, e.g., alpha, beta, theta, delta and gamma, not necessarily with the user’s awareness. We achieved this by using an electroencephalography (EEG) sensor for detecting performer’s different emotional states and, based on these, sending midi messages for digital processing units automation. The aim is to create a new generation of digital processor units that could be automatically configured in real-time given the emotions or thoughts of the performer or the audience. By introducing emotional state information in the real time control of several aspects of artistic expression, we highlight the impact of surprise and uniqueness in the artistic performance.

Citation:

Giorgos Filandrianos, Natalia Kotsani, Edmund G Dervakos, Giorgos Stamou, Vaios Amprazis, and Panagiotis Kiourtzoglou. 2020. Brainwaves-driven Effects Automation in Musical Performance. Proceedings of the International Conference on New Interfaces for Musical Expression. DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.4813180

BibTeX Entry:

  @inproceedings{NIME20_105,
 abstract = {A variety of controllers with multifarious sensors and functions have maximized the real time performers control capabilities. The idea behind this project was to create an interface which enables the interaction between the performers and the effect processor measuring their brain waves amplitudes, e.g., alpha, beta, theta, delta and gamma, not necessarily with the user’s awareness. We achieved this by using an electroencephalography (EEG) sensor for detecting performer’s different emotional states and, based on these, sending midi messages for digital processing units automation. The aim is to create a new generation of digital processor units that could be automatically configured in real-time given the emotions or thoughts of the performer or the audience. By introducing emotional state information in the real time control of several aspects of artistic expression, we highlight the impact of surprise and uniqueness in the artistic performance.},
 address = {Birmingham, UK},
 author = {Filandrianos, Giorgos and Kotsani, Natalia and Dervakos, Edmund G and Stamou, Giorgos and Amprazis, Vaios and Kiourtzoglou, Panagiotis},
 booktitle = {Proceedings of the International Conference on New Interfaces for Musical Expression},
 doi = {10.5281/zenodo.4813180},
 editor = {Romain Michon and Franziska Schroeder},
 issn = {2220-4806},
 month = {July},
 pages = {545--546},
 publisher = {Birmingham City University},
 title = {Brainwaves-driven Effects Automation in Musical Performance},
 url = {https://www.nime.org/proceedings/2020/nime2020_paper105.pdf},
 year = {2020}
}