The OWL programmable stage effects pedal: Revising the concept of the on-stage computer for live music performance

Thomas Webster, Guillaume LeNost, and Martin Klang

Proceedings of the International Conference on New Interfaces for Musical Expression

Abstract:

This paper introduces the OWL stage effects pedal and aims to present the device within the context of Human Computer Interaction (HCI) research. The OWL is a dedicated, programmable audio device designed to provide an alternative to the use of laptop computers for bespoke audio processing on stage for music performance. By creating a software framework that allows the user to program their own code for the hardware in C++, the OWL project makes it possible to use homemade audio processing on stage without the need for a laptop running a computer music environment such as Pure Data or Supercollider. Moving away from the general-purpose computer to a dedicated audio device means that some of the potential problems and technical complexity of performing with a laptop computer onstage can be avoided, allowing the user to focus more of their attention on the musical performance. Within the format of a traditional guitar 'stomp box', the OWL aims to integrate seamlessly into a guitarist's existing pedal board setup, and in this way presents as an example of a ubiquitous and tangible computing device -a programmable computer designed to fit into an existing mode of musical performance whilst being transparent in use.

Citation:

Thomas Webster, Guillaume LeNost, and Martin Klang. 2014. The OWL programmable stage effects pedal: Revising the concept of the on-stage computer for live music performance. Proceedings of the International Conference on New Interfaces for Musical Expression. DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.1178979

BibTeX Entry:

  @inproceedings{twebster12014,
 abstract = {This paper introduces the OWL stage effects pedal and aims to present the device within the context of Human Computer Interaction (HCI) research. The OWL is a dedicated, programmable audio device designed to provide an alternative to the use of laptop computers for bespoke audio processing on stage for music performance. By creating a software framework that allows the user to program their own code for the hardware in C++, the OWL project makes it possible to use homemade audio processing on stage without the need for a laptop running a computer music environment such as Pure Data or Supercollider. Moving away from the general-purpose computer to a dedicated audio device means that some of the potential problems and technical complexity of performing with a laptop computer onstage can be avoided, allowing the user to focus more of their attention on the musical performance. Within the format of a traditional guitar 'stomp box', the OWL aims to integrate seamlessly into a guitarist's existing pedal board setup, and in this way presents as an example of a ubiquitous and tangible computing device -a programmable computer designed to fit into an existing mode of musical performance whilst being transparent in use.},
 address = {London, United Kingdom},
 author = {Thomas Webster and Guillaume LeNost and Martin Klang},
 booktitle = {Proceedings of the International Conference on New Interfaces for Musical Expression},
 doi = {10.5281/zenodo.1178979},
 issn = {2220-4806},
 month = {June},
 pages = {621--624},
 publisher = {Goldsmiths, University of London},
 title = {The OWL programmable stage effects pedal: Revising the concept of the on-stage computer for live music performance},
 url = {http://www.nime.org/proceedings/2014/nime2014_399.pdf},
 year = {2014}
}