Etud,be: A Preliminary Conduit

Vincent Cusson, and Tommy Davis

Proceedings of the International Conference on New Interfaces for Musical Expression

Abstract

Etud,be is a series of performances including semi-autonomous musical agents improvising with a live musician performing on the eTube, an augmented instrument using a saxophone mouthpiece and custom controller interface. This instrument's playing techniques are influenced by contemporary saxophone performance. However, the conical saxophone is replaced with a keyless cylindrical tube, presenting a limited, yet interesting sound world to be explored primarily through timbre, texture, overtones, and articulations rather than pitch. Custom electronics based on the ESP32 chip are interfacing the sensors and actuators to relay information between the musician and the computer wirelessly. The instrumentalist’s preferences regarding some inherent qualities of sensors and the topology of the 3D printed controller were at the heart of the design process. The controller is attached to the acoustic instrument without obstructing regular playing technique. The performance evolves around the classical music notion of “étude” through machine listening, human-computer interaction, and a unique sound world created with the acoustic tube and various saxophones. Each étude explores a specific sound palette which is preloaded into the Creative Dynamics of Improvised Interaction (DYCI2) memory. This framework, designed by Jérôme Nika at IRCAM, enables the eTube’s wireless controllers to interact with musical memories and patch settings during real-time performance. We have customized certain functions of the agents to react to specific sound materials for each étude. Live microphone input from the eTube enables the electronics to react to performed musical phrases in real time, while the controller interface enables the improviser to interact with the electronics during performances.

Citation

Vincent Cusson, and Tommy Davis. 2022. Etud,be: A Preliminary Conduit. Proceedings of the International Conference on New Interfaces for Musical Expression. DOI: 10.21428/92fbeb44.c05957ee [PDF]

BibTeX Entry

@inproceedings{nime2022_music_25,
 abstract = {Etu{d,b}e is a series of performances including semi-autonomous musical agents improvising with a live musician performing on the eTube, an augmented instrument using a saxophone mouthpiece and custom controller interface. This instrument's playing techniques are influenced by contemporary saxophone performance. However, the conical saxophone is replaced with a keyless cylindrical tube, presenting a limited, yet interesting sound world to be explored primarily through timbre, texture, overtones, and articulations rather than pitch. Custom electronics based on the ESP32 chip are interfacing the sensors and actuators to relay information between the musician and the computer wirelessly. The instrumentalist’s preferences regarding some inherent qualities of sensors and the topology of the 3D printed controller were at the heart of the design process. The controller is attached to the acoustic instrument without obstructing regular playing technique. The performance evolves around the classical music notion of “étude” through machine listening, human-computer interaction, and a unique sound world created with the acoustic tube and various saxophones. Each étude explores a specific sound palette which is preloaded into the Creative Dynamics of Improvised Interaction (DYCI2) memory. This framework, designed by Jérôme Nika at IRCAM, enables the eTube’s wireless controllers to interact with musical memories and patch settings during real-time performance. We have customized certain functions of the agents to react to specific sound materials for each étude. Live microphone input from the eTube enables the electronics to react to performed musical phrases in real time, while the controller interface enables the improviser to interact with the electronics during performances.},
 address = {Auckland, New Zealand},
 articleno = {25},
 author = {Vincent Cusson and Tommy Davis},
 booktitle = {Proceedings of the International Conference on New Interfaces for Musical Expression},
 doi = {10.21428/92fbeb44.c05957ee},
 editor = {Raul Masu},
 issn = {2220-4806},
 month = {jun},
 title = {Etu{d,b}e: A Preliminary Conduit},
 track = {Music},
 url = {https://doi.org/10.21428/92fbeb44.c05957ee},
 year = {2022}
}