1w96(2w46) untitled 2

Untitled 2 consists of an interactive installation created in Max MSP and using the Jitter plug-in.

The piece consists of 24 static dots that are placed on a grid format and projected. The user will use their hand to cast over the dots and at each placement where their hand is cast; the relevant music track is played.

Initially I wanted the user to see their own shadow in black and white behind the grid but then i felt that this was too intrusive and beyond what the crux of the piece was.

The piece is a direct response to Rodger’s convergence model and a homage, you can say, to john cages’ 4:33 piece where the user was the composer although there was a score written out already.

the wall and user interact and as all the dots look similar, the user has to be able to utilise the wall and “communicate” with it in order to obtain an understanding as to what sounds relate to which dot. this back and forth is reminiscent of rodger’s model.

The ability for the user to compose their own song is reminiscent of Cages’ 4:33 as the user is utilising the sound around them to create their own music. the samples are supplied but it is up to them to create the piece.

The initial problems with creating the piece is that i couldn’t create it in processing. I had to turn to Max. With limited time, i only came out with a basic creation that hopefully will be extended after the completion of the MA so that it looks more interesting visually.

upon Rabhia’s comment regarding the piece when it is not interacted with, i created a swarm affect and wanted this to switch between the grid section when the piece detects interaction. However, i couldnt find a patch that would allow me to flip between the interacted/non-interacted state and felt that as time was running out, the essential part was to get the grid up and runnign and working.

the other problem was the colour detection. I tried to get the grid to detect black shadows but it could only manage to detect the colour red. therefore, i had to work with this and have now given the user a red glove from which they can use to interact with the wall.

i hope the setup will work and that users find it fun and interesting.

i tested the piece with a few friends and their responses demonstrated that they were engaged with the wall and after exploring the various sounds it could make, they became aware of rhythm and beats and trying to line up the sounds.

The samples on the grid are made up of bass, drums, melody and mixed instrumentals. i didn’t get time to loop the tracks properly so there is a cut between each loop playback. in a way i liked this missing gap as it would mean the user would have to concentrate more on trying to line up the beats properly together.

let’s hope it comes across that way lol

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