tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9859301779807122582024-04-13T10:49:19.773-07:00The Beatjazz Blogyou have arrived at the center of the beatjazz universe. all information about beatjazz technique and technology will disseminate out in concentric circles from this point.Onyx-Ashanti projectshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13982406193622590455noreply@blogger.comBlogger44125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-985930177980712258.post-40773141057942518622011-09-25T05:07:00.000-07:002011-09-25T05:07:48.500-07:00<content type="html">Greetings all! &nbsp;My new blog is still steaming on ahead at <a href="http://www.onyx-ashanti.com/">www.onyx-ashanti.com</a>&nbsp; but i wanted to drop this widget off here as well since this is where it all started. &nbsp;below is the widget that links to my new campaign to create the entire beatjazz system. &nbsp;no use in beating around the bush. &nbsp;this time it everything; the helmet, the costuming, the controllers, for me AND for You including a version i call the "beatbox" controller which you will find out more about soon, and the busking system which makes the beatjazz system purpose designed to play literally everywhere! &nbsp;go by the site and check it out. &nbsp;thanks for being interested! &nbsp;cheers. onyx<br /> <iframe frameborder="1" height="400px" scrolling="no" src="http://www.indiegogo.com/project/widget/41248?a=63894" width="210px"></iframe></content><link rel="replies" type="application/atom+xml" href="http://beatjazz.blogspot.com/feeds/4077314105794251862/comments/default" title="Post Comments"/><link rel="replies" type="text/html" href="http://beatjazz.blogspot.com/2011/09/greetings-all-new-blog-is-still.html#comment-form" title="0 Comments"/><link rel="edit" type="application/atom+xml" href="http://www.blogger.com/feeds/985930177980712258/posts/default/4077314105794251862"/><link rel="self" type="application/atom+xml" href="http://www.blogger.com/feeds/985930177980712258/posts/default/4077314105794251862"/><link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://beatjazz.blogspot.com/2011/09/greetings-all-new-blog-is-still.html" title=""/><author><name>Onyx-Ashanti projects</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/13982406193622590455</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel="http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail" width="16" height="16" src="https://img1.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif"/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-985930177980712258.post-5414585914910256585</id><published>2011-06-28T03:23:00.001-07:00</published><updated>2011-06-28T03:23:19.523-07:00</updated><title type="text">The new blog is at the new site!!i will continue to update the beatjazz blog from <a href="http://www.onyx-ashanti.com/">www.onyx-ashanti.com</a>&nbsp;come on over!!Onyx-Ashanti projectshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13982406193622590455noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-985930177980712258.post-75279972115183140312011-06-23T12:01:00.000-07:002011-06-23T12:01:31.358-07:00The Golden Ratio<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-autospace: none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_-IMT8_eIqVPKePYVa642K03-TMAzdQUyomqyjCqj53qlCBnHTBJFN1qy0Uv1nxGt_BPzyD8w6lYAOfJN-MIv21G6dnoRhglpqcXZF1jRlGm4lLGXrR7p-u47hl9d2SVozjYlcXp_R7M/s1600/IMG_0049.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_-IMT8_eIqVPKePYVa642K03-TMAzdQUyomqyjCqj53qlCBnHTBJFN1qy0Uv1nxGt_BPzyD8w6lYAOfJN-MIv21G6dnoRhglpqcXZF1jRlGm4lLGXrR7p-u47hl9d2SVozjYlcXp_R7M/s200/IMG_0049.jpg" width="150" /></a><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt;">I spent most of last week rebuilding the hand units.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>As I stated in my last post, the humidity in NYC warped the cardboard, so although they were still playable, I decided to use it as an excuse to make some badly needed upgrades, namely, rewiring the internals. &nbsp;<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt;"><br /> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-autospace: none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeO9Waq8AGtnv45UgtRIDwcpv1BKbnNNNDZInFhx_KRfhv-y1VsRJatz8myzusuKCTullp8bZGmCeQnJRDkWNOgsyD4ZJXYWp7i_UtJB-VGxoOpxL1l18US4ArM_zhUEElRPMvWWejfWA/s1600/IMG_0043.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeO9Waq8AGtnv45UgtRIDwcpv1BKbnNNNDZInFhx_KRfhv-y1VsRJatz8myzusuKCTullp8bZGmCeQnJRDkWNOgsyD4ZJXYWp7i_UtJB-VGxoOpxL1l18US4ArM_zhUEElRPMvWWejfWA/s200/IMG_0043.jpg" width="150" /></a><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt;">The previous incarnation was never meant to be played this long.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>The guts were a nest of really inflexible solidcore wire.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>The ends of which were placed really inelegantly into the pinslots.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Really really ugly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>so when it came time to rebuild the left hand unit (primarily because it looked so sad and pathetic next to the new, stronger, lighter, small right hand rebuild), I decided to redesign the inside.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt;"><br /> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt;">I knew weeks ago that I wanted to create a "shield" for my arduinos that would be the connection point for all wiring and sensors and would allow me to simply take it off the arduino when I needed to do any reprogramming.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>So that's what I did.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>I also used much lighter weight wire so now it doesn't feel like I’ve got a jack-in-the-box waiting leap out at me.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt;"><br /> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-autospace: none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMmkqC_cmMY189hjku8IjLh8-C785VRbjlIqW367MLeOSOTsqo04zuWr4p5PE393UMSbeyI_3Az8pbmEfe-3m8zbElpJQCP3nCzXzPitpe8W-oFuBEBsQIdfm_glCBVEq3QMaJiECUR08/s1600/IMG_0040.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMmkqC_cmMY189hjku8IjLh8-C785VRbjlIqW367MLeOSOTsqo04zuWr4p5PE393UMSbeyI_3Az8pbmEfe-3m8zbElpJQCP3nCzXzPitpe8W-oFuBEBsQIdfm_glCBVEq3QMaJiECUR08/s200/IMG_0040.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt;">To be honest, I was amazed that it worked.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>It kinda resembles the metallic skeleton of some little square creature, but nothing popped and the magic smoke didn't escape, so I’m chillin.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5.65pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 2.8pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><br /> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHkyjAJIBb4Bh9_uA_gQ_jA5zLIjmorQW0re2v9b8FMEcq-mZh8gVHlTzKO1gv5uGCC5sacEftz2ZgSqhT2sYujAJkhXrvPTM59fKthgC_lChknKoHlfTohiLYAVCW-Bw-KcdkFRlk74c/s1600/IMG_0052.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHkyjAJIBb4Bh9_uA_gQ_jA5zLIjmorQW0re2v9b8FMEcq-mZh8gVHlTzKO1gv5uGCC5sacEftz2ZgSqhT2sYujAJkhXrvPTM59fKthgC_lChknKoHlfTohiLYAVCW-Bw-KcdkFRlk74c/s200/IMG_0052.jpg" width="150" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt;">The most exciting development is finding, what I think could be, a sort of thumb-to-index finger, golden ratio.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>interestingly, the thumb motion is on one axis and the "twitch switch” next to my left index finger, is on a separate axis, yet together, they fell like they are part of one mechanism rather than two separate joysticks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>at first, I though maybe it was my imagination but on Sunday spent the afternoon taking the system thru its paces, and the finger action was effortless, which is interesting because it has never been even close to effortless.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>I applied this new found knowledge to the thumb joystick placement on the right hand unit (up 5-6mm and over 4-5mm).<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-autospace: none;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt;">In other news, what a freaking difference that TED posting has made!! WOW!! It's amazing!! So many people knowing what Beatjazz is now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>not many (except you of course!) really cared that much before, but now people are linking it, and discussing it, and debating it and even the internet trolls are getting their digs in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>You aren't really doing it right until the internet trolls diss you!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>I think I’m blushing!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>It’s all so interesting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>I want to see how this story progresses.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-autospace: none;"><a href="http://f.bandcamp.com/z/11/37/1137299424-1.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="59" src="http://f.bandcamp.com/z/11/37/1137299424-1.png" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt;">And soon, all of my base are belong to <a href="http://onyx-ashanti.com/">onyx-ashanti.com</a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>I will wait to dedicate a post to my new internet guru til next week but the new site will be the new home of the blog, events, forums, and all kinds of other mental stuff that I will wait to talk about a bit later.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-autospace: none;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /> </div>Onyx-Ashanti projectshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13982406193622590455noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-985930177980712258.post-64268131262092973412011-06-19T18:32:00.000-07:002011-06-19T19:35:07.611-07:00The What, Why and How of Beatjazz<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">I feel that I should take a moment to explain exactly WHAT Beatjazz and this controller, actually are and what they do. &nbsp;It has been a little while since the last time I explained it and that was way before this controller had been constructed. &nbsp;So this will be the definitive explanation of what and why Beatjazz is.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /> <br /> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Beatjazz is a term I coined around 1999 to describe the music I would make with my wind midi controller (jazz) and FL studio...or as it was called then, Fruityloops (Beats). I wanted to clarify that I was not doing acid jazz or RnB or instrumental Hip Hop or any of that. &nbsp;It was a catchall term meant to give me a bit of creative room to breath; “Beats” and “jazz”. &nbsp;Nice and simple.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /> <br /> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">That was cool for a while. &nbsp;In the early 2000’s I played with many DJ’s. &nbsp;I still did studio stuff (some), but playing dance clubs became my focus for many years. &nbsp;I enjoyed learning how one “rocks” a room the way a great DJ knew how to do. &nbsp;I did a few one off events and lots of DJing/live playing solo sets at that time and it was really cool for a while but I became bored playing along to records and playing along to my ableton sets wasn’t that much more engaging for me. &nbsp;I wasn’t satisfying that urge to create because; I feel, that I was too focused on playing what I felt people would dig.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /> <br /> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">In 2007, my mom died. &nbsp;A year before, she had confided that my lifestyle used to terrify her. &nbsp;that I could/would just sling myself to the wind, but that once she saw that I had such a focus with music, she really loved that I had the courage and desire to do my own thing my own way. After she was gone, I took a bit of time to think about what I was doing with my life and my music. &nbsp;Why do I play? Who do I play for? Do I enjoy my life? Could I live like this for another 20 years? &nbsp;</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /> <br /> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">The answer the first question is to commune with the imaginary, from which so much springs. &nbsp;As for who I play for, that’s easy...me. I can play in an empty room for hours...days. This is the closest thing I have to a religion and I take it very seriously. &nbsp;And although I enjoyed my life at that time, I felt like I needed something to work toward for the next 20 years besides simply trying to “entertain” people. &nbsp;Something that engaged everything I had learned. &nbsp;Something boredom proof. &nbsp;It was at this time that I decided to blend live looping with software synths to redefine Beatjazz as a totally live form.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /> <br /> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Late in 2007, Beatjazz became live looping, sound design and jazz improvisation. &nbsp;Live looping made it easy to accompany myself and its repeating nature would not sound out of place in the clubs I love to play at. The sound design was simply for the sounds to sound good together. &nbsp;And jazz improv gave me something to work on; a never ending trajectory of sonic concepts. &nbsp;</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /> <br /> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">The way it works is that I quickly jump from instrument to instrument sound to create a base groove, elaborate musically over this for a while, then deconstruct it and reconstruct it. &nbsp;I do this jumping by assigning a sound to what is known as a “program change” which is a midi command that tells the music system to change presets. &nbsp;I use them to jump around from sound to sound. &nbsp;When I used to use my wind midi controller for this, it was functional but I had to press multiple buttons and keys to change sounds. &nbsp;So when I first thought of a dedicated controller for this type of style/music, I knew then that I wanted one “element” per finger. &nbsp;I had at least a dozen ideas of different ways to make this happen. &nbsp;it wasn’t until I began working on the”tron” Beatjazz controller, that I discovered FSR’s (force sensing resistors) which can measure finger pressure. &nbsp;I immediately assigned the upper-limit to program changes and the lower limit as “keys” for playing live, so now, I only have to press a particular key slightly harder than normal and I can go to that instrument category (drums, bass, keys, leads, pads, etc), which also has a color associated with it so that the audience can decipher which part I am actually playing (still working on that part).</span><br /> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /> </span><br /> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Each hand also has an accelerometer. &nbsp;this measures acceleration in one of 3 directions; forward/back, side to side, and up/down. &nbsp;i use the right hand for effects and the left hand for instrument parameters like volume and pitch functions. &nbsp;in combination with the joysticks (2 per hand) i can latch various effects combinations and instrument parameters simultaneously.</span> <br /> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /> </span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">The controller has been an obsession for me, mentally, for years. So much so, that I knew that I had to either create it this year, or stop thinking about it all together. I wondered why wind midi controllers looked like “horns” when they are not horns. There was no reason that the sensors that made up the keying mechanism of most commercially available wind midi controllers needed to be in the configuration of an acoustic instrument. &nbsp;With hand-freedom come other modes of expression, namely dance. Why? Why not? &nbsp;If I can abstract multiple musically relevant parameters simultaneously while creating a visual narrative, why would I NOT do it?</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /> <br /> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">So I did a crowdfunding campaign and built this system. &nbsp;IT’S NOT FINISHED! Not even close. &nbsp;Its only 3months old. &nbsp;In fact, I just figured out proper finger placement a couple of days ago. &nbsp;And once the design is locked, we are transferring it to custom molded carbon fiber shells. Why? WHY NOT? Also, the mouth piece design is only about 60% “there” and the hand units function well but there is still much soft and hardware work to do. &nbsp;I am just thrilled it is this playable at this stage. it is literally like playing a dream. &nbsp;imagine waking up tomorrow with something from your dream is sitting next to your bed. &nbsp;that's, like, everyday now! &nbsp;</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /> </span><br /> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">The first time i played a nightclub with the system, last month, it was the most incredible feeling of my adult life! i immediately, went straight out onto the dancefloor, rather than near the DJ booth or stage, and did the entirety of my performance from there. &nbsp;there was a palpable sensation of "breathing beats". &nbsp;in a dark club...in performance, there are no "hand units" or pure data or wireless config...there is only sound and people and lights and motion...everything else is before and after,not during. &nbsp;In this moment, the combination of hand freedom, lights, sound and lots of practice, make ones body make dance like gestures almost as an afterthough. &nbsp;as if you are partying like everyone else, except you just happen to be making the music as well.</span><br /> <br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">What the system is not. &nbsp;I am not “triggering” loops. I am playing each part and “creating” loops. &nbsp;NOTHING is pre-recorded. &nbsp;there are no "music"samples (there are single note drum samples though) and no "clips" or sequences. There is the controller, myself and a database of software synthesizers...that’s it! &nbsp;It’s not DJing either, unless you consider that the records are in my head. If that is the case, then yes, it is DJing. But there are no Mp3s or tracks of any sort. &nbsp;</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /> <br /> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">The other thing that the system is not is easy to play. &nbsp;&nbsp;It has taken a long time to get to this level and it will take years to get to a level I feel will be exemplary of what is possible. &nbsp;That’s the point; something to dedicate one’s life to. &nbsp;Something that can be and sound like anything. &nbsp;That’s the goal at least.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /> <br /> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Like I stated before; the system is only 3 months old! I am still designing. &nbsp;Once it’s stable, it will be an open source project as well as being printed in the Oct edition of MAKE Magazine. &nbsp;Why? Because were it not for open tools like pure data and arduino, this project would not have happened. &nbsp;I hope that someone can either do something with it that I can’t do or become inspired to do their own thing. That will be the focus of upcoming Beatjazz workshops. &nbsp;To expand Beatjazz beyond just me and my ideas.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /> <br /> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">I hope these answers the questions you may have about Beatjazz. &nbsp;If it doesn’t, feel free to ask me. &nbsp;If you think that Beatjazz sucks in some way, please feel free to demonstrate your alternative so that I might learn something that will help me to become a better artist. &nbsp;And of course, if you’d like to see it up close, you are more than welcome to come to a show or even hire me :-) &nbsp;</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /> </div>Onyx-Ashanti projectshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13982406193622590455noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-985930177980712258.post-54078964059564315272011-06-17T10:37:00.000-07:002011-06-17T11:10:25.043-07:00what else needs to be said?!<object height="326" width="446"><param name="movie" value="http://video.ted.com/assets/player/swf/EmbedPlayer.swf"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"/><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><param name="bgColor" value="#ffffff"></param><param name="flashvars" value="vu=http://video.ted.com/talk/stream/2011S/Blank/OnyxAshanti_2011S-320k.mp4&su=http://images.ted.com/images/ted/tedindex/embed-posters/OnyxAshanti-2011S.embed_thumbnail.jpg&vw=432&vh=240&ap=0&ti=1172&lang=eng&introDuration=15330&adDuration=4000&postAdDuration=830&adKeys=talk=onyx_ashanti_this_is_beatjazz;year=2011;theme=art_unusual;theme=live_music;theme=new_on_ted_com;theme=tales_of_invention;event=Full+Spectrum+Auditions;tag=Design;tag=Entertainment;tag=Technology;tag=live+music;tag=music;&preAdTag=tconf.ted/embed;tile=1;sz=512x288;" /><embed src="http://video.ted.com/assets/player/swf/EmbedPlayer.swf" pluginspace="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" bgColor="#ffffff" width="446" height="326" allowFullScreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" flashvars="vu=http://video.ted.com/talk/stream/2011S/Blank/OnyxAshanti_2011S-320k.mp4&su=http://images.ted.com/images/ted/tedindex/embed-posters/OnyxAshanti-2011S.embed_thumbnail.jpg&vw=432&vh=240&ap=0&ti=1172&lang=eng&introDuration=15330&adDuration=4000&postAdDuration=830&adKeys=talk=onyx_ashanti_this_is_beatjazz;year=2011;theme=art_unusual;theme=live_music;theme=new_on_ted_com;theme=tales_of_invention;event=Full+Spectrum+Auditions;tag=Design;tag=Entertainment;tag=Technology;tag=live+music;tag=music;"></embed></object><br /> <br /> If this is your first time to my blog, welcome! &nbsp;I created this blog at the beginning of my Beatjazz controller project at the beginning of 2011. &nbsp;the entire trajectory of this project is documented here. <br /> <br /> If you would like more indepth information, here are a few links. <br /> <br /> www.onyx-ashanti.ning.com<br /> www.youtube.com/onyxashanti<br /> <br /> I'm REALLY excited by this!! yaaaaay!!!<br /> <br /> <iframe allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="100" src="http://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/v=2/track=1342444536/size=venti/bgcol=FFFFFF/linkcol=4285BB/" style="display: block; height: 100px; position: relative; width: 400px;" width="400">&amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://onyxashanti.bandcamp.com/track/i-cant-find-the-words-to-say"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;I Can't Find The Words To Say by Onyx Ashanti&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;gt;</iframe><br /> <br /> <br /> If you have any business inquiries, contact Susanne Heiden at afrofuturistik_at_googlemail.com<br /> <br /> live long and prosper,<br /> <br /> Onyx<br /> www.Onyx-Ashanti projectshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13982406193622590455noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-985930177980712258.post-29342296667469595582011-06-14T05:46:00.000-07:002011-06-14T05:46:45.095-07:00cardboard isnt humidity proof...<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt;">Ok, back to the geeky stuff.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5.65pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 2.8pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><br /> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKhkmmHiNWe5Fut1T2SqRIkpdpY6F9MaU5tQRrYlqAiv5OMLe_caO_evxMTxnUmtxm0XaO2TxkepOBfV5qL7ueluPoBAlghYUfnZXjFczJPQaltB3l5-Is95kVACZjn2jO-kHhHoCeCec/s1600/IMG_0928%255B1%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKhkmmHiNWe5Fut1T2SqRIkpdpY6F9MaU5tQRrYlqAiv5OMLe_caO_evxMTxnUmtxm0XaO2TxkepOBfV5qL7ueluPoBAlghYUfnZXjFczJPQaltB3l5-Is95kVACZjn2jO-kHhHoCeCec/s320/IMG_0928%255B1%255D.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt;">Last week I had to rebuild the right hand control unit.&nbsp; It would seem that cardboard doesn't like NYC's high humidity and it started to deform a bit.&nbsp; I thought about keeping it the way it was but a) they are cheap to rebuild, costing me approximately 1.50euro and 2-3 hours, and b) I still have much hardware abstraction to do before it can be transferred to carbon fiber.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt;"><br /> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt;">I reinforced the sides by folding the cardboard in on itself and gluing it in place.&nbsp; It is now much more solid.&nbsp; I placed the accelerometer underneath my index finger now which gives filter effects a much much more precise amount of control. and the FSR cushions are now glued, rather than masking taped, to the unit.&nbsp; Overall the unit feels extremely solid now.&nbsp; It could, I feel, last for years in this configuration.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt;"><br /> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgORM71g6d1zM9hui4s7HOX18AT9tpAiiDbBQS_h2IDEv_Cjr9DU1y8upPZmPcqhZKOjz8UlpvgLNpY7sROV14WoRqnIitwYFtQum0JsCV0RMdGGSKwgqHOmQg-EQEmokLuR50R_GNzEDY/s1600/photo+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgORM71g6d1zM9hui4s7HOX18AT9tpAiiDbBQS_h2IDEv_Cjr9DU1y8upPZmPcqhZKOjz8UlpvgLNpY7sROV14WoRqnIitwYFtQum0JsCV0RMdGGSKwgqHOmQg-EQEmokLuR50R_GNzEDY/s320/photo+%25282%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt;">The other big change is that I added a right-hand "twitch switch" joystick(the bulbous ball looking things).&nbsp; I call it a twitch switch because by twitching my index finger, I have access to a wide array of latching combinations.&nbsp; With two of them, those combinations have been multiplied.&nbsp; Besides giving the system a bit of symmetry, it should provide access to as yet un-realized functionalities.&nbsp; I have found it also curious that it is easier to control this joystick because it is "perceptually" parallel, rather than literally, meaning that rather than being parallel to the finger that controls it, it is parallel to the motion of said finger, which is actually about 25degrees outward.&nbsp; But when I am not looking, I find this to be perceptually "straight".&nbsp; So there is still more abstraction and experimentation to be done in joystick positioning.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt;"><br /> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt;">I hope to use the new joystick to control left hand parameters which I have determined should be focused on individual instrument parameters with the right hand controlling system FX.&nbsp; My test case will be a big-ole nasty ass wobbly dubstep bass.&nbsp; So far it sounds like I am murdering a cow with a lawnmower, but once I get the calibration and sensor assignments "right", it should be great.&nbsp; I will rinse it soon.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt;"><br /> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i3.ytimg.com/vi/0rG6xTXmHxc/0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://i3.ytimg.com/vi/0rG6xTXmHxc/0.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt;">This week begins, in earnest, the second most important system function.&nbsp; The looping system.&nbsp; It will allow for a more precise level of sonic dissection.&nbsp; For this stage, I will have to study dynamic abstractions, i.e., instantiating patches from scratch, in real-time.&nbsp; And will start the task of making use of pure data's audio capabilities, finally.&nbsp; I only need to make ONE by virtue of the computers ability to make infinite copies. if I make "one", it's all over at that point, because then it is just a matter of making PD instantiate it as a dynamic abstraction (ie, pure data assigns each copy with a specfic number which it will use to identify said abstraction as "unique") to the limits of my cpu/ram capabilities (which need a desperate upgrade. &nbsp;2gb/ram on a 4 year old laptop is reaching the end of its usefulness).&nbsp;&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt;"><br /> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt;">My looper will center on being simple, fast and deep.&nbsp; There is already so much going on that a complex looping system would only get in the way.&nbsp; It will allow me to focus on a part of the whole piece and be more like a "Live performance DAW" than live looping.&nbsp; It "shouldn't" be that hard to complete this week, but I have said that before :-/<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt;"><br /> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.carpeberlin.com/uploads/pics/Fete_de_la_Musique.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://www.carpeberlin.com/uploads/pics/Fete_de_la_Musique.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt;">I hope to have the alpha version of the looper ready before I play the blogrebellen stage at <a href="http://blog.rebellen.info/2011/06/07/blogrebellen-bei-der-fete-de-la-musique-in-berlin/">Fete De La Musique on June 21st</a>-&nbsp;7:30pm).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>The set will be "jagged" aesthetically, from all the gestural revisions to the sound architecture. I am really looking forward to playing there as well as the next Demonstration to save Tacheles on July 2nd.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span></span><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt;">There are a few interesting things coming up after this as well, but I want to wait till they are confirmed to announce them.&nbsp;<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-autospace: none;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p><br /> </o:p></span></div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17px;">Are we being good ancestors?</span></i><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-autospace: none;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17px;">–- Jonas Salk, in interview on</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17px;">&nbsp;</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17px;"><a href="http://www.archive.org/details/openmind_ep1234" style="color: #888f95; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; text-decoration: none;">Open Mind, 1985</a></span><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-autospace: none;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /> </div>Onyx-Ashanti projectshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13982406193622590455noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-985930177980712258.post-71310330764623239492011-06-08T11:01:00.000-07:002011-06-08T11:22:02.107-07:00Happily Ever After...?<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Sorry it took so long to get around to writing this post.&nbsp; The last two weeks has been interesting in many ways besides the obvious.&nbsp; The obvious being the <a href="http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&amp;source=web&amp;cd=1&amp;sqi=2&amp;ved=0CB4QFjAA&amp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.ted.com%2F2011%2F05%2F24%2Ftonight-watch-teds-full-spectrum-auditions-online%2F&amp;ei=2z7uTZW3JpCE-waAmbDtBw&amp;usg=AFQjCNH9cW3p4USmsRK44rIzVXkRH8Rbug">TED Full Spectrum Auditions in NYC.</a> &nbsp;<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><br /> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2771/5762282137_30287ba6b7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2771/5762282137_30287ba6b7.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">I am honored to have been able to participate in such an event with such an amazing array of interesting speakers!&nbsp; Wow! This was definitely a TED; <a href="http://www.janerigby.net/">astrophysicist</a>s,<a href="http://www.jaredficklin.com/"> data visualizations of the migratory patterns of skateboarders</a>, <a href="http://www.hellojam.es/">CNC 80-sided bricks that can build unimaginable structures</a>, <a href="http://virgilwong.com/">medical visualizations as art!</a>&nbsp; It was geek overload!&nbsp; I imagine that you will be seeing some of these cats doing big things in the future!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><br /> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">When i saw the TED logo onstage, i was so stoked.&nbsp; Stoked, but strangely not nervous.&nbsp; Well...not so strangely.&nbsp; That’s what all the busking is for.&nbsp; So i can drop into a set, secure in my abilities.&nbsp; My only focus was to present beatjazz in the most accurate possible light...to convey the idea properly.&nbsp; This goal focused my thoughts.&nbsp; This was MY 6 minutes.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><br /> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">when i started, i jumped into something akin to a DnB vibe which, after a few bars, wasn't the direction i felt i needed to go so i changed gears and went in a different direction that was a bit more representative of my vibe in its natural state.&nbsp; Fortunately, that did the trick.&nbsp; It was very easy to construct a representative structure in the 6 minute time slot i was allotted. &nbsp;It also didnt hurt to have a &nbsp;massive associated instructional presentation happening simultaneously. &nbsp;i need that for every show! &nbsp;Idea conveyed. &nbsp;<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><br /> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZDW_zMRkuzW_itMXnWoIrZujnxqKUplI5Q-Pr49R8c3nEWVSd4NlznMlbXNqJcyp98Dbc1fZJlgGv4qHowoFoGawOVL2pB-llT8q_e6pOqNMv9DycQ-Ao8ZhHzyKJX7oXftQMcRKhaSo/s400/DSC_2184.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZDW_zMRkuzW_itMXnWoIrZujnxqKUplI5Q-Pr49R8c3nEWVSd4NlznMlbXNqJcyp98Dbc1fZJlgGv4qHowoFoGawOVL2pB-llT8q_e6pOqNMv9DycQ-Ao8ZhHzyKJX7oXftQMcRKhaSo/s320/DSC_2184.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">once this was concluded, i had a week to kill in NYC before jumping down to Philly to &nbsp;play<a href="http://saturnneversleeps.com/gallery/053111-sns-onyx-ashanti-dave-manley/"> Saturn Never Sleeps</a>, with the legendary King Britt and Rucyl.&nbsp; What can i say about NYC?&nbsp; It is the place of movies and mythology.&nbsp; We’ve all been programmed with New York stories since we were born.&nbsp; It is THE city.&nbsp; So, with that said, i remembered distinctly why i decided to move to "the city" in 2005...and move away in 2006.&nbsp; NYC takes a certain temperament.&nbsp; I'm not the one.&nbsp; But, it is a fantastic place to visit.&nbsp; Especially when it is as hot as it was last week.&nbsp; They have repurposed many intersections as permanent pedestrian thoroughfares.&nbsp;&nbsp; I found this to be very cool.&nbsp; Sitting at times square at 2 am, using free municipal Wi-Fi under the radiating glow of thousands of flickering LED billboards was surprisingly nice.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><br /> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://issueprojectroom.org/wordpresstest/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/share_logo_v3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="136" src="http://issueprojectroom.org/wordpresstest/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/share_logo_v3.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">I also discovered that the <a href="http://www.share.dj/share/eve">SHARE party</a> is still going on.&nbsp; SHARE has a special place in my heart as it was the event where i discovered Max/msp and subsequently, Pure Data.&nbsp; Dozens of people on laptops, communally creating ordered chaos for everyone and no one.&nbsp; On this night, i ran into a friend from Berlin, <a href="http://www.google.de/url?sa=t&amp;source=web&amp;cd=1&amp;ved=0CBwQFjAA&amp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fgadbaruch&amp;ei=IUDuTZzCOMjHtAbf4MTsAw&amp;usg=AFQjCNEiZzyjrwoYuqeexEMyZT9E_VmjUw">Gad Hinkis</a>, who just so happened to be the featured performer on this particular night.&nbsp; He was there to play his self-built joystick controller system and did a great job.&nbsp; It was also good to get a chance to make literal "noise" (as in the style) with the new control system, especially considering that noise had been a particularly hard thing for me to grasp all those years ago at said SHARE parties.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><br /> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Overall NYC is easy to love and hate.&nbsp; It is a wonderfully laid out city with tedious laws (bars shut down at 2am?! really?!)&nbsp; You can hate it, but you can't hate on it.&nbsp; It’s still a sick city and has earned its reputations, for better or worse.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><br /> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">On to Philly.&nbsp; I really was looking forward to this trip.&nbsp; So many great artists have come out of this city in the last 40 years!&nbsp; I just wanted to see if it was something literally floating around in the air. Although my tricorder didn't detect any anomalous airborne particulates,&nbsp;&nbsp; there was definitely a vibe.&nbsp; Not unlike pre-gentrified Atlanta, circa 1993.&nbsp;&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><br /> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://saturnneversleeps.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/MG_9529_SNS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://saturnneversleeps.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/MG_9529_SNS.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">I and my friend <a href="http://www.createdigitalmusic.com/">Peter Kirn</a> rolled out of NYC on the Bus to Philly (bolt bus with Wi-Fi) and met up with the creators of Saturn never Sleeps, Rucyl and King Britt, at the restaurant part of <a href="http://www.google.de/url?sa=t&amp;source=web&amp;cd=1&amp;sqi=2&amp;ved=0CBwQFjAA&amp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.silkcityphilly.com%2F&amp;ei=ckDuTZnIF43EsgbetLyJBA&amp;usg=AFQjCNHZQ8zpXryMJfxZtV96Z7v-KqiSzQ">Silk city</a> where i proceeded to have a type-2 diabetes inducing meal that consisted of bacon wrapped hotdogs, and the best baked beans and dessert I’ve ever had!&nbsp; So good i had to blog about it!!&nbsp; Luckily we had a few hours before we needed to play, so during the "itis" coma-state, we all got to chat and get to know each other.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><br /> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Both of our hosts were so very chilled and cool.&nbsp; I felt instantly like i was somehow at home, and i felt more relaxed than usual about playing a new city and with someone whose projects i rate highly.&nbsp; On this night, Britt was rocking a N.I. Maschine in live mode for the first time (he killed it) and Rucyl was doing something that i have been waiting to see from a singer for YEARS; as she sang, she was using an Akai APC40 to manipulate her live vocals.&nbsp; It was very delicate and reserved in that she was able to mix in with everyone she sang with.&nbsp; That coupled with Britt dropping the sub-frequencies live, they were a force and deserving of the many accolades i had heard about&nbsp;their set.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><br /> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">In amongst this line up was guitarist <a href="http://davidmanley.com/">David Manley</a> who was able to rock out solo-stylee, then, without a sweat, complete some of Britt’s ideas when they collabed early in the night.&nbsp; This cat knows how to play to a dance floor!&nbsp; I was definitely taking a few notes;-)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><br /> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://saturnneversleeps.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/MG_9565_SNS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://saturnneversleeps.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/MG_9565_SNS.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">My set? Well, I’ve been playing around with this whole "perform from the dance floor" thing for the last few shows, since doing it for the first time at <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fiN_RSvA6TA">ARENA</a> in Berlin a few weeks ago.&nbsp; The stage is increasingly becoming the place where i leave my gear when i play, rather than where i play.&nbsp;&nbsp;The effect is much more visceral which is useful because the first thing people think is that I’m a dancer with lights on my hands. From the floor, up close, they can see that i am making the music.&nbsp; I feel that the effect owes something to close up magic.&nbsp; Besides that, it just feels "natural".&nbsp; Like you are where you are supposed to be but haven’t been able to be, for various technical reasons.&nbsp; I know that i can’t do it for every show, but whenever i can, that's where i will be.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><br /> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://saturnneversleeps.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/MG_9608_SNS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://saturnneversleeps.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/MG_9608_SNS.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">As with the TED presentation, i feel like the ideas that i wanted to get across, were conveyed convincingly.&nbsp; I don't feel like i got hung up or caught in any conceptual ruts so, it was a rousing success.&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><br /> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">&nbsp;These "idea ruts" are a problem that doesn't go away.&nbsp; It’s easy to revisit established ideas that work.&nbsp; But if you're not careful, you find yourself in a rut where the only ideas are the ones that "work". ie, overly predictable. &nbsp;predictability is a tool, not a goal. that's why i like starting with something that is just "off" or simply doesn't work, then carving it and shaving it until it works, but in an unexpected fashion. &nbsp;</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5.65pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 2.8pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5.65pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 2.8pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">&nbsp;i look forward to keeping an eye out for the SnS project as it evolves. &nbsp;the rumors about Philly being a heavy city populated with heavy cats is true and well deserved.</span><br /> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">&nbsp;Oh, and one more thing (to quote Steve Jobs)..</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><br /> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><br /> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://dev.squarecows.com/wp-content/plugins/wp-o-matic/cache/cb20a_onyx-ted-audition.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://dev.squarecows.com/wp-content/plugins/wp-o-matic/cache/cb20a_onyx-ted-audition.png" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><br /> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><br /> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><br /> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">.I was just <a href="http://blog.ted.com/2011/06/08/announcing-the-results-of-teds-full-spectrum-auditions/">notified yesterday that my performance was selected to be part of TED.com</a>.&nbsp; So now beatjazz is a permanent part of the TED universe!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><br /> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">And they lived happily ever after...?<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /> </div>Onyx-Ashanti projectshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13982406193622590455noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-985930177980712258.post-73798318501621631622011-05-24T03:54:00.000-07:002011-05-24T03:54:07.230-07:00Focus in New York<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOCF5EIMKH6Y5LY2N3JwRCFS2M2K-BIRSR631RTU_Gjn126UF8_b7PQz_w-E_3iGP__vRnS8CV1_i8PRLyur_5VtMrOnS8dSb1DAIHm9wVNQmkr4Ugnh9Sz4lm7VexyewZ78fzMCmTe_Y/s1600/IMG_0909.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOCF5EIMKH6Y5LY2N3JwRCFS2M2K-BIRSR631RTU_Gjn126UF8_b7PQz_w-E_3iGP__vRnS8CV1_i8PRLyur_5VtMrOnS8dSb1DAIHm9wVNQmkr4Ugnh9Sz4lm7VexyewZ78fzMCmTe_Y/s320/IMG_0909.jpg" width="320" /></a>i apologize for the dearth of posts for the last week or so. &nbsp;my mind was consumed with visa issues (sorted) before heading to the US with my strange looking controller (no problems, although the TSA shit will probably start on the way OUT), and preparing for my TED presentation (current status). &nbsp;I am now in New york, staying with a friend and preparing. &nbsp;i thought i would have gone out more over the last few days, but jetlag and obsessive focus shot those plans in the face. <br /> <br /> interesting point to be at in ones life. &nbsp;note to everyone under 35; 40 is the SHIT!! i always thought that was just stuff that old people told themselves,but no...its pretty awesome. &nbsp;the "focus" is the best part. &nbsp;distractions of my twenties become novel afterthoughts now. &nbsp;the ability to know "you" is priceless. &nbsp;but the ability to say "no" is something you cant buy. &nbsp;to be able to turn things down because you can play out a well earned series of experiences and/or hypotheticals based on experiences, of your own and of others observed, is so much better than other 40 years olds made it seem when i was younger! &nbsp;of course, excercising and eating right help. and on the topic of eating right...<br /> <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVeWIQpm3-XTuSLeoYIdzaTcGR7XLKZ7YIjOEgSNdeAwLIppeKDthsK8oJwcvil_Gbno1ipig0E6TrH8YUdYmet0XzHhvcfSczBtvMQHhLoTURsI1BxzYUCucA7NgQQgR3_pGRNvfqJdA/s1600/IMG_0911.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVeWIQpm3-XTuSLeoYIdzaTcGR7XLKZ7YIjOEgSNdeAwLIppeKDthsK8oJwcvil_Gbno1ipig0E6TrH8YUdYmet0XzHhvcfSczBtvMQHhLoTURsI1BxzYUCucA7NgQQgR3_pGRNvfqJdA/s200/IMG_0911.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>that aint happening this week. &nbsp;america is a holy temple of junk food. &nbsp;i can not resist its siren song and since i return to Berlin next week,i'm not gonna try. &nbsp;everything from my favorite Little Debbie oatmeal creme pies,to popcorn shrimp at TGIFridays to my (hopefully) celebratory movie outing tommorrow evening to take in THOR with an overpriced selection of movie edibles, i plan to bask in a bit of gastro-nostalgia, then just repent with a few hundred kilometers of cycling when i get back home.<br /> <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8hne_WZYVauHkvOO8WrZd38gRhUPmfYBKadEj4P5azSJSRpU3jksFT6hc1nopVwpp73ufNffBMk2zYBS5WpUpTSb9Gnx4QSQZzxrFpnAz1XLmUQ1cSmYVcTz33fUXxSxTNWs1nzX9fM8/s1600/IMG_0912.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8hne_WZYVauHkvOO8WrZd38gRhUPmfYBKadEj4P5azSJSRpU3jksFT6hc1nopVwpp73ufNffBMk2zYBS5WpUpTSb9Gnx4QSQZzxrFpnAz1XLmUQ1cSmYVcTz33fUXxSxTNWs1nzX9fM8/s320/IMG_0912.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>but the best part is the confidence. &nbsp;As i prepare for my presentation. &nbsp;i feel like many of my hardware glitches have been suppressed. &nbsp;I designed a completely new mouthpiece out of a silicon substance, gifted to me by Uli, that can be molded into any shape then cures to a solid rubber like state in 5 minutes or so. &nbsp;with this material, i created a mouthpiece that is part pacifier, part snorkel and it works amazingly. &nbsp;this and solving the "sticking looper trigger" issue, give me confidence that i can create something tonight that will present the system and beatjazz to the world, properly. &nbsp;i'm not particularly excited.more, again, focused on the task at hand. &nbsp;i'll be excited afterward, if everything goes without a hitch.<br /> <br /> I will recap the TRESOR gig when i am back as i must edit video and i dont have said video with me here. &nbsp;but i will recap the TED thing by thursday. &nbsp;live long and prosper.Onyx-Ashanti projectshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13982406193622590455noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-985930177980712258.post-43846033247146090032011-05-12T07:32:00.000-07:002011-05-13T13:33:22.132-07:0060mW trancievers!! And why that is very exciting newsIts been a week of exciting news but there is one piece of news that has really gotten me worked up.&nbsp; 60mw xbee trancievers!!!&nbsp; I know!!&nbsp; it blows my mind too!<br /> <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcr2VwISyV-wM5F9UiAdZks60rJjdzwjAcBsLxb0F3kFDMZrD01nrDTpY-CG9tzNPrYaNAgxQu1kFsyGui_B3ITzmvjvJI-3ySyWmqjWDfdRMBwvCB1_oGzAs5OCz6dVwG7Eltc9nMPoY/s1600/IMG_0899.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcr2VwISyV-wM5F9UiAdZks60rJjdzwjAcBsLxb0F3kFDMZrD01nrDTpY-CG9tzNPrYaNAgxQu1kFsyGui_B3ITzmvjvJI-3ySyWmqjWDfdRMBwvCB1_oGzAs5OCz6dVwG7Eltc9nMPoY/s200/IMG_0899.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br /> As you know, my controller is a 3 way wireless network comprised of 6 xbee radio trancievers.&nbsp; each hand unit and the mouth unit has one and each has another one that intercepts the data it sends.&nbsp; these three form a basestation that connects to 3 USB ports on my laptop. the xbee series 1 has 1mW(milliWatt) of broadcast power which,according to the literature,should give it a range of about 100m. with Pure data i take the signals from these three sources and reconstruct them into one cohesive system.&nbsp; lovely.<br /> <br /> the system works so much better than i anticipated, with one small caveat;&nbsp; the advertised range is based on data transmision, NOT data speed!&nbsp; so basically, if you are 100m away, playing a self designed controller, your performance data will arrive...eventually.&nbsp; i discovered the hard way that i actually have a "playable" range of about 5-7m before the data packets start slowing to the point of unplayability.&nbsp; oh...AND, now that i have been playing the controller for a bit i have also discovered what happens first, when the batteries start to dwindle; the range reduces to about 12cm before complete shutdown. (battery meters are first on the agenda upon return to berlin)<br /> <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3uDqntN62SWPL6XeC5Xpr9H3j7RxgXZ8AtUkELPUEAtF3y75CCsqe0yy7kVsgDDeIMkeAWgzvTnkB3sl4WVQletMFqHeKlNIyOCdtktXsdtuCZIr7j9suDANyYlKBvu4Sd67mMayZ3m8/s1600/IMG_0898.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3uDqntN62SWPL6XeC5Xpr9H3j7RxgXZ8AtUkELPUEAtF3y75CCsqe0yy7kVsgDDeIMkeAWgzvTnkB3sl4WVQletMFqHeKlNIyOCdtktXsdtuCZIr7j9suDANyYlKBvu4Sd67mMayZ3m8/s200/IMG_0898.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>so i asked my lab partner, Google search, about higher powered trancievers and google never fails me.&nbsp; i discovered the that the xbee series 1 has a "pro" version that tops out at 60mW!! for a rated range of 1km!&nbsp; so the next step, as it has been from day one,was to contact anton at www.tinkersoup.de and as usual, he had them in stock.&nbsp; they are slightly bigger than the previous ones but i uploaded the profile from the previous xbees onto the newer more powerful Pro's and installed them as my basestation.&nbsp; then replaced the ones in the controller, which have a chip based antenna, with the previously basestation xbees that have wire antennas, although they are still 1mW.&nbsp; so now my basestation is broadcasting at 60mW per tranciever to 1mW nodes with proper antennas. yaaaay!!!<br /> <br /> so does it work?&nbsp; well, before this, when pracitcing at home, if i went two rooms over to the kitchen (german walls are made of stone,&nbsp; cast iron and diamonds or something because they are very thick and sound proof), i would hear intermitent notes drop and stuttery-ness.&nbsp; now? haha! i can stroll out the door and down the hall until i simply cant hear the sounds anymore, only being able to tell its still transmitting by looking at my iphone Heads up display.<br /> <br /> it has to be "magic".&nbsp; pure, close up magic that people can see, not from a stage, but from 6 inches away.&nbsp; a new interaction.&nbsp; I felt it a couple of weeks ago at ARENA.&nbsp; my intention was to "perform" but the result was some "thing" else. i cant really describe it.&nbsp; you're not only creating a sonic universe, but you're swimming around in it as well.&nbsp; there was no sepration between partying and performing.&nbsp; it was a completely new and foriegn metaphor that i really want to investigate fully starting with my (gotta find a new name for this type of show) at Tresor.&nbsp; whereas simply having "some" wireless was "cool" before, now its crucial and needs to be be powerful and bullet proof,hence my excitement about the new trancievers.<br /> <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1ZO9AcCpiKky9ja5pbjp2QlIGCQDw-uuERaNWm1JxqRal4-VM7q2gIPj34LG4moF3QY-B48B55wO-RaUlJL5zAO4fcmqj1sUzEFo2CCxEMywpc-qp1YcEwmCLhCkp5PHlGtqz6Mf-mpA/s1600/224332_1547657870813_1816069651_966136_2431511_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1ZO9AcCpiKky9ja5pbjp2QlIGCQDw-uuERaNWm1JxqRal4-VM7q2gIPj34LG4moF3QY-B48B55wO-RaUlJL5zAO4fcmqj1sUzEFo2CCxEMywpc-qp1YcEwmCLhCkp5PHlGtqz6Mf-mpA/s320/224332_1547657870813_1816069651_966136_2431511_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>This makes me feel much better about tommorrows show at TRESOR as i want to to feel free enough to go whereever the the music takes me, creatively and physically. i'm pretty sure that i will be able to play,accurately from any point in the +4bar, where I will be performing my first full club set with the new system.&nbsp; I'm scheduled to go on at 5am so the crowd will be pretty "in the zone" by the time i start;-).&nbsp; but the "wtf?!" looks will still be&nbsp; priceless. after my set me and TomTom will pump it up a bit more before i devolve into a stuppor/zone myself ( hey, i gotta party too ya know!).<br /> <br /> &nbsp; ok, back to practicing.&nbsp; see you tommorrow night. l8r.Onyx-Ashanti projectshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13982406193622590455noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-985930177980712258.post-49103414565276078752011-05-09T16:43:00.000-07:002011-05-09T16:43:43.191-07:00I've been invited to Present beatjazz for TED!<a href="http://blog.ted.com/"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">http://blog.ted.com/</span></a><br /> <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><a href="http://www.ted.com/images/ted_logo.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.ted.com/images/ted_logo.gif" /></a><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10pt;">It seems that there is no end to how surreal 2011 has become.&nbsp; First, crowdfunding a project that I was maybe 50-60% sure I could even complete partially, only to have it turn out much better than I imagined. then to actually become comfortable with using ideas that were purely hypothetical not so long ago, so that now, the idea of a music form that blends dance, jazz improv, sound design and light into one sci-fi inspired "thing"- that I wake up and practice daily- blows my mind completely, already!!&nbsp; But nothing prepared me for being invited as one of the first ever TED presenters chosen from the public!&nbsp; From hand drawn sketch and a 3 year old Arduino board with 4 blown pins, to TED presentation in 5 months! I'm gonna self combust!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><a href="http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2011/TECH/innovation/04/18/audition.for.ted.mashable/t1larg.ted.audition.speaker.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="112px" src="http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2011/TECH/innovation/04/18/audition.for.ted.mashable/t1larg.ted.audition.speaker.jpg" width="200px" /></a><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10pt;">Ok...some of you are probably asking, " what's (or who...) is TED?&nbsp; TED is a totally badass conference where really smart people give presentations on really great ideas (check out <a href="http://www.ted.com/talks/pattie_maes_demos_the_sixth_sense.html">http://www.ted.com/talks/pattie_maes_demos_the_sixth_sense.html</a> as an intro to a truly mind blowing one).&nbsp; TED stands for Technology, Entertainment and Design and is a conference, started in 1984, to bring together the brightest minds in these fields.&nbsp; Al gore, Bill and Melinda Gates, Bobby McFerrin, Thomas Dolby and many amazing scientists, inventors, innovators, designers and artists &nbsp;who aren’t famous in that celebrity way, but rather as innovators in their fields.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10pt;">&nbsp;In 2006, they decided to post the video recordings of the presentations online for anyone to see and it became a phenomenon, spawning a global network of TED events and initiatives making the main conference, which has a currated attendance of approximately 1500 people, an even more valuable entity.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn7E6UkOiMr7gLyuVzr6LRSsh9rD6NQhJVxdS5eKqzusAwS1PqQ2Pdm_CEJ4bPP22rGFmtNfG3Vt-xzlsXTGE5FUbSwdvTBvIeuOFZzDqbtiWaZAtiSXxwjNteQieeXjd_8c6KvPTn5oA/s1600/Image46.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn7E6UkOiMr7gLyuVzr6LRSsh9rD6NQhJVxdS5eKqzusAwS1PqQ2Pdm_CEJ4bPP22rGFmtNfG3Vt-xzlsXTGE5FUbSwdvTBvIeuOFZzDqbtiWaZAtiSXxwjNteQieeXjd_8c6KvPTn5oA/s320/Image46.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10pt;">A few weeks ago I&nbsp;saw an online posting for their first ever open auditions by way of a 1 minute video, where you would tell them why they should chose you for their 2012 conference, themed "Full Spectrum".&nbsp; That was cool.&nbsp; but that same weekend I met a young filmmaker by the name of Tom Plummer (<a href="http://www.start2think.de/">http://www.start2think.de/</a> ) who just happened to be in Berlin on business and caught one of my "Alpha" busking sessions at Tacheles Arthouse and he filmed me with his iphone initially and his nicer camera the following day.&nbsp; These recordings formed the basis of the video I submitted to TED for their consideration.&nbsp; Woooo hooooooooo!!!! For amazing coincidences!!!&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10pt;">It has been torture to not be able to announce any of this, but now I can.&nbsp; And I can begin the working on creating a presentation that will present Beatjazz, the controller, the music and the sharing concept in one, intense, 6 minute spectacle that I will be presenting to a group of 150 "TEDsters" on May 24th in NYC!&nbsp; If you'd like to help me get to New York, my PayPal address is onyxashanti@gmail.com. But, as with the controller project, if I have to, I'll sell a kidney and swim there!&nbsp; I ain’t missing this!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10pt;">I’m going to put together a "TED Warm-up" here in Berlin so I can test my presentation out on an audience sometime next week.&nbsp; Let me know if you are interested in attending. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /> </div>Onyx-Ashanti projectshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13982406193622590455noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-985930177980712258.post-40666931679204714262011-05-03T11:27:00.000-07:002011-05-03T11:27:44.080-07:00"Beta" Test notes and TRON "Party Pass" Fullfillment<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-autospace: none;"><object class="BLOGGER-youtube-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="http://i.ytimg.com/vi/fiN_RSvA6TA/0.jpg" height="266" width="320"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/fiN_RSvA6TA?f=user_uploads&c=google-webdrive-0&app=youtube_gdata" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><embed width="320" height="266" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/fiN_RSvA6TA?f=user_uploads&c=google-webdrive-0&app=youtube_gdata" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed></object><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">On Saturday night, I finally got to test the Beatjazz control system on a club crowd at ARENA in Berlin, for the Birthday party of DJ TomTom;&nbsp;I consider the night club to be its natural environment.&nbsp; Everything up to this point has been conceived with this in mind and it was wonderful!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><br /> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Originally, I had not planned to play.&nbsp; I was gonna make an appearance, have a drink and then go home to dub CD's for May Day on Sunday.&nbsp; But then I got asked the magic question..."did you bring your stuff?"&nbsp; "Ummm...nope, but I can go get it!"&nbsp; Right now, any excuse I can create or find, to play this wonderful toy, I take!&nbsp; And this would be on a decent club sound system as well.&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><br /> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-autospace: none;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.urban75.org/brixton/photos/images/193.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://www.urban75.org/brixton/photos/images/193.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">&nbsp;I played on a large system a couple of weeks ago for the Tacheles Demonstration (no it’s not closed and it won’t close if we can help it!! see below)&nbsp;but that was more concert stage.&nbsp; Playing clubs is intimate...close up.&nbsp; Back in the day, I developed a taste for small clubs from a residency I had at a club called "tongue and groove" in Brixton, South London.&nbsp; It was SO sexy in that "not forced" way. And I was positioned right on the edge of the dance floor where I could be part of the party.&nbsp; Since those days, I have had a taste for small, intimate, intense parties.&nbsp; This fueled my desire for more freedom to express myself fully in said environments, which helped move the controller project towards reality, so, after weeks of practicing in various spaces, I would finally get to "rinse" the system in the type of space it was designed for.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><br /> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Pre-performance notes.&nbsp; The still-mounted-to-a-breadboard base station, which has my 3 wireless receivers sketchily mounted to it, was a perpetual source of anxiety.&nbsp; I just knew someone was going to breathe on it and it was going to fly to pieces because the parts are only slotted onto the board.&nbsp; But I have been very happy with the reduction of overall equipment.&nbsp; The whole system is my Beatjazz controller, the sound card and the laptop and it all fits in my bike bag.&nbsp; I LOVE this, although I know it to be a short-lived phenomenon as soon as I add in the wireless mic and helmet systems.&nbsp;&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><br /> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-autospace: none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlxc4Xeg1hvLQF7yNwaY2lRdfQG8OCXLOJqRZ_jyyvDc15FKRcVyQ0kRe9VlbPgeDmNlaMubzwX7lWxBERErV7Qlx-_oWDA41YqAxDt2B18o6nRp5eSdSeTqoviKeg5ABmXpUKzUCGPz8/s1600/fio+004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlxc4Xeg1hvLQF7yNwaY2lRdfQG8OCXLOJqRZ_jyyvDc15FKRcVyQ0kRe9VlbPgeDmNlaMubzwX7lWxBERErV7Qlx-_oWDA41YqAxDt2B18o6nRp5eSdSeTqoviKeg5ABmXpUKzUCGPz8/s200/fio+004.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">So, the set, from my perspective? Interesting.&nbsp; I "thought" I would do what I usually do, which was to stand in front of the DJ booth and "perform".&nbsp; Not the case, at all!&nbsp; Before I realized it, I had eased into the crowd and was dancing with a couple of very attractive women, BUT WAIT...I was still creating and playing as well!&nbsp; It felt very natural, especially because of two variables; (1.) 4 weeks of 5-8 hours a day practice, and (2.) the wireless system did its job very well.&nbsp; Actually surprisingly so.&nbsp; Although I was only about 5 meters away, there were a number of people between me and the base station, yet I sensed no increase in latency, so I didn't have to "think" about where I was or what I was doing, in regards to the wireless system.&nbsp; The lights served their purpose as well. And although I am still figuring out how to integrate the BlinkM MaxM monster lights, the smaller, high intensity LEDs I am currently using, served their purpose very well and provided the parallel narrative I intended them to, by changing color when I changed sound type.&nbsp;&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><br /> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-autospace: none;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://vibiv.com/img/vbv/covers/Q5uhke3A.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="100" src="http://vibiv.com/img/vbv/covers/Q5uhke3A.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">All together, there was a naturalness that was unexpected.&nbsp; Everything worked as it should, which is rarely the case with my sets.&nbsp; I look forward to investigating more gestural constructs. Maybe there is a capoera and/or kung fu class in my near future.&nbsp; I would imagine that these movements, with the right gestural designs, would be intoxicating.&nbsp;&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-autospace: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">I just started adding new sounds to my database as well.&nbsp; First new sound this week are some wonderfully cheesy strings.&nbsp; It was like Flashdance and Fame all rolled up into one synth, this ability for a sound to invoke memories and nostalgia, then to play on that nostalgia.&nbsp; I’m thinking that I want to bulk up my database with multiple eras of sound concepts from (of course) parliament funkadelic and The Time (gotta work on my Jesse Johnson guitar patch!) to Flying Lotus&nbsp;and Autechre with tinges of mid 90's Photek and Gaslamp killer.&nbsp; The possibilities are literally boundless!<o:p></o:p></span></div><iframe allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="100" src="http://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/v=2/album=229176291/size=venti/bgcol=FFFFFF/linkcol=4285BB/" style="display: block; height: 100px; position: relative; width: 400px;" width="400">&amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://onyxashanti.bandcamp.com/album/beatjazz-excerpts"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Beatjazz Excerpts by Onyx Ashanti&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;gt;</iframe><br /> <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><br /> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-autospace: none;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4T62DsZe8rCtP_cKTG4KOuZgYWmMllDFY79jc9wiExMlIs6zv9cn4yII3uIJhub98jKeD1P3wlmKHULQBNx658Nd3Oxleg3brlTyBBtGMciFk0y3b3cieOgZk5kht66EqvBcEX8CSCps/s1600/404927.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4T62DsZe8rCtP_cKTG4KOuZgYWmMllDFY79jc9wiExMlIs6zv9cn4yII3uIJhub98jKeD1P3wlmKHULQBNx658Nd3Oxleg3brlTyBBtGMciFk0y3b3cieOgZk5kht66EqvBcEX8CSCps/s1600/404927.png" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">And a note to my contributors who got the "party Pass" during my Indiegogo campaign.&nbsp; I want to do the full Debut party with the helmet and everything, but I don't have the helmet and it will probably be another month or so before it is ready so, since my show at TRESOR next week on May 13th is featuring me on the Beatjazz controller, all of you get a free pass to the show AND a free drink AND when I finish the helmet and do the official debut party later in the summer, you still get tickets to that as well!&nbsp; I cannot say thank you to all of you enough for helping me create my dream, so I’d rather show you.&nbsp; I will email you with details.&nbsp; For all other campaign contributors, the TRESOR party marks the end of the trajectory of this story, from drawing and concept, to performance in one of Berlins Legendary electronic music institutions.&nbsp; after this party, I will start compiling the notes, video, audio and the first draft of the book and begin putting together the DVD's, EP, and book.&nbsp; I can’t wait to get these out to you, as there is A LOT of stuff in there!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><br /> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-autospace: none;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNyQ_IQ2c0vuvMGknrQdwvUTpm1MnqWAqSpKZ11lQsXglcSOar1eHu8jA8qyf5vvjLAemRGv1g930Z2q9xogEVCcNapwC3GmNeP-ec-4L4tzN3Ufh2geMTL9hPQnC2R5j0EA2JZ8wvYPs/s1600/web_DEMO2_front.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNyQ_IQ2c0vuvMGknrQdwvUTpm1MnqWAqSpKZ11lQsXglcSOar1eHu8jA8qyf5vvjLAemRGv1g930Z2q9xogEVCcNapwC3GmNeP-ec-4L4tzN3Ufh2geMTL9hPQnC2R5j0EA2JZ8wvYPs/s200/web_DEMO2_front.jpg" width="142" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvQLpC7_bN2l47R99NGfmBDtbCZiC6jM-i7YInNwvZBh2bu-1GBLCBL6N6lqVx9yzmNXkvj_X6X_2AsrvOItiV7ecsqTfl6DrBiNJ5niKf3JosnDhOeNRq37rpeXZlPQZZC8j0Sn_pfyA/s1600/DEMO2_sw_A4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; display: inline !important; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvQLpC7_bN2l47R99NGfmBDtbCZiC6jM-i7YInNwvZBh2bu-1GBLCBL6N6lqVx9yzmNXkvj_X6X_2AsrvOItiV7ecsqTfl6DrBiNJ5niKf3JosnDhOeNRq37rpeXZlPQZZC8j0Sn_pfyA/s320/DEMO2_sw_A4.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">If you have time on Friday, come over the Tacheles and show some support.&nbsp; I have living in a number of cities that take gentrification too far and as I plan on living here for the foreseeable future, I don't want to see Berlin turned into over-priced hipster-hell.&nbsp; Tacheles must not die!&nbsp; Come, dance, check out the artists’ studios and revel in what real art looks and feels like.</span></div>Onyx-Ashanti projectshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13982406193622590455noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-985930177980712258.post-87793621932250415502011-04-25T13:22:00.000-07:002011-04-25T13:22:43.758-07:009,900 hours to go!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiliwrVQIn_N0MpN-dtJ2HsIbRbcVde1h3mB7iQ7GE044rWivK10ynsvM_Vn-mo__hsuvyD6j2KLE9IS7u0lLeOsOBR1mezngtvcK-3dKz8czShqOmtRc3DAnJPQtOukhEC6uUXdizbAwM/s1600/IMG_3535.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiliwrVQIn_N0MpN-dtJ2HsIbRbcVde1h3mB7iQ7GE044rWivK10ynsvM_Vn-mo__hsuvyD6j2KLE9IS7u0lLeOsOBR1mezngtvcK-3dKz8czShqOmtRc3DAnJPQtOukhEC6uUXdizbAwM/s320/IMG_3535.JPG" width="320" /></a><br /> <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5.65pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 2.8pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt;">What an amazing week!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Thanks for all the wonderful feedback about the system.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>I’m really excited that it’s been so well received.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5.65pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 2.8pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5.65pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 2.8pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt;">According to Malcolm Gladwell's book, "The Outliers" he presented the concept that with the investment of approximately 10,000 hours of focus, one becomes an expert, and he gave many very strong examples. Being a busker, I agree.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>There are just many things that I do now that I can only do because I obsessively find places to play, while creating income for myself with my "pay-what-you-want" CD.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Playing is more important right now, than trying to maximize income.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Playing ALOT is the only way that this system will become second nature.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5.65pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 2.8pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5.65pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 2.8pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt;">On that tip, I have been going around to a few places here in Berlin, un-booked, just to rinse new sounds and new gestural constructs (my term for the combination of hand/body position and playing that results in a particular sound).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>The other night at RufReaktor (Landsberger Alle 54), I set up my small system in one of the unoccupied dark, graffiti covered corridors, a few floors below the venue. I had a couple of cats checking out what I was doing when another guy comes up the stairs, sees us, and comes over.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>he stands there for a sec trying to make out what I’m doing and looks at the guy closest to him and asks, "Is this for real?!" in the straightest, most honest voice I’ve ever heard! No assumptions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Just a simple question.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>I was honored.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>I stopped right then and built a new sonic-construct, slowly, for his benefit.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5.65pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 2.8pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5.65pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 2.8pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt;">That was one of 4 Q&amp;A's last week, including Sabia Khans "an Artist Talk" at Tacheles, and a few un-planned post-performance sessions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>I may try to find a way to either incorporate such sessions into my performance concept OR, refine my presentation so as to negate the need to have such a session.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5.65pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 2.8pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5.65pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 2.8pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/n9hiVSPvAkg?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt;">On THAT tip, this week I install the big babies in the controllers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>My BlinkM MaxM rgb LED arrays!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>The lights I use right now are rated at around 8,000mcd (millicandela and no, I don't know what that means either)...the BlinkM's?! 435,000mcd!! Don’t come to the show without your shades and I ain’t joking!!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Why?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Because I don't want "indicator" lights, I want shockingly bright, swirling balls of energy! I'm a bit of a hippie and I have ingested, at life affirming quantities, a fair amount of LSD and Mushrooms over the years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>One aspect that I always enjoyed the most was the synesthetic aspects of music and psychedelics.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>One can "see" the music, and I really wanted to share that with people without the expense or anxiety of giving everyone acid.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>my theory is that the dark environments, coupled with the color synth I am designing, and brightness, should approximate synesthesia, or "seeing sound as color"<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>that's the theory at least, come to RufReaktor this weekend (April 30th) and let me know if my theory was correct.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5.65pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 2.8pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><br /> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrJTINZko7T-RzNOxYUvpOwY5U94YFMpoYkgRjf35rBdQTZWsfwim2SOomdR4L-k25K2zeAi82obtTJ5DW4kACAbMp_IzDX62SfeNfBI9xlhrYoUfFkmh_XruMu-fSQAM4gylXE8Xupf8/s1600/IMG_0856%255B1%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrJTINZko7T-RzNOxYUvpOwY5U94YFMpoYkgRjf35rBdQTZWsfwim2SOomdR4L-k25K2zeAi82obtTJ5DW4kACAbMp_IzDX62SfeNfBI9xlhrYoUfFkmh_XruMu-fSQAM4gylXE8Xupf8/s200/IMG_0856%255B1%255D.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5.65pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 2.8pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt;">I am using these lithium polymer bad boys to power the system.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;They are designed for remote controlled helicopters.&nbsp;</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">&nbsp;</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">They are freakishly powerful.&nbsp;</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">So much so that I am going to have to acquire an external charger for them, as the ones built into the arduino's, can’t deal with them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>but I’m gonna have to do much running around to find transistors that will do what I need them to do and my temporarily dissipating German language skills aren’t helping.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5.65pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 2.8pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5.65pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 2.8pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt;">The massive changes in the last couple of weeks have brought to light another issue.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>I have no relevant pictures!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>All my promo stuff is me with my wx5.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>I hope to rectify that this week as I start compiling content for the TRON controller campaign DVD.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>There will be loads of mind maps, videos, pics, the book AND the only release of the open source patches and schematics (before MAKE mag prints it in Sept)...everything!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>There will only EVER be 15 of this DVD made and it is for the contributors without whom I would not have been able to complete this project.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5.65pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 2.8pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5.65pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 2.8pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt;">I must do a new "pay what you want" CD this week, as well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>I learned a lot about "what" this disc actually is-less "CD with data" than "digital goodie bag".<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>I will load up the new disc with some of my TouchOSC patches, samples...all kinds of stuff.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>I hope to have it ready by Friday.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5.65pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 2.8pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><br /> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-knyPAOwWgxVytoJqOkYjIlzFVTnhNzKCyZQ70kbkKInDLdE3wYNleuFFtuQZZNTJ8RUOj_6scUzqLiOYkhf0iGcx4bFU2jGvYfmzxj3xsD-EQZ2yNvkYePnDp-j-QSAAjqtTbU3MHo0/s1600/BUSKER+PRINT.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-knyPAOwWgxVytoJqOkYjIlzFVTnhNzKCyZQ70kbkKInDLdE3wYNleuFFtuQZZNTJ8RUOj_6scUzqLiOYkhf0iGcx4bFU2jGvYfmzxj3xsD-EQZ2yNvkYePnDp-j-QSAAjqtTbU3MHo0/s320/BUSKER+PRINT.png" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5.65pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 2.8pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt;">And I am nearing the 2/3's mark on the completion of the book.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Just started on “theory and concept”. This is the section I am most passionate about.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>If you are interested in checking out some of what I have written so far, msg me and I will add you to the private Facebook group I have for it.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5.65pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 2.8pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5.65pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 2.8pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt;">And finally, this week I will add an "inhale" mode to the controller.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>The pressure sensor I use has a "blow" port and a "suck" port (which, for obvious reasons shall be referred to as "exhale" and "inhale") and I realized that I could use the inhale port to literally double my controller functions!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Exhale (blow) to play and inhale to create new parameter and effects settings for when I exhale again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>It’ll be the bizzaro alternative universe, because I can just copy my existing system and set it to control stuff besides notes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>For instance, when I inhale and play a c#, that can be “turn on distortion” then I blow, and I have distortion assigned to my effects position, or a combination of effects.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Very excited to get started on this!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Hope to have it functional by the weekend.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5.65pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 2.8pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5.65pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 2.8pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt;">So there is the previous week and the upcoming week, in a nutshell.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Cheers for the support, but the best is yet to come.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Holla...<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /> </div>Onyx-Ashanti projectshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13982406193622590455noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-985930177980712258.post-55669131176591892232011-04-19T14:28:00.000-07:002011-04-19T14:28:48.542-07:00THIS is BeatJazz!<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">NOTE: <i>This is the "the one". If you have ever or never shared one of my videos with someone, I feel like this one should be that one.&nbsp; I say that because additional attention can help me finish building the system in the manner it desires to be manifested.</i><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><i><br /> </i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Last Sunday should have been like any other Sunday-busk-at-tacheles-and-test-shit session, but it may mark the first point where Beatjazz and its instrument because "real" in a sonic sense.&nbsp;&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5.65pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 2.8pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/LkJX4iYdPyU?hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/LkJX4iYdPyU?hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Apparently, there was a massive orange moon this last weekend.&nbsp; Coupled with the warm weather, vibes were good but something was a bit more "electric" in the air.&nbsp; I decided to wear my Beatjazz t-shirt, which I usually only wear at shows.&nbsp; And I had spent the week, programming the new parameters, like chord-ability, sound selection grid and gestural effects and practicing them all at home so on this Sunday-a usually quiet day at Tacheles- I could just work thru sound-constructs.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5.65pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 2.8pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">The previous night, I had presented the system for the first time on a large sound system and it was very well received although I was slightly frustrated by the lack of usable range from my wireless system, but any wireless is better than no wireless, so I hovered around my "base station" and did my set. I won’t describe the response.&nbsp; I will save that for the part two video.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5.65pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 2.8pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-autospace: none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfFoBmH7QvcwIOl-ie83bD6oB5Jf2mbKBUN7ztQNUS2a5OLAeyhgTQXoyEKh0BNhyphenhyphenKybOrdADRFcJVxxX3sh3FFcLHZ_AIWgDYBkfw5EeNRuYbc6PSSDU2W-oVd0-KvKDrO_RFI_Q4YNY/s1600/IMG_0250.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfFoBmH7QvcwIOl-ie83bD6oB5Jf2mbKBUN7ztQNUS2a5OLAeyhgTQXoyEKh0BNhyphenhyphenKybOrdADRFcJVxxX3sh3FFcLHZ_AIWgDYBkfw5EeNRuYbc6PSSDU2W-oVd0-KvKDrO_RFI_Q4YNY/s320/IMG_0250.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">On the Sunday though, I was ready to drop a few new sounds and work on chord structuring.&nbsp; Rather than describe music, I’ll describe the feeling. I underestimated the effect that parameterizing ones gestures would have on my performance psyche.&nbsp; Now that most of the big bugs are worked out a bit and I’ve had a week or so the practice it in this form, it stops feeling like an instrument.&nbsp; I mean, the controllers are strapped to my hands...I don't "hold" them.&nbsp; They are just there and my fingers just move.&nbsp; And when I breathe, sounds come out.&nbsp; That’s the feeling.&nbsp; There is no feeling of playing...only breathing.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5.65pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 2.8pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Simultaneously, the idea of "beats" is quickly disintegrating into a cloud of rhythm concepts.&nbsp; I feel and hear an emerging "syntax" that I had not fully expected.&nbsp; It sounds a lot like language even though it is supposed to be keeping the time of the loop.&nbsp; This is going to be a very interesting area as this idea merges with designing sounds for this syntax.&nbsp;&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5.65pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 2.8pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Now, rhythm insinuates movement, which comes involuntarily, which makes you want to play rhythms to emphasize that movement, so there is an evolutionary recursion thing happening that is surreal to be at the center of.&nbsp; Concurrently, the ability to flick a switch and play chords, monophonically, on any instrument, is surprising in that the chord syntax is more "angular" than I had imagined.&nbsp; Playing each note of a chord, at rhythmic intervals creates really interesting harmonic pulls.&nbsp; There were a few accidentally dissonant moments that I am really glad I recorded so I can study and recreate them.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5.65pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 2.8pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">All in all, it feels like being directly interfaced with sound.&nbsp; An appendage that is simply a voice that speaks a language you didn't know that you knew.&nbsp; I recorded most of the afternoon’s constructs, the best of which will be mastered and be compiled as part of the Beatjazz Controller Campaign EP that I create exclusively for contributors to my last campaign.&nbsp; I was so lucky that filmmaker Tom Pue <a href="http://www.start2think.de/">www.start2think.de</a> happened to be filming my entire set with his iphone4.&nbsp; The quality of the colors is breathtaking.&nbsp; The graffiti JUMPS out and I am very grateful that he came by the crib and shared it with me (because Apple are assholes and make it ridiculously hard to share self created video and audio content between phones).&nbsp; Thank you Tom!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><br /> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><br /> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">this week is a lot of visa stuff to sort out, but in the midst of this stuff (if you understand German tax stuff, contact me), I plan to add more functions and sounds to the system and next week I start re incorporating my voice into the system with some updated vocal systems I’ve been working on.&nbsp;&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /> </div>Onyx-Ashanti projectshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13982406193622590455noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-985930177980712258.post-3258901820554324192011-04-13T13:26:00.000-07:002011-04-13T13:26:16.468-07:00Gestural presets and monophonic chords<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5.65pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 2.8pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">And it don't stop!! &nbsp;</span>This was the reason i was so over the moon yesterday! &nbsp;small additions but very major over the long term.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5.65pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 2.8pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><br /> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWcj2S7OcqCN51Yw13JNXQOnoPCyz4Qq1j7dz6Sp6Lby2DkalkEzq3kIodfUIjCm41utP_pADCIzYaM7_X6IjXEgUpcWhtg5dQae2zUgo4gk8g1AJQukTB3WfB0KdBpPvwKA2w_3ml3f4/s1600/onyxbeatjazzcontroller+screeenshot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWcj2S7OcqCN51Yw13JNXQOnoPCyz4Qq1j7dz6Sp6Lby2DkalkEzq3kIodfUIjCm41utP_pADCIzYaM7_X6IjXEgUpcWhtg5dQae2zUgo4gk8g1AJQukTB3WfB0KdBpPvwKA2w_3ml3f4/s320/onyxbeatjazzcontroller+screeenshot.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5.65pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 2.8pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;&nbsp;</span>Very happy with the state of the system.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Things are much more stable now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>I have emulated everything I found useful in my wx5 based system so I decided it’s time to start making the improvements that made me want to build my own controller system in the first place.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5.65pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 2.8pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5.65pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 2.8pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2ekIp-cUGuKTW4UjGzKM2GBJhOZcgfZGZB-rgt3rFqThAVekxtVMPGyYO0D-PjqYLoVppcyckVKGeoDp7K8nFbzd8PjJkBXP0-2m0-flfstRMjEirTyxXNsI286zbsMViwvbAqRCauFk/s1600/preset+patch+pic.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2ekIp-cUGuKTW4UjGzKM2GBJhOZcgfZGZB-rgt3rFqThAVekxtVMPGyYO0D-PjqYLoVppcyckVKGeoDp7K8nFbzd8PjJkBXP0-2m0-flfstRMjEirTyxXNsI286zbsMViwvbAqRCauFk/s200/preset+patch+pic.png" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt;">The first of these improvements is a gestural preset selection system; a means of using a hand flick or key combination to select between a small number of relative sounds in each sound category (drums, bass, keys, leads, etc).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>In the past, I have been locked into 1 or 2 velocity switched variations of sounds because either having too many in memory, overloaded my CPU or the preset systems I had access to were not optimized for being used in such a dynamic fashion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Sometimes I need to jump from upright bass to minimoog bass to drums and back to upright, without having to go thru a convoluted process that is optimized for someone sitting at a computer with a multi-knobbed control surface.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5.65pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 2.8pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><br /> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj95VZ8AROiYUP7LZOki0IsIECI2t655kzffsxp-EFWc3OLRxLdnhzKXZbNyZIMb_h6LPbVhOr3XN5qhqpxRY5RHchOjfI_idglnyZFxDpihZlgE6Fu2aZvuwlL1_yj7drmWErmpktYd44/s1600/preset+patch+arrays+pic.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="105" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj95VZ8AROiYUP7LZOki0IsIECI2t655kzffsxp-EFWc3OLRxLdnhzKXZbNyZIMb_h6LPbVhOr3XN5qhqpxRY5RHchOjfI_idglnyZFxDpihZlgE6Fu2aZvuwlL1_yj7drmWErmpktYd44/s200/preset+patch+arrays+pic.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5.65pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 2.8pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt;">It is this reason that my sounds have remained so static for so long which was the exact opposite of what I had intended with this style.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>so I did a bit of research and found that Pure data handles these types of dynamically access data structures, easily, so created a system using arrays, which are graphical tables, like a spreadsheet, that hold a number and its position.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>You can store as many or as few as you like.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>For my purposes, I only needed very simple tables with 2-4 variables each.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>now I can mute and un mute synths and effects easily and if I decide to change synths or effects in that slot, the mutes don't change, although now I program more in the synth itself than in the host, which helps my system be more agnostic.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5.65pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 2.8pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><br /> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxyED9Tm9uUnzi5XIJzlg-s1SsOUJZ0mLZQbi6FIv8CQA4kemHwIMHvxAgrDUSvF8TAsC4xA2syZIXy3_7qzE-qWBmfjPG0whFS9L-ZFoPvxTwseAfgsA_3_KMawmP2Gu7RG80L4_MwAc/s1600/sustain+patch+pic.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxyED9Tm9uUnzi5XIJzlg-s1SsOUJZ0mLZQbi6FIv8CQA4kemHwIMHvxAgrDUSvF8TAsC4xA2syZIXy3_7qzE-qWBmfjPG0whFS9L-ZFoPvxTwseAfgsA_3_KMawmP2Gu7RG80L4_MwAc/s200/sustain+patch+pic.png" width="157" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5.65pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 2.8pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt;">The other is much simpler but more important in the long run; monophonic chords.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>For the past few years, I have used either chord patches or chord synths to create my chords.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>This has irked me for a really long time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Beatjazz is improvisational and dynamic but this was the one thing that isn’t made up on the spot which has been a touchy point for me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>You can’t be truly free if you keep having to revisit the same chord structures, keys and intervals.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>There’s still LOADS of freedom but it’s not real freedom. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5.65pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 2.8pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5.65pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 2.8pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt;">last fall, when I finally squeezed pure data in between my wx5 and my synth host , I was finally able to make use of the [sustain] object which stops all note-off messages until you send it a [0] at its right input.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>That was very freeing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Although the limitations of the wx5 kept it as more of a novelty than a tool.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>now that I have the Beatjazz controller, there is no spoon and I have created a subroutine that adds sustain to the entire system, instantiated by the joystick I use to control the looper, so now I can have chords for not just keys, but bass, horns, leads...anything on the system, easily turned on and off without having to think about it too much.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5.65pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 2.8pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5.65pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 2.8pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt;">This has led to the mass downloading of harp and piano method books to go along with the sax modal and blues scale books.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>so it looks like once the primary development of this system is stable, most of my time for the next couple of years, will be spent studying scales and chord structure but I take solace in knowing that John Coltrane owed much of his style to the study of harp method, so at least it won’t be in vain.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /> </div>Onyx-Ashanti projectshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13982406193622590455noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-985930177980712258.post-89709421650412059212011-04-12T02:58:00.000-07:002011-04-12T02:58:58.518-07:00Personal Singularities and The Post-Futuristic Conundrum<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyUbV67GtkPxGX1qEcUD4XkxIyGM2f8AGGZr4NexjUXQTjKuvRAeZ_NP0elCVFYXywEe7e4k-Ge1mf72erwpafuTp5Qha6RaYzjGCiGAEI3-97h-Qt9TsjK-NMLpxQhl0ZtdSJ8jsFxyw/s1600/GM4X0138+shrunk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyUbV67GtkPxGX1qEcUD4XkxIyGM2f8AGGZr4NexjUXQTjKuvRAeZ_NP0elCVFYXywEe7e4k-Ge1mf72erwpafuTp5Qha6RaYzjGCiGAEI3-97h-Qt9TsjK-NMLpxQhl0ZtdSJ8jsFxyw/s200/GM4X0138+shrunk.jpg" width="133" /></a><br /> <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt;">Any technology distinguishable from magic is insufficiently advanced.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5.65pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 2.8pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt;">After a few well chosen tweaks to the system, the Beatjazz controller has replaced my wx5 permanently!&nbsp; There is no going back.&nbsp; in fact, once I create the next two versions-one as backup and one for the TRON Beatjazz controller contributor without whom I would not have gotten this one built, (thank all of you again and again!!), I plan to sell the wx5 and never look back, in the same way that I have never considered ever switching back to saxophone.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5.65pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 2.8pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><br /> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuVIJtqQPZETeiTFPcqRuNRr-QvO43dz_p9o6WbQe7gY-O1uV-QBW50s2U_RUvbrgRdo0DlBETWrg1fNPTGsoqyjKVG0SajC_VkrQhC3KQWDbW3b_XvQ08Z4Vy9gyKBQKxB-Te-ltrros/s1600/thumb+octave+positions.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuVIJtqQPZETeiTFPcqRuNRr-QvO43dz_p9o6WbQe7gY-O1uV-QBW50s2U_RUvbrgRdo0DlBETWrg1fNPTGsoqyjKVG0SajC_VkrQhC3KQWDbW3b_XvQ08Z4Vy9gyKBQKxB-Te-ltrros/s320/thumb+octave+positions.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt;">Amongst this week’s geek-tweaks, I devised a simple method for getting 5 octave positions from a joystick this week, and that was the little tweak that put the playability... no, GIGGABILITY over the threshold.&nbsp; Center position is middle C (C3), moving the thumb "west" is C4, and "north" is C5.&nbsp; Then "east” is C2 and "south" is C1.&nbsp; So simple and so effective.&nbsp; I can practice my scales again and play long, multi-octave lines.&nbsp; In fact, surprisingly, the joysticks are the secret sauce.&nbsp; They are basically 5 toggle switches in one unit; with "straight down" being the 5th one in addition to the above mentioned positions.&nbsp; They effectively solved a problem in some aspect of the system where only 1 digital input can be registered at a time.&nbsp; And it gives my brain something to latch onto when I practice.&nbsp; So much so that now my entire interface concept is FSR's and joysticks and nothing else.&nbsp; I am tickled by the efficiency.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5.65pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 2.8pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-autospace: none;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/xrEt2OnqOEA?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt;">I implemented my HUD (Heads Up Display) concept this week as well.&nbsp; It’s the best looking part of the system.&nbsp; The sci-fi geek in me was so turned on when I saw the all the parameter objects blinking and flashing.&nbsp; Shit like this makes being a geek addictive!!&nbsp; I need a way of keeping track of what is and isn’t happening at any given moment because the controller is just a series of sensors and switches so when something stops working, which it has done with such frequency that I now carry my soldering iron with me, I need to quickly be able to see what it is.&nbsp; There are indicators for each FSR, breath, lip, each joystick and the accelerometers, all star trekked out in TouchOSC.&nbsp; Eventually, they will be shown to me thru my goggles but for now, my iphone has moved over to my left forearm. &nbsp;<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5.65pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 2.8pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt;">I will have to get a bit more info over time, but initial indications are that element color association, works.&nbsp; I heard the chatter of some of the tourists I played for at Tacheles, and they mentioned the color changes in association with what they "think" I am doing.&nbsp; They don't fully grasp that it’s a sound shift, but they do start to look out for the colors in association with what they are hearing as opposed to it simply being "flourish"<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5.65pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 2.8pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><br /> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://archvillain.files.wordpress.com/2010/02/wtf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://archvillain.files.wordpress.com/2010/02/wtf.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt;">One observation of note is the increased occurrence of what can only be called the "WTF!?-look".&nbsp; Don’t get me wrong...I’m used to it.&nbsp; I’ve been getting it for years, to some degree. But in most instances, people could create and extrapolate some form of relativity simply based on the fact that I was playing something that "looked" like a horn of some sort.&nbsp; From there, they could grasp that I am "playing" the sounds in a fashion that they would consider as playing.&nbsp; But now, there are lights and things strapped to my hands and a box around my neck and hands flying everywhere and sound coming and going and they are a bit freaked, by the look on their faces.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5.65pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 2.8pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><br /> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://designyoutrust.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/fwo03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://designyoutrust.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/fwo03.jpg" width="141" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt;">I’ve pondered this at length for the last few days.&nbsp;<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>When something in the now, outstrips your concept of futuristic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>I am currently calling it "post-futuristic".&nbsp; If you think about it, "futuristic" is actually pretty "now".&nbsp; Otherwise, it’s magic.&nbsp; Say, for instance, flying cars.&nbsp; You have "flying" and you have "cars"...both concepts you can grasp, but what happens if you have, say,&nbsp;quantum non-location where a quantum particle is in two separate places simultaneously. And use that as a travel metaphor. You are "here" and "there" simultaneously?&nbsp; At that point you think, "Whoa, whoa...I was just vibing on the flying cars! This other thing is too much!" THAT is the look I’ve been getting in the last few days, and I haven’t even implemented the freaky shit yet!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>This is even after I open one of the units up and do a brief show and tell, which, ironically, doesn't help one bit.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5.65pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 2.8pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt;">I think that if maybe, it was Jean Michel Jarre or Daft Punk or someone with lots of money and a big stage, it would be more digestible.&nbsp; But, I imagine, you're walking around Tacheles on vacation, you weren’t even slightly expecting to see THIS.&nbsp; And, to be honest, the looks on their faces are pure gold!&nbsp; I have never been so entertained as an artist.&nbsp; Just playing and watching people try to make sense of what they are seeing and hearing is better than any movie I have seen in a really long time.&nbsp;&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5.65pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 2.8pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt;">I do worry at times that I may never get above a certain point in my career trajectory though.&nbsp; Freaking people out is wildly entertaining, but I don't know how sound of a career path it is yet.&nbsp; I had thought that by "being" interesting, that people would gravitate to what I am doing, but that doesn't "seem" to be the case, although I have been wrong before. Maybe 5% of all the people I am connected with online, ever even see any of these projects or read these posts.&nbsp; There is certain...aura around those that have social currency.&nbsp; For some, it is natural and for others it is paid for.&nbsp; It doesn't "seem" to be something one ("I") can just create.&nbsp; it is...scary, for an artist who refuses to be a hobbyist and who refuses to "tone down" their art, and believe me...it’s about to get WAY freakier than this!&nbsp; The only solution I can think of, so far, is to pull Beatjazz close to me, and focus on it even more fervently.&nbsp; No compromise. Oh...and to not starve.&nbsp;&nbsp;(Anyone know a good agent for post-futuristic artists?!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Call me...)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5.65pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 2.8pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><br /> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://vacuumsingularity.files.wordpress.com/2010/07/singularity2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://vacuumsingularity.files.wordpress.com/2010/07/singularity2.jpg" width="150" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt;">This is my personal "singularity" of sorts. Single-minded focus on Beatjazz, up to this point, was an exercise in utilization of existing music production tools whereas now it is a becoming a process of creating specialized tools. There is so much happening in the creation, conceptualization, and utilization fronts, that I can barely imagine each next stage of development.&nbsp; Every new development now leads to other more surreal yet achievable developments. and now that the "machine" is digital, meaning that the entirety of&nbsp; the brain of this system, is computer based rather than dependent on constant hardware upgrades, my ability to predict anything beyond a-couple-of-weeks-from-now event horizon, is a bygone age. I can only focus on the breadcrumb path of tasks in front of me, of which are stuff like new photos, bio, and lots of new video and recordings, as well as finishing the book, creating the controller campaign DVD and EP and building a MkII version of the controller for the one other (soon to be;-) ) beatjazzer in the world besides myself. Love. Uncertainty. Resolve...<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5.65pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 2.8pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-autospace: none;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /> </div>Onyx-Ashanti projectshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13982406193622590455noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-985930177980712258.post-50818865662229854952011-04-04T18:31:00.000-07:002011-04-04T18:31:50.625-07:00Beatjazz controller Heads up display using TouchOSC<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/xrEt2OnqOEA?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>not a long post or a long vid. &nbsp;just a little demo of the touchOSC based Heads up display i whipped together tonight. &nbsp;over the last week, I have found myself looking at my computer during performance, more than i have in AGES because i am using a new system. I decided to consolidate all that data on one screen so i can get a system overview at a glance.<br /> <br /> this shit looks SICK!!! my crap camcorder does not do it justice! &nbsp;since my controller is just a series of sensors, i can see each sensors output on screen so i can trouble shoot when neccessary, and you better believe, there is much troubleshooting to be done. &nbsp;the high contrast layout,combined with the LEDs, makes for very much the futuristic vibe i was going for.<br /> <br /> I'll write a more detailed post tommorrow. &nbsp;must sleep now.Onyx-Ashanti projectshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13982406193622590455noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-985930177980712258.post-24611139841348003242011-03-31T06:50:00.000-07:002011-03-31T06:50:27.218-07:00And then, there was light...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/wFaJCI71DJM?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5.65pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 2.8pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt;">Finally got around to installing the rgb LEDs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>I decided to install some smaller 5mm ones I had laying around rather than the big monster LEDs I plan to install later.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>These are simply there to allow me to start programming color sequences.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>The bigger ones need a bigger battery and that is a battle for another day/week. Today I just wanted something pretty and simple to play around with right now.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5.65pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 2.8pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><br /> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDSc2Gs0PcxOv_aaJvnrv83CUeOUGj_5zqAWa35ZkhHXE5cGtZhe4YK5xOdZKFy1hZuurZ54AwQojKb9uuJIvg1QoJt6u0kyYrbXNno_8qETPbKrMFnS_swMayUgwskfgKhleo-1ZSFpo/s1600/onyx+BC+with+LEDs2+002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDSc2Gs0PcxOv_aaJvnrv83CUeOUGj_5zqAWa35ZkhHXE5cGtZhe4YK5xOdZKFy1hZuurZ54AwQojKb9uuJIvg1QoJt6u0kyYrbXNno_8qETPbKrMFnS_swMayUgwskfgKhleo-1ZSFpo/s200/onyx+BC+with+LEDs2+002.jpg" width="150" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5.65pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 2.8pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt;">I installed two for each hand; one forward facing and one that I can see at all times.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Why should the audience have all the fun!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>The mouth interface has a couple that are set to respond to lip and breath pressure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>I cribbed that setup from the wx5.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Especially the lip, which shows me whether i am in tune or not.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Those two are kinda slow in reaction time currently, so there is an optimization session already in the making.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5.65pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 2.8pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5.65pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 2.8pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRwN8WIsPxPFXWBCU6_v0E3fX6Ws_5bvIpOCySeh8DnMi2I-viSrzAY8SwdnZxShG4ImEvy7leKie1X8wbuDQ98xfUyhigEz77JFCjbeoxvQwkXU8J8_OXGhc10fyPKozHSYDuaY80lf8/s1600/onyx+BC+with+LEDs2+009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRwN8WIsPxPFXWBCU6_v0E3fX6Ws_5bvIpOCySeh8DnMi2I-viSrzAY8SwdnZxShG4ImEvy7leKie1X8wbuDQ98xfUyhigEz77JFCjbeoxvQwkXU8J8_OXGhc10fyPKozHSYDuaY80lf8/s200/onyx+BC+with+LEDs2+009.jpg" width="150" /></a><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt;">I haven’t assigned them to anything yet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>They are simply "on", which for me, right now, is enough because they look so cool.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>But eventually, their functionality will be inseparable from the playability of the instrument.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>With all of these sensors and parameters and sounds, there needs to be a cohesive way of making sense of it all that doesn't require looking at the laptop.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>TouchOSC may be useful in that regard but color association, IMO, will be even more useful.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5.65pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 2.8pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5.65pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 2.8pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt;">Funny...having lights on your hands makes you want to move your hands.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>You can’t help it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>the effect is like having glowsticks with music coming out, which, as you can imagine, makes you want to make them move more, which makes more music come out and on and on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Addictive.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5.65pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 2.8pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5.65pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 2.8pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt;">And NOW baby is fully playable!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Fixed a few key assignments and changed the breath threshold settings so now even at low velocities, there is a bit more of a "punch" to the notes, and FAST! Finally got the timing to be quicker than the wx5. The trick was to use an object in PD called [threshold] which I made hold back all but one "bang".<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Since the data is so abundant and forceful, my articulations are benefiting from what was, a week ago, a problem of too much data throughput.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>The lip pressure is similar although my mouthpiece design needs a couple more generations of refinement to take advantage of it fully. Now that "pressure" gives the system a sound of its own. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5.65pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 2.8pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><br /> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5.65pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 2.8pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><a href="http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/189529_150569811671318_107485149313118_310443_4698371_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="278" src="http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/189529_150569811671318_107485149313118_310443_4698371_n.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt;">now comes a diversification of time that includes, getting a gym membership ( gotta be fit for the debut party), language classes (FINALLY) at a school literally around the corner from where I live, finishing the book, and of course more coding and loads of sound design.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>For the last duty, I just got a welcome gift from the maker of my primary synth host in the form of a new upgrade.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>FL studio 10.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>As upgrades go, this one is pretty conservative and concentrates on mostly refining an already great product, but the thing that peaked my interest is the addition of a plugin called Patcher which allows me to save my synth/effects/control settings, as one singular "instrument"!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Very big deal for me, as I create many dozens of synth/effect/control patches and being able to recall them easily is a holy grail for me and for Beatjazz.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>I have experimented with many hosts for this very function and finally it seems that FL studio has added it!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>This is right on time and I look forward to rinsing it this weekend.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5.65pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 2.8pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5.65pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 2.8pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /> </div>Onyx-Ashanti projectshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13982406193622590455noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-985930177980712258.post-7301357010684676292011-03-29T04:24:00.000-07:002011-03-29T04:24:07.841-07:00Initial insights and next stages of Beatjazz controller development<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/S9WzeGGYydU?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg2blYDSYfZXEzlrDp_7bsLLaiBd-r_iSfQcmRG6dfg0p4nDzlZRF4IzLe3zovqan-_67ZmD0C2KrPdbNtLRNoFyLvKEzcJfmgQ8Yw0F2YUOlmgx0MJNf0E96sO3iqNCxXz8N76ENIi_w/s1600/beatjazz+mouthpiece+038.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /> </a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg2blYDSYfZXEzlrDp_7bsLLaiBd-r_iSfQcmRG6dfg0p4nDzlZRF4IzLe3zovqan-_67ZmD0C2KrPdbNtLRNoFyLvKEzcJfmgQ8Yw0F2YUOlmgx0MJNf0E96sO3iqNCxXz8N76ENIi_w/s1600/beatjazz+mouthpiece+038.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /> </a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg2blYDSYfZXEzlrDp_7bsLLaiBd-r_iSfQcmRG6dfg0p4nDzlZRF4IzLe3zovqan-_67ZmD0C2KrPdbNtLRNoFyLvKEzcJfmgQ8Yw0F2YUOlmgx0MJNf0E96sO3iqNCxXz8N76ENIi_w/s1600/beatjazz+mouthpiece+038.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg2blYDSYfZXEzlrDp_7bsLLaiBd-r_iSfQcmRG6dfg0p4nDzlZRF4IzLe3zovqan-_67ZmD0C2KrPdbNtLRNoFyLvKEzcJfmgQ8Yw0F2YUOlmgx0MJNf0E96sO3iqNCxXz8N76ENIi_w/s320/beatjazz+mouthpiece+038.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-autospace: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-autospace: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Well, it’s been a couple of days since getting musical playability out of the controller.&nbsp; I've discovered a few things.&nbsp; First, this is NOT a wx5, the Yamaha wind midi controller I have played for the last 13 years.&nbsp; It is definitely something else. Free hand positioning definitely changes the interaction with the instrument. Something a bit like drumming and dancing.&nbsp; once I was able to get musical phrasing out of the instrument, the movements came, as if they had just been there waiting for the right instrument.&nbsp; A number of strange gestures popped out in the last couple of days.&nbsp; I thought I would naturally gravitate toward a more "glow-sticking" aesthetic, but I find that my hands want to emphasize the context of the element being played, more than elaborate flourish.&nbsp; I am very interested to see where this leads.&nbsp;</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5.65pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 2.8pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Thus, for all the bugs and glitches yet to be squashed, I will gig exclusively with the new instrument, until there is a significant reason not to.&nbsp; The only way to get rid of the remaining bugs is to take it out and depend on it.&nbsp; That’s how I made the transition from sax to wind controller all those years ago.&nbsp;&nbsp; From hardware to software synth as well.&nbsp; I am optimistic.&nbsp; Many upgrades have been made in just the last week, since its birth a week and half ago;<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-autospace: none;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5.65pt; margin-left: 18.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 2.8pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: black; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">both breath and lip pressure are working within usable limitations although there is much to do in this arena<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5.65pt; margin-left: 18.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 2.8pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: black; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Created an octave mechanism that takes account of the new design concept.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5.65pt; margin-left: 18.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 2.8pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: black; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Moved controls around for better usage of limited finger motility.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5.65pt; margin-left: 18.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 2.8pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: black; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Added bottle caps in the palm area to position the keys more strategically.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5.65pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 2.8pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><br /> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAaRp14Ox5UUMOpHFf4jej7GHKW1THqJW1VbEi7xD4IWWO5CEnsIce-Qis4eBh2WdhZZnxiPU76nf9d_ErlTc_16a7sk7hGJHul39V3POeQqQ3_SB5uE4kKko0gZZetrv1qeq-DQYEHtE/s1600/photo+%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAaRp14Ox5UUMOpHFf4jej7GHKW1THqJW1VbEi7xD4IWWO5CEnsIce-Qis4eBh2WdhZZnxiPU76nf9d_ErlTc_16a7sk7hGJHul39V3POeQqQ3_SB5uE4kKko0gZZetrv1qeq-DQYEHtE/s200/photo+%25281%2529.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">All of this has gotten me thinking about what "this" actually is. The Beatjazz controller is an abstraction wind controller-born&nbsp;performance habits, hardcoded into a physical form.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>It’s very interesting, anthropologically.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>For instance, when playing the wx5, I have my looper controlled by a key right next to my left index finger.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>I only ever had to twitch my finger sideways a bit to trigger my looper.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Once I built the v2 prototype, I thought I’d be clever and replace that control with a thumb joystick...nope.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Didn’t work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>The thumb is already overworked.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>So I placed the joystick near where the control is on the other instrument...nope.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>I had to lift my finger to actuate it. So I create a special joy-knob specifically for that task...voila! It works perfectly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>And this is just one of the habits being hardcoded into this device.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-autospace: none;"><br /> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTDnd99WjlEbnAZNeQatNufbtykh_FueSthGPglA5kotOsOQZ26F2aGD8SOUGjIw7HIoHPOLj4etzAe7GBZCZm3s68owt33OT7wgIT-Sjo1YBB6X744ZrrGc8zqB3OXnJzajTdp-iUzWw/s1600/photo+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTDnd99WjlEbnAZNeQatNufbtykh_FueSthGPglA5kotOsOQZ26F2aGD8SOUGjIw7HIoHPOLj4etzAe7GBZCZm3s68owt33OT7wgIT-Sjo1YBB6X744ZrrGc8zqB3OXnJzajTdp-iUzWw/s200/photo+2.JPG" width="150" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The second interesting aspect of the development is how functions became super important only after the device was built; things I couldn't foresee.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>For instance, with my hand strapped, in three positions, to the device.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>There is limited finger motility (the ability to spontaneously and actively) so, say with the thumb controls, I hade to design a more "fanning" layout for the octaves rather than the more linear layout of the wx5.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>As well, I feel that there is a "rummaging" of sort, of one’s library of unconscious body gestures.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Little movements and twitches that I can now measure with the sensors, and make musically relevant.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-autospace: none;"><br /> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEgXCU93qppo3aT597oJ4l3mn9uJZ6dm3ICeaLSkFJ7TXQ3N_AfKa2O8kxuGVhhtrko-CHzZBfiPvVEbb4LncDafVQeEtF-UOILT-LtpRLVzq40DiKNmwXRSDUcBJfm8v76HHYRiDsxec/s1600/beatjazz+mouthpiece+032.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEgXCU93qppo3aT597oJ4l3mn9uJZ6dm3ICeaLSkFJ7TXQ3N_AfKa2O8kxuGVhhtrko-CHzZBfiPvVEbb4LncDafVQeEtF-UOILT-LtpRLVzq40DiKNmwXRSDUcBJfm8v76HHYRiDsxec/s200/beatjazz+mouthpiece+032.jpg" width="150" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Along those lines, I created a "Beatjazz" mouthpiece last night.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>In a perfect example of what I stated above, the result was different than the intention.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>I needed a way of consolidate the breath tube and the force sensing resistor (FSR) that I am currently using as a lip pressure sensor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>The issue was that I needed a way for it to stay securely in my mouth while giving me a precise level of control over parameters like pitch and breath pressure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Wind players call it an armature.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Before this, the one I made before was held in place by my lips, which made it hard to control pitch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>I needed something to "bite". The biting action on a mouthpiece, allows one to control mouth piece and lip positioning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-autospace: none;"><br /> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrkDOh17plcR42Q8oE69XSXaTm5J7Eipqr8ZkXOLcZrT4gjc_7-eNfNqYBunIzyvSdH5_SHTiRan6CyxKm4Tzs5xwBMgFRS6POW2tg-IyF0NOgyppwulHU2gnorm1-9zqr6dkOQxtCf7o/s1600/beatjazz+mouthpiece+029.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrkDOh17plcR42Q8oE69XSXaTm5J7Eipqr8ZkXOLcZrT4gjc_7-eNfNqYBunIzyvSdH5_SHTiRan6CyxKm4Tzs5xwBMgFRS6POW2tg-IyF0NOgyppwulHU2gnorm1-9zqr6dkOQxtCf7o/s200/beatjazz+mouthpiece+029.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-autospace: none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh742Kj-lx07H1_Thyphenhyphen5kX9Pu49abDmwUuHdLMjd30Gpa-r-xSxs8mSmWH0iGGls-ZmI4fN6mKq1KKlLt_Af9d0NbhUjfdb7rq7oFTbu5BvFvHxOgxRSuYTh4LTRt1zrGgfvsDXf0yiGmqI/s1600/beatjazz+mouthpiece+007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh742Kj-lx07H1_Thyphenhyphen5kX9Pu49abDmwUuHdLMjd30Gpa-r-xSxs8mSmWH0iGGls-ZmI4fN6mKq1KKlLt_Af9d0NbhUjfdb7rq7oFTbu5BvFvHxOgxRSuYTh4LTRt1zrGgfvsDXf0yiGmqI/s200/beatjazz+mouthpiece+007.jpg" width="150" /></a><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">So I sketched out a design that was angled and had a bite region.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>I decided on guitar picks as the mounting elements because they are cheap, strong and "relatively" the size and shape of a woodwind mouthpiece.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>I designed in a lip ridge at the top that would keep the mouthpiece from blowing out of my mouth by locking it behind my top lip.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>And the whole thing is held together by my new favorite substance...HOT GLUE!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>This stuff is great!!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>I bought the glue gun at the beginning of the campaign but had no real reason to use it, until now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>I’ve read that its non-toxic (I hope) and it glues anything to ANYTHING!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>And it makes a very strong flexible sub-structure for mouthpiece. And luckily has not "taste" which would suck.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>This thing won’t be falling apart anytime soon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>And as a precautionary measure, I put a thin layer around the leading edge of the FSR, which is glued to a bike tire patch affixed to bottom of the mouthpiece, to keep any spit from ruining the sensor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-autospace: none;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">so now with spring and warmer weather upon us, I will be out a little bit everyday, somewhere, testing and adding new features and fixing bugs in the only environment that really counts; performance!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Interspersed between these sessions will be the beginning of the phase II of the project; LIGHTS.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>I’ll be adding the small LED's today, so I can dev my color synth and I will add the bigger lights later. This controller without the color synth is only half an instrument.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>The variable color lights provide a parallel narrative and create a color/sound relationship that is very important to the concept I envision.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Can’t wait to show it to you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Till then...<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5.65pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 2.8pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5.65pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 2.8pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-autospace: none;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /> </div>Onyx-Ashanti projectshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13982406193622590455noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-985930177980712258.post-10043723616799845072011-03-25T07:18:00.000-07:002011-03-25T07:18:32.884-07:00Design revision for the Controller<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhD9zf7yr1AilJ0kjPB56QAsY9g3daEfIWnu_9vMna6KMRcM_2jQ2qPQ6_5W5ySRY6Ew7onLkQVXLB40nGxiP3NuPjqGwkMfc-UfpVeB9USo66OWCL3pK83zEg2fbtU9_Q5-fOO8tVk4A/s1600/SANY0009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhD9zf7yr1AilJ0kjPB56QAsY9g3daEfIWnu_9vMna6KMRcM_2jQ2qPQ6_5W5ySRY6Ew7onLkQVXLB40nGxiP3NuPjqGwkMfc-UfpVeB9USo66OWCL3pK83zEg2fbtU9_Q5-fOO8tVk4A/s320/SANY0009.JPG" width="320" /></a>hot on the heels of the mk I prototype, i just finshed v2. &nbsp;the first version was great in that it made the device real, but it was flawed in many fundamental ways. &nbsp;the positioning of the thumb controls made it very hard to play.and because of the way it sat on my hand, i couldn't get to certain functions easilybecause my hand felt the need to "grip" when the hand should just be floating free. &nbsp;that coupled with the fact that it was very bulky, like having chinese noodle boxes strapped to your hands. &nbsp;so i knew this would have to be addressed as well.<br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJoF64uS3i7FGOkMznRVlamhDwndIU4ffwwXYslESdkaO9OM5LOWQ4OO5BYSn9-r4yjaOcWtoO1LXHxO9YAnUef45h-PD4noNDqgokJTpJyY9H8vZXsh-Cgb2hKRZhF243-uD9aCDGJeI/s1600/SANY0001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJoF64uS3i7FGOkMznRVlamhDwndIU4ffwwXYslESdkaO9OM5LOWQ4OO5BYSn9-r4yjaOcWtoO1LXHxO9YAnUef45h-PD4noNDqgokJTpJyY9H8vZXsh-Cgb2hKRZhF243-uD9aCDGJeI/s200/SANY0001.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">i decided on a wedge design. &nbsp;although i know it looks a bit like a cheesecake togo container:-) &nbsp;having a narrow triangle allows my thumbs to be underneath my fingers in a manner most relative to playing sax. &nbsp;a three point harness assures a snug fit to my hands with no looseness. &nbsp;there is plenty of room for all the (trimmed) cables and batteries and whatnot. &nbsp;and the very thick cardboard i bought, is very strong and stiff as well as cheap and easy to use. after cutting it to the proper folding shape, i used a razor blade to score all the cut lines so folding was super easy and the result is very professional feeling. &nbsp;so much so that when i release this project into the wild as open source, this will be the design that gets included as the defacto design, for those that don't use carbon fiber;-) &nbsp;i made a little triangle box for the mouth unit too. and finally got a decent tube. right now it hangs around my neck with upcoming versions being headmounted.</div><br /> <div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /> </div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGihrUEu2U1ZNxeChgiLE7yLq76ddOyiv6qTKnGUvFNpZIU0D8tCRbnIcJyUNYE4xhubMbdNsB9KXNNFy2IflO1A5rlvlXLHEQE4QGlyvJsRNW9Bxin8AZMKxjR2-B4_aZzDnG10RhKjM/s1600/SANY0015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGihrUEu2U1ZNxeChgiLE7yLq76ddOyiv6qTKnGUvFNpZIU0D8tCRbnIcJyUNYE4xhubMbdNsB9KXNNFy2IflO1A5rlvlXLHEQE4QGlyvJsRNW9Bxin8AZMKxjR2-B4_aZzDnG10RhKjM/s200/SANY0015.JPG" width="200" /></a>NOW, i can play the thing! &nbsp;before, i could make sound, but now i can play it. &nbsp;i have discovered some inefficiencies in my midi implementation. &nbsp;weird glitchy stuff with my drums that will be easily rectified with a simple solution that i'm unaware of. &nbsp;probably related to the issue of gross amounts of sensor data since turning off the code that slows the data down. &nbsp;now i have high speed data,but its too fast. &nbsp;so that will be the mission for the near term.&nbsp;</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1yvTw0ti3P9VAy_j-HVozr06L6cwGqrn2CDdbj1g0yAr4RiPZfsAt8JGVGwgtGr2qSAnbsTk8UJ0LlUNwDOFXGweJMZehf4PwnmbTbySmCYgRzPc9Wdj_vtr4Cq4kEXnFz_meliGYuTM/s1600/Onyx+controller+mkI+v2+004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1yvTw0ti3P9VAy_j-HVozr06L6cwGqrn2CDdbj1g0yAr4RiPZfsAt8JGVGwgtGr2qSAnbsTk8UJ0LlUNwDOFXGweJMZehf4PwnmbTbySmCYgRzPc9Wdj_vtr4Cq4kEXnFz_meliGYuTM/s320/Onyx+controller+mkI+v2+004.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO2gWMElupqRayTXYowKcmqZoC1MBBt2K85ZpYBKMAu4xvx1cIxqzMqC8XRyhpq9Uc2eDCEf6Tqn-MAiAVH9ApoHjRFz3EZHtBDDINMGLQ_XolD5K3leYyVlZ1OD3-43KqQu9MWRil6pI/s1600/Onyx+controller+mkI+v2+007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO2gWMElupqRayTXYowKcmqZoC1MBBt2K85ZpYBKMAu4xvx1cIxqzMqC8XRyhpq9Uc2eDCEf6Tqn-MAiAVH9ApoHjRFz3EZHtBDDINMGLQ_XolD5K3leYyVlZ1OD3-43KqQu9MWRil6pI/s320/Onyx+controller+mkI+v2+007.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4AZoJrOkZgFfZBaa8UeamnlC79E2g6-qUxPqE2kID-VnIDYCQ5-st8-c4g6HhRipUXM6-nwpdcRy8oStEb1FCbzhHNnyhunETIjc8IKe6wT8sS7evRkBGGXqIdPmcVviLEBS9tvafJ5k/s1600/Onyx+controller+mkI+v2+008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4AZoJrOkZgFfZBaa8UeamnlC79E2g6-qUxPqE2kID-VnIDYCQ5-st8-c4g6HhRipUXM6-nwpdcRy8oStEb1FCbzhHNnyhunETIjc8IKe6wT8sS7evRkBGGXqIdPmcVviLEBS9tvafJ5k/s320/Onyx+controller+mkI+v2+008.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDDnD1NSuEfc49DmJ9tvAM00YCPU-ARAI63Gd8w5ZX8jU0IouQO4L3wwhWlfuHxWOJkDAxyj_UyjyRsnsxkUOqsoVn0oQp18gKFWZRRhjfXFUcjAewl9Pogpr04vlTLEORc7sw2QXePBE/s1600/Onyx+controller+mkI+v2+010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDDnD1NSuEfc49DmJ9tvAM00YCPU-ARAI63Gd8w5ZX8jU0IouQO4L3wwhWlfuHxWOJkDAxyj_UyjyRsnsxkUOqsoVn0oQp18gKFWZRRhjfXFUcjAewl9Pogpr04vlTLEORc7sw2QXePBE/s320/Onyx+controller+mkI+v2+010.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyGeSjNe1XwxaFmD6o4WrCxYSpG9FnMOzxRpBvWxXZO6Wy_l_U2V9so78alSkRCTFori_Qr31MzPp93rS2A3aWmKJ6bSaOqh1rQJdt30-ZWjPEkxL5hF46SI8Cu4fpvmjyiRyF1jIV8bk/s1600/Onyx+controller+mkI+v2+013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyGeSjNe1XwxaFmD6o4WrCxYSpG9FnMOzxRpBvWxXZO6Wy_l_U2V9so78alSkRCTFori_Qr31MzPp93rS2A3aWmKJ6bSaOqh1rQJdt30-ZWjPEkxL5hF46SI8Cu4fpvmjyiRyF1jIV8bk/s320/Onyx+controller+mkI+v2+013.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMQqpa4OlLdl3omv0TK7z8kYSRf1ic_Ubsc2fXI1e9zJodWERWFg_BsobrLD6jNTsVXQIFtfHkz_rCUa2Nt6BU5J5bN3SANcU1FtXKfB1bdgRUxILsBY0zgpFeUNt5T5iGpbch7UonW9E/s1600/Onyx+controller+mkI+v2+019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMQqpa4OlLdl3omv0TK7z8kYSRf1ic_Ubsc2fXI1e9zJodWERWFg_BsobrLD6jNTsVXQIFtfHkz_rCUa2Nt6BU5J5bN3SANcU1FtXKfB1bdgRUxILsBY0zgpFeUNt5T5iGpbch7UonW9E/s320/Onyx+controller+mkI+v2+019.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib1octM5sH9IayHL_WeDnG5p8hFw0a17b4TZLEw9qdhxjWa-oLoaMaXYZjMbT3B8_jGW4EvPTJmVD08EnCYyK7dr6173t0jHm4vR_7-Imd0zr8sI0F2iF6mVNBCPIb_17tIHH4L0HBKi8/s1600/SANY0011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib1octM5sH9IayHL_WeDnG5p8hFw0a17b4TZLEw9qdhxjWa-oLoaMaXYZjMbT3B8_jGW4EvPTJmVD08EnCYyK7dr6173t0jHm4vR_7-Imd0zr8sI0F2iF6mVNBCPIb_17tIHH4L0HBKi8/s320/SANY0011.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQqMotIovRFMQVaJ0VIOAkZVwBF8G5BwyVGE-aU1PHPlgdxWl5vV2I51RD8yKA-1BACur7kV2HaakpP_djQ3OMaED7Q0nqshxys7FKbhrzoTT0n4sha1dgx8s-gLYKDvjDlObE6KMhKOg/s1600/SANY0012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQqMotIovRFMQVaJ0VIOAkZVwBF8G5BwyVGE-aU1PHPlgdxWl5vV2I51RD8yKA-1BACur7kV2HaakpP_djQ3OMaED7Q0nqshxys7FKbhrzoTT0n4sha1dgx8s-gLYKDvjDlObE6KMhKOg/s320/SANY0012.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">the system is in decent enough form to interject it sparringly into my busking repetoire. i'll just keep using it side by side with the wx5 (for reference) until it is refined enough to replace it. &nbsp;we shall see...</div><div><br /> </div><br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaC2pxGChqecMQYp3vQg6Onm1V2Iey7WdQ59IQAmE6MDLNeWQY4l_Hbnh__l_YqWsemz9GqMxN1bXNbCL5xzGAQZraBz74pqMacFHFqvXaxTx73pNboqu8NudmV4E_Z_eWY0FmTHp7XMI/s1600/Onyx+controller.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaC2pxGChqecMQYp3vQg6Onm1V2Iey7WdQ59IQAmE6MDLNeWQY4l_Hbnh__l_YqWsemz9GqMxN1bXNbCL5xzGAQZraBz74pqMacFHFqvXaxTx73pNboqu8NudmV4E_Z_eWY0FmTHp7XMI/s320/Onyx+controller.jpg" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaC2pxGChqecMQYp3vQg6Onm1V2Iey7WdQ59IQAmE6MDLNeWQY4l_Hbnh__l_YqWsemz9GqMxN1bXNbCL5xzGAQZraBz74pqMacFHFqvXaxTx73pNboqu8NudmV4E_Z_eWY0FmTHp7XMI/s1600/Onyx+controller.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /> </a></div>Onyx-Ashanti projectshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13982406193622590455noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-985930177980712258.post-73158109545246974792011-03-20T16:08:00.000-07:002011-03-20T16:08:36.674-07:00Introducing the "ONYX" Beatjazz Controller Prototype Mk I<span style="font-size: x-small;"></span><br /> <div align="left" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><object class="BLOGGER-youtube-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="http://i.ytimg.com/vi/Rchnh_Yq6vI/0.jpg" height="266" width="320"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Rchnh_Yq6vI?f=user_uploads&c=google-webdrive-0&app=youtube_gdata" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><embed width="320" height="266" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Rchnh_Yq6vI?f=user_uploads&c=google-webdrive-0&app=youtube_gdata" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed></object></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs4gzwjF4BYPjSV4-GGfeOf2a01-bvwIA_6xS6-tLVOFkq-KRmButH8F4JrdhzWzhljGChNg5NWLdlXyizWWFtgj_87IW6q488mvh7Ms-7qVD4tjkzBj8xUlRSCnS0DbX-cCk5GZ3efLs/s1600/IMG_0721.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br /> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"></span></span></span><br /> <h1 id="watch-headline-title" style="background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; color: #333333; font-size: 1.83em; font-weight: bold; height: 1.13em; line-height: 1.13em; margin: 0px 0px 5px; max-height: 1.1363em; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /> </span></span></h1><br /> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">well, kids, here it is, FINALLY. Introducing the "ONYX" beatjazz controller MkI prototype. I'm not going to lie. i was a bit emotional when i put together the second hand unit. i just couldn't believe "it" was in my hands, finally, after all these years of dreaming about it, it was in my hands and that felt surreal. </span></div><div align="left" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /> </span></div><div align="left"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs4gzwjF4BYPjSV4-GGfeOf2a01-bvwIA_6xS6-tLVOFkq-KRmButH8F4JrdhzWzhljGChNg5NWLdlXyizWWFtgj_87IW6q488mvh7Ms-7qVD4tjkzBj8xUlRSCnS0DbX-cCk5GZ3efLs/s1600/IMG_0721.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs4gzwjF4BYPjSV4-GGfeOf2a01-bvwIA_6xS6-tLVOFkq-KRmButH8F4JrdhzWzhljGChNg5NWLdlXyizWWFtgj_87IW6q488mvh7Ms-7qVD4tjkzBj8xUlRSCnS0DbX-cCk5GZ3efLs/s200/IMG_0721.jpg" width="200" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">the name change was obvious once i was actually holding it. TRON was a big part of the inspiration, but now, in reality, the system is more than just an "inspired by" concept. it's its own reality and i wanted a real name that reflected that. and besides, i don't want disney to start sending letters in the mail, so its best to just start using the new name now.</span></div><div align="left"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /> </span></div><div align="left"></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">so, as you can see, there are two hand units and a mouth unit.&nbsp; the hand units here are made out of paper mache.&nbsp; i really dig this stuff for prototyping.&nbsp; its cheap and strong and very easy to adapt after the fact.&nbsp; the main part of the design is the hand strap.&nbsp; it houses the accelerometer and keeps my hand is constant contact with the units.&nbsp; in this way i can play the keys in a horn like manner instead of having to "grip" or hold the units.&nbsp; the "final" version (there willnever be a final version but the version that i will use from mid-april forward) will be much more ergonomic.&nbsp; <br /> </span><br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkkh8sYxsriYIPyxdVOliBpXmc2pa_Oi-k3HPiKUJ4QGMhTHexF9f_mxzPQMKTUW49rq4NsuSwGziW-oNvnhW9KOQub41cU3xmcHEwn7JdPPmRSUCvagKaCanGJV_A57c6CSJ1MllHdp4/s1600/IMG_0724.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkkh8sYxsriYIPyxdVOliBpXmc2pa_Oi-k3HPiKUJ4QGMhTHexF9f_mxzPQMKTUW49rq4NsuSwGziW-oNvnhW9KOQub41cU3xmcHEwn7JdPPmRSUCvagKaCanGJV_A57c6CSJ1MllHdp4/s200/IMG_0724.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkkh8sYxsriYIPyxdVOliBpXmc2pa_Oi-k3HPiKUJ4QGMhTHexF9f_mxzPQMKTUW49rq4NsuSwGziW-oNvnhW9KOQub41cU3xmcHEwn7JdPPmRSUCvagKaCanGJV_A57c6CSJ1MllHdp4/s1600/IMG_0724.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBcb8LZFn107doUDPNmTxYAdDRcDIzS-5bWm-IvDlKDt1cTkh3bH8aWvKFowrjs-tsNeEVbiUFI47HBb9kLfqh6bEkaf6G1kptWx623PEV0d5N8x278c4x_WTSwE9vTG-3sy-wFACb0a4/s1600/IMG_0730.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBcb8LZFn107doUDPNmTxYAdDRcDIzS-5bWm-IvDlKDt1cTkh3bH8aWvKFowrjs-tsNeEVbiUFI47HBb9kLfqh6bEkaf6G1kptWx623PEV0d5N8x278c4x_WTSwE9vTG-3sy-wFACb0a4/s200/IMG_0730.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBcb8LZFn107doUDPNmTxYAdDRcDIzS-5bWm-IvDlKDt1cTkh3bH8aWvKFowrjs-tsNeEVbiUFI47HBb9kLfqh6bEkaf6G1kptWx623PEV0d5N8x278c4x_WTSwE9vTG-3sy-wFACb0a4/s1600/IMG_0730.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></a><br /> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">the "keys" are force sensing resistors (FSR).&nbsp; these are touch sensitive pressure sensors that allow a great degree of touch sensitivity.&nbsp; so far, i have assigned them as keys and for program changes if you push the them forcefully and there is still a great range of sensitivity to play with.&nbsp; each unit as a 3 axis&nbsp;accelerometer which is, after my time with touchOSC, a necessity to how i creat music now.&nbsp; they have a different feel to those in the iphone.&nbsp; they loiter around the middle of their range until a burst of motion in one of thre directions, pushes them to the extremes of their range.&nbsp; i can see how theis will be helpful over time.&nbsp; i plan to use the left hand y-axis as an octave changer until i make the next design revision because the positioning on the paper mache model is uncomfortable.&nbsp; this is the benefit of creating ones own controller out of sensors; the artist can quickly and easily adapt the system to their needs.<br /> </span><br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh9QCchbL1C_Mpz-OSrtxkqG_HhslE2RJf7aO2Cb0d7EouPxlI9fs1wLhK_J4lxWqaunoITTqyCeE15U49GphNtaJAYP7pYMctp2x4gtI7xEkAHhrCgJaVcXph8TITihYFJMRaLx0Etc0/s1600/IMG_0742.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="150" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh9QCchbL1C_Mpz-OSrtxkqG_HhslE2RJf7aO2Cb0d7EouPxlI9fs1wLhK_J4lxWqaunoITTqyCeE15U49GphNtaJAYP7pYMctp2x4gtI7xEkAHhrCgJaVcXph8TITihYFJMRaLx0Etc0/s200/IMG_0742.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">the underlying system that handles all of this is pure data.&nbsp; pure data has,included with it, a piece of code that interfaces directly with the arduino microprocessor,called, creatively, [arduino]&nbsp; this interacts with a sort of arduino OS called firmata which lets pure data see all whats plugged into the arduino.&nbsp; i have been secretly terrified for weeks that this tiny little processor, which only runs at 8mhz would choke on all the analog sensor data i was sending thru it.&nbsp; and even if it didnt, i didnt know whether pduino (the system which encompasses the arduino object and firmata) would be able to deal with it as fast as i am capable of playing.&nbsp; but soon after assembling the system and testing it, i bypassed a couple of safety routines and it not only MUCH faster than my wx5, but with a 15% drop in cpu than with the safetys enabled!&nbsp; that along with each unit having its own base station radio, has resulted in a seriously powerful system that doesnt put too much load on any one thing.<br /> <br /> &nbsp;i am still a freaked by that.&nbsp;based on the trials and tribualtions&nbsp;of the last couple of weeks,&nbsp;i was all ready for another week or two of hacking, to get it to be fast and stable enough for live performance.&nbsp; in fact everything has accelerated since that point.&nbsp; i was able to refine the midi system to allow breath sensitivity in a few hours and today i smoothed out the note system so now smooth and forceful playing styles are possible and i dont even have the right "breath"(pressure) sensor yet!&nbsp; the one i have requires to much breath to get it to go thru its full range.&nbsp; if i get everything nice in the next day or so, i plan to canibalize the wx5 for its superior pressure sensor.<br /> </span><br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5IhFt2t-pyoYRd_hjvlBCgW7pOn1aakTvXeDXutIhj9sRFx5Yq54B_ISKdtdt0GAQvszJs1VoRNztvSskNSnIPiSx1ih6D5VlHVH0yzl8Uxngs0rCFUi4Q6D6P5qU-oDdiY2YbcjPLTQ/s1600/IMG_0741.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="150" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5IhFt2t-pyoYRd_hjvlBCgW7pOn1aakTvXeDXutIhj9sRFx5Yq54B_ISKdtdt0GAQvszJs1VoRNztvSskNSnIPiSx1ih6D5VlHVH0yzl8Uxngs0rCFUi4Q6D6P5qU-oDdiY2YbcjPLTQ/s200/IMG_0741.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">the mouth unit so far is a tube inside an old LED bike light.&nbsp; underneath, i am using another fsr as a lip pressure sensor, which i am REALLY stoked about.&nbsp; previously iwas going to use a mechanical system than was going to be a pain in the ass to build.&nbsp; this is simple and very sensitive.&nbsp; although now i must water proof the fsr to keep from spitting it to death.<br /> <br /> in general, at this point, the system works but is really rudimentary.&nbsp; waaaaay too much wire, finger positioning is not optimal, which is distracting and i am finding the concept of playing sax fingerings with complete hand freedom to be more disorienting than i had anticipated.needless to say, i will be busking ALOT from this week forward, to get more&nbsp;acquainted&nbsp;with this new sytle.&nbsp; but right now, i just hold my hands in sax position.<br /> </span><br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSSuY0J1xNM7S5WN_8KS-ylzOlgFR9mZ8c0nK-CWQNqeKmzj7rITCrsmWGgET-JjdSDlSTOsRQYb8kUqwonwOeaHrj3POk08NEpMXjlEEWjWZWYhC0Sib9MSd9h4-qS3UzHlbiJQBwUek/s1600/components+003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="150" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSSuY0J1xNM7S5WN_8KS-ylzOlgFR9mZ8c0nK-CWQNqeKmzj7rITCrsmWGgET-JjdSDlSTOsRQYb8kUqwonwOeaHrj3POk08NEpMXjlEEWjWZWYhC0Sib9MSd9h4-qS3UzHlbiJQBwUek/s200/components+003.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">tonight and tommorrow i will add more octaves and fingerings and get the functionality to at least that of the wx5.&nbsp; from there i will start working on the feedback system which consists of a lilypad buzzer and the thinkM MaxM LED lights.&nbsp; both of thes should be easily accomplished in a day.&nbsp;i will also attack the rats nest of wires that fill the units now.&nbsp;&nbsp;i'll be refining the guts so that i&nbsp;have indictor lights and the on/off swith is on the outside.&nbsp;&nbsp;from there its is play-code, play-code, play-code til...well, til from now on because this is the new reality; an infinitely variable controller!&nbsp; <br /> <br /> I will be doing a couple of "alpha" sessions starting this week, so if you dont already, follow me on twitter or facebook and i will be posting the venue details for each session.&nbsp; there will be MANY in anticipation of the debut party in May,so feel free to come check it all out.&nbsp; </span><br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVtknvU_AibBmIrejvp0cACHyYloslrrCeGHLKjh0PiXTzJXGhE7pKyeHr2ZOjm5pQFiHMSSWS15wQUpudmSleRrnDp0bInc6JAAhmBuTVEMpWPJwtzEE50356mlGxIq66SkMIeFHdZNE/s1600/IMG_0715.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="200" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVtknvU_AibBmIrejvp0cACHyYloslrrCeGHLKjh0PiXTzJXGhE7pKyeHr2ZOjm5pQFiHMSSWS15wQUpudmSleRrnDp0bInc6JAAhmBuTVEMpWPJwtzEE50356mlGxIq66SkMIeFHdZNE/s200/IMG_0715.jpg" width="150" /></span></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /> </span><br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="150" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlZlrz82CpDSFgYsKwBKIX74cGQLt2weJS-Pdgvin5JHPHhEDE5W7gO3PC7b0IDW0emgiUzrXvsLpAIf1DXSa5g03l43fLkAphZFzN4jdDzjkXDp31kwsPl86k4um3tFzRHDccod4SmHg/s200/IMG_0727.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /> </span><br /> <div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih3SUfnWGj0Ef4AB2eNKy2_yzguhvVIs2eg5Rh645BMMCyYKoOyoXIDbZOBJz1DcxLNUAbjMfprqTTTWQ9J99OiG17WAko1XsjKl_PzvDOyMJxwsCT3RND8k6jijOfvG8-UpuKaLKtbXc/s1600/IMG_0749.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="150" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih3SUfnWGj0Ef4AB2eNKy2_yzguhvVIs2eg5Rh645BMMCyYKoOyoXIDbZOBJz1DcxLNUAbjMfprqTTTWQ9J99OiG17WAko1XsjKl_PzvDOyMJxwsCT3RND8k6jijOfvG8-UpuKaLKtbXc/s200/IMG_0749.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></div>Onyx-Ashanti projectshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13982406193622590455noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-985930177980712258.post-58529616723201019822011-03-15T05:31:00.000-07:002011-03-15T05:47:17.911-07:00Masochism?!...Theres an app for that! (tales from the beatjazz controller project)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.promotinglinux.com/images/pages/linux/Linux-Headache.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://www.promotinglinux.com/images/pages/linux/Linux-Headache.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Duuude!!&nbsp; What the fuck!!&nbsp; Screw "WTF", no really...What the fuck!?!&nbsp; This last two weeks has been a hellish necessity.&nbsp; "hellish" because of my profound ignorance about the subject matter I have undertaken and "necessity" because, in the end, I ended up right where I should be at this point, and more or less on schedule, if not a bit ahead of schedule. But FUCK!&nbsp; I had to work for it!!&nbsp; <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5.65pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 2.8pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Back in January, I met up with my friend Uli and was talking about my upcoming campaign to which he said, “hey, let’s do it in carbon fiber..." to which I pissed myself, cried and collapsed into the floor, simultaneously.&nbsp; Before this point, my project was going to be PVC pipe and lots of wire.&nbsp; So this suggested a rethink of my design, which prompted the idea of going all wireless.&nbsp; So cool...don't know how or what but cool. After much research (Google is my partner in this venture in every way.&nbsp; If it were a person, we'd be married...or having an affair...) I found components that allowed me to do what I wanted seemingly easily.&nbsp;&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5.65pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 2.8pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><br /> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3167/2652423916_8b4c8fb96d.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3167/2652423916_8b4c8fb96d.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">I knew I wanted to use the arduino platform because of the wealth of open source tutorials and documentation that would help me do this project.&nbsp; I settled on a wireless version called a "Fio" which stands for "Funnel I/O”. It has wireless capabilities derived from a tiny, inexpensive and very powerful radio transmitter called an "Xbee".&nbsp; These are the size of a really big thumbnail and have built in networking capabilities.&nbsp; The Fio has a "shoe" for one built onto it.&nbsp; The concept being to create a personal area wireless network consisting of&nbsp;left&nbsp;and right hand units, each capable of sending their respective "sax" fingerings, and a mouth unit that would interpret breath and lip pressure.&nbsp; these wireless "nodes" would send their data back to a "base station" xbee receiver that would serve the data into my favorite dream maker, pure data., where it would be assembled to look like one instrument and sent on to my synthesizers.&nbsp; Simple...<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5.65pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 2.8pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><br /> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRj17gvnKDlPT26C35KQLD-jSoUt5gqSayJLM2gHvoGp9neaX1e7prKfsbOvuClxiVYn8np9w-xj717NmO7pC7DqvL1D2jiNHG6FViVf5GWObY5THIpO3zie92A35Bkn0sdyrY1sc6ebY/s1600/3+to1+fio+to+xbee.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="141" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRj17gvnKDlPT26C35KQLD-jSoUt5gqSayJLM2gHvoGp9neaX1e7prKfsbOvuClxiVYn8np9w-xj717NmO7pC7DqvL1D2jiNHG6FViVf5GWObY5THIpO3zie92A35Bkn0sdyrY1sc6ebY/s200/3+to1+fio+to+xbee.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">First issue.&nbsp; There needed to be a server on the computer to interpret the data from the three fio's.&nbsp; Now, at this point I should note that I am what we in the southern US call, “hard-headed&nbsp;others would call it "determined" or "tenacious" but it all comes to the same point; i don't like being told what i can’t do.&nbsp; All my research was telling me that I could not (at my current skill level) create the 3-to-1 wireless network I had envisioned.&nbsp; I was flustered.&nbsp; I had bought all these components only to find out that it was harder than&nbsp;expected to parse all the data coming into the computer.&nbsp; I also discovered that 10-20 channels of high speed, high resolution analog sensor data was going to choke the shit out of that little base station at the speeds I needed it to operate at (1-6ms latency). oh, yeah, and all that data was going to be pure serial data and not the wonderfully refined "firmata/pduino" system I thought I’d be using (firmata is an OS for the arduino that speaks to &nbsp;pduino on the computer, and pduino only accepts one comport input at a time).&nbsp; What to do....what to do....what to do?!?!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5.65pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 2.8pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">I discovered an ingenious system called <a href="http://sensestage.hexagram.ca/">Sense stage</a>.&nbsp; I decided not to use the system in the end.&nbsp; It’s not bad. It’s in a sort of beta stage and the developer was extremely nice in helping me get it running.&nbsp; It was cleverly designed, although a bit academic for my needs.&nbsp; &nbsp;It made use of the fio’s and created a multipoint wireless network specifically for the performing arts.&nbsp; All automatically assigned serial codes and clever routing.&nbsp; It is available for windows, osx and Linux but the windows version could not interact with the server at this time (soon to come).&nbsp; And I don’t have a mac, so I decided to give the Linux version a try <i>(side note on Linux;&nbsp;really?&nbsp;&nbsp; No...Really?&nbsp; I always thought of myself as a geek but no...I am a tourist.&nbsp; Real geeks go for Linux and I am not worthy.&nbsp; The most inexplicably obtuse system I have ever experienced on a computer.&nbsp; it’s as if someone said, "Hey let's use a system so fucking confusing that no one but real geeks will ever go near it!"&nbsp; The technological equivalent of placing the bodies of your vanquished enemies on stakes around your castle.&nbsp; That being said, I learned a lot about how computers REALLY work and plan to investigate it at a slower pace than what is available to me now.)</i><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5.65pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 2.8pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">so I trudged thru the hellish installs, then had to find and compile drivers for a wireless card so I could download all the other shit I needed, THEN, downloaded an apache server, all the quarks and .tarz and what-the-fucks- FROM A COMMANDLINE (which means to type in the commands that make certain functions work), and THEN bugged the shit out of the developer for 4 days STRAIGHT.&nbsp; He even <a href="http://sensestage.hexagram.ca/setting-up-puredyne-linux-to-work-with-sensestage">updated his website</a> based on my questions and feedback.&nbsp; Got it all installed and...IT WORKED!! There were all three nodes.&nbsp; Everything was configurable on the computer.&nbsp; It was lovely, but s-l-o-w.&nbsp; The computer, donated by a friend last year, did the job, but wasn't really up to the task of serving multiple streams of real-time server data.&nbsp; Coupled with the finding that the developer had hardcoded a latency of 50ms into the system for stability, which is more than fine for dance or lighting.&nbsp; For reference, I usually have 2-5ms latency when I play.&nbsp; When it gets to 7ms, it starts to get...hmmm...let’s call it "chewy".&nbsp; At &lt;10ms, it’s just tedious. 50ms is like playing an instrument from across an auditorium.&nbsp; Not the droid I’m looking for...<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5.65pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 2.8pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><br /> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhLZs9OjXpA2G9cpR_SBgowyG1J_CogpsWLjTCKTmxOg0CGyXOOCyZsLfrzNJk2XSKa2PyjqbdXmMOV7DPNHXQY53HNf5cZzns3_B61CEMMxsZNH51W7evikbFeBxIjBDTLB1sRCM9vSk/s1600/3+to+1+xbee.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="141" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhLZs9OjXpA2G9cpR_SBgowyG1J_CogpsWLjTCKTmxOg0CGyXOOCyZsLfrzNJk2XSKa2PyjqbdXmMOV7DPNHXQY53HNf5cZzns3_B61CEMMxsZNH51W7evikbFeBxIjBDTLB1sRCM9vSk/s200/3+to+1+xbee.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">SO...now I’m back to square one.&nbsp; I’ve killed off a week with that excursion, but I gleaned some valuable info along the way.&nbsp; After discussing the issue with another developer, I decided to try just using the xbee's by themselves, 3-to-1 (one radio, no Fio, for each hand and the mouth unit).&nbsp; Each radio has 10 pins of input/output so I could “get by” with just that.&nbsp; So I went and got some boards to connect the radios by themselves but they are much lower level type of programming than the arduino's.&nbsp; You’re talking to the machine at this point, which involved serial command, reading packet data and understanding hexadecimal numbers (which I have a better understanding of now).&nbsp; Coupled with having to create a battery charging system, AND still have to deal with parsing converged serial data on the computer, before I can do ANYTHING. I had to simplify.&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5.65pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 2.8pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><br /> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYX33fjoFBmNah8FZ2Dj4Y4dD5jVtOJidNGRTg6VjtMcTISj04enTp4Omoq4I5g6gw1VO6eWQITIc3FoMaAAjv5QNk3EKbGx2uYVVj_ZLb-1v4KEAc9CqsMb8fp1rcDWgXc-rfGs3em30/s1600/3+1+to+1+xbee.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="141" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYX33fjoFBmNah8FZ2Dj4Y4dD5jVtOJidNGRTg6VjtMcTISj04enTp4Omoq4I5g6gw1VO6eWQITIc3FoMaAAjv5QNk3EKbGx2uYVVj_ZLb-1v4KEAc9CqsMb8fp1rcDWgXc-rfGs3em30/s200/3+1+to+1+xbee.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">I figured I can over simplify now and refine everything later.&nbsp; So I decided the easiest means would be radio to radio. Rather than 3-to-1, it would be 3, 1-to-1 networks. One set for the left hand, transmitter and base station, one set for the right and a set of xbee's for the mouth unit.&nbsp; Okaaaayyyyy!&nbsp; This was looking more promising.&nbsp; Now I had three independent streams of data...no parsing necessary.&nbsp; Now I just needed to get them all into pure data.&nbsp; I only have 4 radios so I made two into base stations and two into remote nodes (I’ll get the final two radios later this week).&nbsp; I opened pure data, opened a comport for one, and *pop* it opens as expected,&nbsp;I open a comport for the other one that is plugged in and surprise surprise, it opens as well!&nbsp; I didn't know that it would accept two comport inputs simultaneously! Big revelation!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5.65pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 2.8pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><br /> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn2FnlV9TkA36xMuhU9GBDNOccnTwcUIb1cJ_zMviuXnqJ8qTIfKucdcAotZswIhTjtEuKa8LsNX7k4njeBrQpe82aGN2MNtdg7Sy7FiCLLE9j4BSPeGhyphenhyphenvd5J8UNQFxJg6k6cgkFhuj4/s1600/3++1+to+1+fio+to+xbee.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="141" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn2FnlV9TkA36xMuhU9GBDNOccnTwcUIb1cJ_zMviuXnqJ8qTIfKucdcAotZswIhTjtEuKa8LsNX7k4njeBrQpe82aGN2MNtdg7Sy7FiCLLE9j4BSPeGhyphenhyphenvd5J8UNQFxJg6k6cgkFhuj4/s200/3++1+to+1+fio+to+xbee.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">hmmm...if it opens the comports maybe it'll open the pduino objects as well and lo and behold it did! Yaaaaay!!! but the radio to radio system was just as tedious as the 3-to-1 system, so it occurred to me, that since I can open multiple comports I could just use the arduino's I already have, in a 1-to-1 configuration and give each node its own port, hence my insane joy.&nbsp; It not only works, but works extremely well; no data bottleneck because each arduino has its own comport and base station.&nbsp; Although if I had known what I was doing, i could have come to this conclusion weeks ago.&nbsp; Thus is life.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5.65pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 2.8pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">So there it is.&nbsp; The system works.&nbsp; I won’t know how well until I assemble the units and attempt to play it, so today I go get the circuit board stuff so I can start getting it all ready to mount into playable units.&nbsp; It should be in a playable "alpha-alpha" stage by Thursday and then starts the next phase which is refinement of the software systems and creation of the looping system.&nbsp; I will try to post more often for the remainder of the project.&nbsp; I felt the need to encapsulate the last period for completion sake.&nbsp; Future posts will be much more bite-sized than this one. I’ll report back soon.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5.65pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 2.8pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-autospace: none;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /> </div>Onyx-Ashanti projectshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13982406193622590455noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-985930177980712258.post-77356880933660147912011-03-10T18:42:00.000-08:002011-03-10T18:42:08.080-08:00this will be a "web" "log" after todays last "proper" posti must apologize. &nbsp;there is a whole crazy mental drama going on with this project that i feel the need to share. &nbsp;not right now though. &nbsp;right now i'm going to sleep. &nbsp;then i'm going to get up and write one of my constructed,flowing joints. &nbsp;THEN, i'm going to just vomit thoughts and feelings and notes onto this blog until the end of the project. &nbsp;nite nite...Onyx-Ashanti projectshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13982406193622590455noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-985930177980712258.post-13988179464196448092011-03-04T03:48:00.000-08:002011-03-04T07:01:10.354-08:00Progress is exausting!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjwphOLIWsAFqxbmk6HANnrye4L4wV6RmyoGALj-0AYNHpRLPF4F7tdw2Rey8_87cWvQObi7owm48lgQuSBKQ2iMmNKwJvjozbzfdq6yOA-yU9yMXmX1dokcZpuqPNaM721If9GXsuYis/s1600/xbee1+012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjwphOLIWsAFqxbmk6HANnrye4L4wV6RmyoGALj-0AYNHpRLPF4F7tdw2Rey8_87cWvQObi7owm48lgQuSBKQ2iMmNKwJvjozbzfdq6yOA-yU9yMXmX1dokcZpuqPNaM721If9GXsuYis/s320/xbee1+012.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>nope, no OVER EXCITED exaltations of how wonderful everything is. &nbsp;no pretty shots of electronic componentry (ok...just one). &nbsp;no&nbsp;ruminations&nbsp;on the future of live music performance. &nbsp;nope...there is only code, and flow charts and mind maps on serial communication, AT commands, actionscript, proccessing, and java classes. &nbsp;lest we not leave out learning that most computers come with a calculator that can convert decimal numbers to Hex and learning to read and use system exclusive and OSC. &nbsp;now, i would be lying if i said that i'm not into this stuff. &nbsp;I am. &nbsp;i find this stuff to be amazingly interesting and must pinch myself daily to my great fortune to have been born at this point in history to be able to do it, but WOW, FUCKING WOW! The Rabbit hole has no bottom! <br /> <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://us.123rf.com/400wm/400/400/tilltibet/tilltibet0808/tilltibet080800039/3391239-cyber-worlds.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://us.123rf.com/400wm/400/400/tilltibet/tilltibet0808/tilltibet080800039/3391239-cyber-worlds.jpg" width="235" /></a></div>there are worlds within worlds of this shit on the internet! &nbsp;you cant believe! &nbsp;forums where people chat about the intricacies of this stuff the way you or i might chat about...well, theres not really any comparison. &nbsp;its deep, DEEP. &nbsp;the further i go in, the more i ask questions that make my brain almost shutdown, i find that my question is that of a virgin "noob" (new-bie; some one who is new to the game) and doesnt even warrant a response until i bug the shit out of everyone until some one throws me a tid-bit of info that to them is some throw away shit yet to me, is the most valuable bit of text known to man! &nbsp;I have a healthy ego and i like me, but i am truly humbled. &nbsp;all i can say is wow! &nbsp;i am not worthy and i must go forward much more apprentice-like.<br /> <br /> thats not to say that things arent happening. And i fully expected, and honestly, looked forward to these issues. &nbsp;i recieved the larger FSR's (force sensing resistors) this week. &nbsp;these are the sensors i will be using as "keys" on my instrument. &nbsp;i chose them because i will be a ble to program variable levels of functionality into one key which, creatively, excites me. &nbsp;and with these sensors, i now have 99% of what i need to create the controller, the one hold out being the breath sensor, i am waiting to show up in the mail.<br /> <br /> I must apologize at the dearth of updates this week. &nbsp;i am working on the underlying concept of the instrument; a 3 way wireless network. left hand, right hand and mouth unit. &nbsp;This will be the definitive aspect of the system so i want to focus on doing it properly. &nbsp;without going to deep into it, i've got to use some code that was gracisously shared with me by an American developer named Robert Guyser, to determine how to parse data from the 3 nodes in my "network" then create a pure data patch (program) that will look for the same packet structure and split the data stream up into pieces that pure data can understand. &nbsp;so, i might miss a few days of facebook updates. &nbsp;i hope thats ok.<br /> <br /> so if you are wondering where i am for the next week, now you know. &nbsp;the next "GREATEST POST IN THE WORLD, LOL!!LMAO, YAAAAY!!" post will come when i get the network functioning. &nbsp;which should be in about a week. have a great weekend!<br /> <br /> EDIT: found a system that may create a perfect basis for my programming BUT it doesnt like windows, so, its beginning to look alot like Linux...and the plot thickens...Onyx-Ashanti projectshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13982406193622590455noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-985930177980712258.post-60664617096932005432011-02-26T11:51:00.000-08:002011-02-26T11:51:32.874-08:00Component porn<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUHVXxirNXUxWRRpnYnCgkDoBsVyiikBorUAAhP7dYOqZIgdf_M3YvMSsPAfDWHR_M8gcBnB-Pj26L-pjz7LS6YirjTRdb-O89WEdeSJTj3hAFBvLqxq2nVutxFzQEI4BYpvokMfNIytk/s1600/post+campaign+pics+016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUHVXxirNXUxWRRpnYnCgkDoBsVyiikBorUAAhP7dYOqZIgdf_M3YvMSsPAfDWHR_M8gcBnB-Pj26L-pjz7LS6YirjTRdb-O89WEdeSJTj3hAFBvLqxq2nVutxFzQEI4BYpvokMfNIytk/s200/post+campaign+pics+016.jpg" width="150" /></a><br /> <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">NSFW! Nothing but component porn here today! Hot lusty pieces of dreams.&nbsp; Try not to stare and definitely don't let your significant other see this post! It’s dirty dirty from this point forward.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The campaign is over.&nbsp; Or should I say "this" campaign is over;-)&nbsp;the long road to not just a cool live performance system, but the BADDEST live performance system will most likely work something like this;&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5.65pt; margin-left: 18.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 2.8pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: black; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">decide on cool feature<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5.65pt; margin-left: 18.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 2.8pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: black; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">find out it’s hard to implement but not impossible<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5.65pt; margin-left: 18.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 2.8pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: black; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">trial and error<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5.65pt; margin-left: 18.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 2.8pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: black; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">beg smarter people for help<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5.65pt; margin-left: 18.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 2.8pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: black; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">bang head against wall<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5.65pt; margin-left: 18.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 2.8pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: black; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Fall into a depression because I suck at everything, blah, blah, blah...<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5.65pt; margin-left: 18.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 2.8pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: black; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Contemplate ending it all JUST before finding a super simple solution that eluded me for weeks.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5.65pt; margin-left: 18.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 2.8pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: black; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">cry tears of joy<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5.65pt; margin-left: 18.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 2.8pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: black; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Repeat for each of the dozen or so distinct aspects of this project.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5.65pt; margin-left: 18.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 2.8pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHA1lgWDitMUXE_0rXk5o8JqAHJ4WptuZjYvMCybeKXO1DYONxYAMkdVwPNoaXoG6G4HOEfAbOu-H2FfjVA3NSkkAuIkML0wSiL3PmsssZpmkgtH-O4XBfi48LadhsuBCWyH9cDcw20So/s1600/components+008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHA1lgWDitMUXE_0rXk5o8JqAHJ4WptuZjYvMCybeKXO1DYONxYAMkdVwPNoaXoG6G4HOEfAbOu-H2FfjVA3NSkkAuIkML0wSiL3PmsssZpmkgtH-O4XBfi48LadhsuBCWyH9cDcw20So/s200/components+008.jpg" width="150" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">It will be a headache for a few weeks but it will be some sick shit when it is done.&nbsp; And now I have 90% of the components necessary for the first full prototype.&nbsp; I visited Anton who runs <a href="http://tinkersoup.de/">Tinkersoup.de</a> here in Berlin.&nbsp; He has all the coolest components available and is the only source for m the vast majority of the components in this project.&nbsp; And he's a nice guy as well.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Anton sat with me the other day and helped me decide on the various components that would make my controller be truly badass.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtBNlTbReKl0-DDjiSODKvOcXjBLI-TOdEuMYlpo2yVtXFrquCb8USqcyC00EBRhuipBZscWnSejyKE-BpHfDEv7vk48JPA0kYLtzuUw8AEmsF5QJNlYZGiNAmf-irNUOWCvvipPWuuFo/s1600/components+006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtBNlTbReKl0-DDjiSODKvOcXjBLI-TOdEuMYlpo2yVtXFrquCb8USqcyC00EBRhuipBZscWnSejyKE-BpHfDEv7vk48JPA0kYLtzuUw8AEmsF5QJNlYZGiNAmf-irNUOWCvvipPWuuFo/s200/components+006.jpg" width="150" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5.65pt; margin-left: 18.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 2.8pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: black; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_1765525124"> </a></span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><a href="http://arduino.cc/en/Main/ArduinoBoardFio">2 more arduino boards and 2 more radios for&nbsp;them</a>.&nbsp; Now I have one arduino/xbee for each hand, one for the headset oral&nbsp;interface and one radio as a base station.&nbsp; I am preparing for a week of studying serial communications so I can determine which arduino is which and assign said units data where it needs to be.&nbsp;&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5.65pt; margin-left: 18.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 2.8pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvbhgDOFL9mmYjnf-twypS_HtQmngQfyl2zKQ9v1CnXz1MYWRFdd3xJqihC154TlgqcYbEmvJQE5hkMbIEpHKsXmOarxNPo7fRhW3wLyhkIku5Yu1zPm2SfK-yZIBVeJH5pe1trvOCwfc/s1600/components+005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvbhgDOFL9mmYjnf-twypS_HtQmngQfyl2zKQ9v1CnXz1MYWRFdd3xJqihC154TlgqcYbEmvJQE5hkMbIEpHKsXmOarxNPo7fRhW3wLyhkIku5Yu1zPm2SfK-yZIBVeJH5pe1trvOCwfc/s200/components+005.jpg" width="150" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5.65pt; margin-left: 18.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 2.8pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: black; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Another <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/todbot/sets/72157605675213625/">BlinkM MaxM</a> crazy rgb LED.&nbsp; Now I have one for each hand.&nbsp; they come with a powerful microprocessor board that allows you to save light sequences onto it but I think I would rather focus on my color synth in PD which will allow a never ending variety of color combinations using PWM (pulse width modulation), which basically means that each color will have 255 levels of intensity, which will allow me to create very sophisticated color effects using some of the built in video processing objects in PD, like GEM.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSVwmZerrJVUZYTS_U5-JoDVili1oQ4JJBtznEjyIIrK6Q2FSTyZBxL9DZ8h9b_4KFGikS1x3QLFKhaQJbRX5ioWjOrUd4gJLWS0x6lm6yP9_WKHlcLxIOMBvIpZ82FpJJQzPpaKxqMXk/s1600/post+campaign+pics+015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSVwmZerrJVUZYTS_U5-JoDVili1oQ4JJBtznEjyIIrK6Q2FSTyZBxL9DZ8h9b_4KFGikS1x3QLFKhaQJbRX5ioWjOrUd4gJLWS0x6lm6yP9_WKHlcLxIOMBvIpZ82FpJJQzPpaKxqMXk/s200/post+campaign+pics+015.jpg" width="150" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5.65pt; margin-left: 18.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 2.8pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: black; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_1765525113"> </a></span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><a href="http://www.ladyada.net/learn/sensors/fsr.html">FORCE SENSING RESISTORS</a>!! Oh....these are soooo sexy.&nbsp; Why? They are variable pressure sensors.&nbsp; I will be using them as the "keys" of my instrument. The effect will be that of "squeezing" the controller more so than tapping buttons. Each key will be capable of precise pressure control so I can, for instance, press normally for playing, a little harder for another function and a little harder still for still another function.&nbsp; So fresh, so clean!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSSuY0J1xNM7S5WN_8KS-ylzOlgFR9mZ8c0nK-CWQNqeKmzj7rITCrsmWGgET-JjdSDlSTOsRQYb8kUqwonwOeaHrj3POk08NEpMXjlEEWjWZWYhC0Sib9MSd9h4-qS3UzHlbiJQBwUek/s1600/components+003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSSuY0J1xNM7S5WN_8KS-ylzOlgFR9mZ8c0nK-CWQNqeKmzj7rITCrsmWGgET-JjdSDlSTOsRQYb8kUqwonwOeaHrj3POk08NEpMXjlEEWjWZWYhC0Sib9MSd9h4-qS3UzHlbiJQBwUek/s200/components+003.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5.65pt; margin-left: 18.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 2.8pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: black; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">2 vibe boards.&nbsp; After hanging out with Rob, the developer of TouchOSC, he informed me that Touch OSC had access to the vibrate alert thingy in the iphone. At first, it didn't faze me too much.&nbsp; It was cool but it was like, "so what?"&nbsp; That was until I realized that I could use it for haptic feedback, which is basically getting back a touch response when interacting with certain technology.&nbsp; So I enabled it for certain functions in my gestural system and now it is indispensible! I want to know if a particular effect is on, without looking? "bzz, bzz"...yup.&nbsp;Is this function a ("bzzzzzzz, bzz, bzz") or function b (bzz, bzz, bzzzzz").&nbsp; It’s amazing!&nbsp; So I purchased a couple of these devices for my controller.&nbsp; They are much more powerful than those found in phones which will be necessary in a hot confusing club environment.&nbsp; It will be mounted on the strap that goes across the back of my hand, right next to the...<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5.65pt; margin-left: 18.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 2.8pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkGayQ4OGnDhHGdp8m6txKgP1FYFg2nyjx6UGILarYPOegRbnmzOQDYvcQXC6e3ASYAWUCSm2GQieIx3qqD8G0gtAwl8wFqv7aNwBnvalqRKMQplwVnEOHG5OK9fd9ugoPr-TSH_Z97XA/s1600/components+004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkGayQ4OGnDhHGdp8m6txKgP1FYFg2nyjx6UGILarYPOegRbnmzOQDYvcQXC6e3ASYAWUCSm2GQieIx3qqD8G0gtAwl8wFqv7aNwBnvalqRKMQplwVnEOHG5OK9fd9ugoPr-TSH_Z97XA/s200/components+004.jpg" width="150" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5.65pt; margin-left: 18.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 2.8pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: black; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">3 axis accelerometer. This system is designed for 2 accelerometers, one for each hand.&nbsp; The strength of these components will become obvious when they interact with each other.&nbsp; I created a dual accelerometer system last summer and I look forward to making use of it with this system.&nbsp; Although, while chatting with Anton he described a component call an IMU (inertial measurement unit) which does the accelerometer stuff as well as doing sensing direction, which accelerometers do not do. I can tell that the MkII version of the controller will almost definitely have a set of these, but right now, I think I can survive with 3 degrees of freedom.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLDILVkAlFtAwQqhUcYkxsjFd_Rv_noxqcZNVgtRWmnzKnLDWNjq1bn5cptBtkWIIz-SqfXUXYAhAIkQDoFew7mgo7nbqCsLPmrSKCs6X2iJqelRCmJwbWur6x19GEw0_m-tozaauiy_Q/s1600/components+002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLDILVkAlFtAwQqhUcYkxsjFd_Rv_noxqcZNVgtRWmnzKnLDWNjq1bn5cptBtkWIIz-SqfXUXYAhAIkQDoFew7mgo7nbqCsLPmrSKCs6X2iJqelRCmJwbWur6x19GEw0_m-tozaauiy_Q/s200/components+002.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5.65pt; margin-left: 18.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 2.8pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: black; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">5 volt regulators.&nbsp; Why even mention such an unsexy component?! Because you know what is less sexy than this part? Frying your shit.&nbsp; That’s really unsexy.&nbsp; This is a consideration because the big ass lights I just HAD to have for this joint?! Well they shoot-up electricity like a crack-addict.&nbsp; Like REALLY!&nbsp; It’s pretty unsettling.&nbsp;&nbsp;And using normal, say 1100mah batteries, the system would be almost dead in 40-50 minutes, no joke.&nbsp;&nbsp; so I am sourcing some bad ass li-on monster batteries and they will most likely provide more power than the rest of the system is comfortable with, hence, the understated beauty of these 5 volt regulators.&nbsp; Surges up to 40v? Squashed! Knowing that my boards won’t be frying in my hand, is very sexy.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5.65pt; margin-left: 18.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 2.8pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5.65pt; margin-left: 18.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 2.8pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnFCUH1aVoj67iR2QXkF8OS07RdjWSgTUBZYEEW8VfqB0lg0-mST3DnIclSIFXhSHWpQ-C-HMDjF1LfW6Ht28yyPT___rjP08xBHzCt5rybqeptDqMlM0CLXN9SUSAvFHyQ59XrrpMHZc/s1600/post+campaign+pics+018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnFCUH1aVoj67iR2QXkF8OS07RdjWSgTUBZYEEW8VfqB0lg0-mST3DnIclSIFXhSHWpQ-C-HMDjF1LfW6Ht28yyPT___rjP08xBHzCt5rybqeptDqMlM0CLXN9SUSAvFHyQ59XrrpMHZc/s200/post+campaign+pics+018.jpg" width="150" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Hot and bothered yet?&nbsp; Yeah me too.&nbsp; There are a few more pieces that I must acquire, but I have enough parts to push forward with some of the more in depth aspects.&nbsp; Intense times ahead.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">&nbsp;I will have to throttle it down a bit for the next couple of days though. Tomorrow I will be doing a bit of the Beatjazz at <a href="http://www.rosacaleta.com/">Rosa Calleta</a> in Kreuzberg starting at 5 pm.&nbsp; And then on Tuesday I head to Hannover for <a href="http://www.slideshare.net/bnegelmann/cebit-sounds-conference-program">CeBit Sounds</a> as part of a discussion panel on music technology and then a performance using said technology.&nbsp; Geek heaven! Me, on a mic, talking about technology!! Hahaha! They just don't know, do they?&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">But after that, it’s back to Berlin, and a solid 2-3 week shut in; stock up on food and do nothing but code.&nbsp; If you are into pure data or arduino or any of that stuff, contact me, and you are more than welcome to drop by and co-code or whatnot.&nbsp; See you soon.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /> <div class="MsoNormal"><br /> </div>Onyx-Ashanti projectshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13982406193622590455noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-985930177980712258.post-64831157271823011542011-02-21T14:00:00.000-08:002011-02-21T14:39:18.101-08:00The end of the Campaign...the Beginning of the Project; introducing the beatjazz controller model<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/R0knZavaC4o?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5qGTGjSd2ZVTku6Qbfdc5_xN4pTpgBzigTf17pPvJ361fsLdFHXXhJqorVNF2FpmlpMAYC0E544tVtoeskpyvD2hDIg1Svqx4XSj-76-SgVu3Zrk8LFQ1vDZ1caVbBhl0YcsZXtdNW3w/s1600/paperclay+001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5qGTGjSd2ZVTku6Qbfdc5_xN4pTpgBzigTf17pPvJ361fsLdFHXXhJqorVNF2FpmlpMAYC0E544tVtoeskpyvD2hDIg1Svqx4XSj-76-SgVu3Zrk8LFQ1vDZ1caVbBhl0YcsZXtdNW3w/s200/paperclay+001.jpg" width="150" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Well, here it is!&nbsp; This is the form factor that the TRON Beatjazz controller will take.&nbsp; I, in my great wisdom, decided that I would rather "make" some weird paper mache' clay out of glue, joint compound, flour and wet toilet paper, blended into a clay like material with an electric mixer.&nbsp; After searching 3-4 different stores for all the ingredients, I finally got home, made a batch and molded this baby.&nbsp; The clay did it’s job somewhat.&nbsp; I was able to finally get the idea out of my head and into the real world, and here it is!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5.65pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 2.8pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-autospace: none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRk2YSi14cmx45CaZGZS06o4ZB7iiFIij3vcqczNMRN_9ucUoRrQzk8P17XqbcrdoG6b7ZlNJz0QcuzM8PBYKXgYwuV8yDT3-aRjaC_q2bAInGCobPN40lOWWLRlnlKZt97XsLP7B3iFE/s1600/mkIII+clay+model+013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRk2YSi14cmx45CaZGZS06o4ZB7iiFIij3vcqczNMRN_9ucUoRrQzk8P17XqbcrdoG6b7ZlNJz0QcuzM8PBYKXgYwuV8yDT3-aRjaC_q2bAInGCobPN40lOWWLRlnlKZt97XsLP7B3iFE/s200/mkIII+clay+model+013.jpg" width="150" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">It surprised me how much it came out looking like a fighter jet joystick, but it feels SO good in the hand.&nbsp; The weight goes where it is supposed to and the fingers fall comfortably onto the keys.&nbsp; The clay wasn't malleable enough to create the strap that will go diagonally across the back of the hand, but the basic layout is all there and everything is exactly as it should be.&nbsp; There will be plenty of space for the MaxM RGB LED as well as internal space enough to house the battery, accelerometer, transceiver and processor boards. This will look amazingly sick when we create the carbon fiber molds with it (or rather one just like it); small enough to be cradled in the hand and large enough to gawk at the awesomeness of design and the materials. Super mega excited!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5.65pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 2.8pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5.65pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 2.8pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">So here we are.&nbsp; Less than 12 hours left after a little over a month of non-stop progress and a few surprises;</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-autospace: none;"><br /> <ul><li><span style="color: black; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">we quickly went from a wired concept to a completely wireless one</span></li> <li><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLkCtBw6QtFmOohAhGvBY5yCUeMLN3QynMgHe0W6zoE8BGoHALcKAdS2B4ijcQOVjdRhUDcZOo-Ex1XHCl-TdjRUonv1erQrvmAWgRg4EfMjYJkXN8DIYBWj5Py28L_gU5wKeNqykENis/s1600/IMG_0340.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLkCtBw6QtFmOohAhGvBY5yCUeMLN3QynMgHe0W6zoE8BGoHALcKAdS2B4ijcQOVjdRhUDcZOo-Ex1XHCl-TdjRUonv1erQrvmAWgRg4EfMjYJkXN8DIYBWj5Py28L_gU5wKeNqykENis/s200/IMG_0340.jpg" width="200" /></a></li> <li><span style="color: black; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">With the help of the amazing Uli Maier, we created a prototype helmet to that will be used to mount components in preparation for the carbon fiber "afro" version.</span></li> <li><span style="color: black; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">began almost from scratch on a pure data based wind midi system</span></li> <li><span style="color: black; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">With early contributions, purchased the first of the wireless transceivers and started programming with them.</span></li> <li><span style="color: black; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">created a working Boehm-fingered wind midi system (on a breadboard)</span></li> <li><span style="color: black; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">And now have the first (or technically second) viable physical model of the Beatjazz controller hand unit that will become the basis of the design going forward.</span></li> </ul></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5.65pt; margin-left: 18.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 2.8pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><br /> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">And all of this BEFORE the official beginning of the project itself!&nbsp; NOW, it’s time to&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><br /> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5.65pt; margin-left: 18.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 2.8pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><br /> <ul><li><span style="color: black; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">make the wind midi system into a "giggable" instrument</span></li> <li><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLErEKnGQ3ino85VUtOnHaX7SX-wyjCIhm2EcJ4ayhy2kJJXLkbFjqXBSu7NwUJvcQXYJHKXp7BwSTNKgo85Pf99n3QqJ5xZNAlcqdAuNy7Y6-0jg6cN36N7e37LbxqGr6DIrIMIg8uuI/s1600/boehm+update.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="125" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLErEKnGQ3ino85VUtOnHaX7SX-wyjCIhm2EcJ4ayhy2kJJXLkbFjqXBSu7NwUJvcQXYJHKXp7BwSTNKgo85Pf99n3QqJ5xZNAlcqdAuNy7Y6-0jg6cN36N7e37LbxqGr6DIrIMIg8uuI/s200/boehm+update.png" width="200" /></a></li> <li><span style="color: black; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Update the accelerometer based gestural system I created, into a dual accelerometer system.</span></li> <li><span style="color: black; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">create a multi-channel looping system with full gestural control access</span></li> <li><span style="color: black; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">finish the last half of my book "the 21st century musicians guide to busking"</span></li> <li><span style="color: black; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">create and mold the carbon fiber parts and assemble the final stage controllers</span></li> <li><span style="color: black; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">assemble all the notes and videos from this project into the perks packages for the contributors without whom there would be no TRON Beatjazz controller system</span></li> <li><span style="color: black; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">the work like hell to prepare for a SMOKING-ass debut party at the end of May where I make good on my promise to have created the most AMAZING live music performance system EVER!</span></li> </ul></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5.65pt; margin-left: 18.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 2.8pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><br /> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk9QviQVtZCWSfieRNdbfLyv5zBV8p9mGj6l4rgngfh3g8Funl4mXCXX-akeP9pJwgSk18Rgkaazk3QD7eWMnr0YYJxnCmr8cHEysOLryzG4sv_F6LmalyteniCw6fUiq1Co1uxHvHP-8/s1600/drawings+on+a+desk.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk9QviQVtZCWSfieRNdbfLyv5zBV8p9mGj6l4rgngfh3g8Funl4mXCXX-akeP9pJwgSk18Rgkaazk3QD7eWMnr0YYJxnCmr8cHEysOLryzG4sv_F6LmalyteniCw6fUiq1Co1uxHvHP-8/s200/drawings+on+a+desk.JPG" width="150" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">So, as you can see, this is just the beginning, but it is the beginning of a dream. I cannot believe that this day has finally arrived in my career.&nbsp; And it is because of YOU that it is happening.&nbsp; Your supportive posts and kind words and drawings, and word of mouth and yes, money as well.&nbsp; I am so honored to be creating this WITH you and FOR you and from the bottom of my heart, I thank you all for helping me get this far with the project.&nbsp; I want to give special thanks to;<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><br /> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5.65pt; margin-left: 18.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 2.8pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo3; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Uli Maier who's suggestion of carbon fiber, great knowledge and use of his workshop was the unofficial start of the campaign.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5.65pt; margin-left: 18.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 2.8pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo3; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Susanne Heiden who filmed the intro video and helped me to be sillier in it than I would have been otherwise.<o:p></o:p></span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><br /> </span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Peter Kirn for pushing my campaign out to such a a large audience over and over again.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 5.65pt; margin-left: 18pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 2.8pt; text-indent: -18pt;"><div style="line-height: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">And Chris "Loganic" Logan who was able to put my ideas into sketch form that allowed everyone to be able to see what I was talking about.</span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5.65pt; margin-left: 18.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 2.8pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo3; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><br /> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">So, with that said...You still have 10 or so (depending on when you get this) hours to help make it happen! &nbsp;Although i can "get by" with almost any amount, this isnt the " quest to build an ok controller" campaign. &nbsp;this is the "HOLY SHIT, WTF IS THAT!?!?' Campaign and we're almost half way there!!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-autospace: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">There are many perks just waiting for you. The $400 "wired “controller is now $250 and all controller perks over $800 will be cast in carbon fiber!&nbsp; And every perk $15 and up include the EP and the party pass. So when it’s time for fulfillment time, most contributors will get a whole host of great perks! &nbsp;time is almost over. &nbsp;Let's do it and get this system built properly!!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-autospace: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-autospace: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /> </span></div><iframe frameborder="1" height="400px" scrolling="no" src="http://www.indiegogo.com/project/widget/16205?a=63894" width="210px"></iframe><br /> <div class="MsoNormal"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDfeqxJN6A4Ifj0M-b5oMp-as6FeXN51FF6mgk3U8b1RkmjKGbNb9PIFCnHxBWFZZuV8T2zmEUqMcCkiJdvTxl8QqFjh0eMFtL-d7ah_ZayO2KmRjv0D77WO0L6FBhaqH_WSusCnlQxs8/s1600/mkIII+clay+model+020.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDfeqxJN6A4Ifj0M-b5oMp-as6FeXN51FF6mgk3U8b1RkmjKGbNb9PIFCnHxBWFZZuV8T2zmEUqMcCkiJdvTxl8QqFjh0eMFtL-d7ah_ZayO2KmRjv0D77WO0L6FBhaqH_WSusCnlQxs8/s320/mkIII+clay+model+020.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhbFS7Z5JW1Fs3ikpk_1fGJomdRzPe9KX2mkaVLkVZ07kApow6-HqBSUETXsGLYQF-w9in7aYC8p8pHZZ75fhnbx8VM_LuDP_dpuZJCH2a0SAiPOOJvFQkgk-T9JsP673TtWTfXhz541E/s1600/mkIII+clay+model+002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhbFS7Z5JW1Fs3ikpk_1fGJomdRzPe9KX2mkaVLkVZ07kApow6-HqBSUETXsGLYQF-w9in7aYC8p8pHZZ75fhnbx8VM_LuDP_dpuZJCH2a0SAiPOOJvFQkgk-T9JsP673TtWTfXhz541E/s320/mkIII+clay+model+002.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8-DE8bAB5zJS-ZvH-SN5z6du689Pazyf13Ii4NfOh3Z97CpifKIqzgeTVfUs0BuYlRmDuvbYaO_yMhX7wtNQPnSiCQnjhPcV_XRBfdaRaQsJwmCyx2RYv5rZtHfWcvc0JUNcdY0gODfU/s1600/mkIII+clay+model+012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8-DE8bAB5zJS-ZvH-SN5z6du689Pazyf13Ii4NfOh3Z97CpifKIqzgeTVfUs0BuYlRmDuvbYaO_yMhX7wtNQPnSiCQnjhPcV_XRBfdaRaQsJwmCyx2RYv5rZtHfWcvc0JUNcdY0gODfU/s320/mkIII+clay+model+012.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRa4NxuM1IPIl9fKYSgzrFlf_tF5NsKBHBEIBVMYuim1KIneClXOg1uj7IlEEVHuyTeb0Z08xtj_ojXY6znOdoHSCVEGcWGECp0OLFN8L_-yeFBdcAFHkPnmJXGr5w8Plhp7lYmJcfmLs/s1600/paperclay+002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRa4NxuM1IPIl9fKYSgzrFlf_tF5NsKBHBEIBVMYuim1KIneClXOg1uj7IlEEVHuyTeb0Z08xtj_ojXY6znOdoHSCVEGcWGECp0OLFN8L_-yeFBdcAFHkPnmJXGr5w8Plhp7lYmJcfmLs/s320/paperclay+002.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3kP66qE8sETGuuSIQ5b1r0YLKd9wnwbsHKUXm4o33hYFcAMy_jOpQ4jipnU7nBxwiOv7_iiJbHoPZB3JHS48RHY9p96_9s_z_U-4YtaLkD4jvJ_4qil_tkM_icz08eTtlkLF0hezyT5o/s1600/mkIII+clay+model+015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3kP66qE8sETGuuSIQ5b1r0YLKd9wnwbsHKUXm4o33hYFcAMy_jOpQ4jipnU7nBxwiOv7_iiJbHoPZB3JHS48RHY9p96_9s_z_U-4YtaLkD4jvJ_4qil_tkM_icz08eTtlkLF0hezyT5o/s320/mkIII+clay+model+015.jpg" width="240" /></a></div></div>Onyx-Ashanti projectshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13982406193622590455noreply@blogger.com3