[spectre] Xth Sense – biophysical generation and control of music workshop - London, 17--20 August

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Xth Sense – biophysical generation and control of music
Hands-on training in augmentation of the body for musical performance.
Creating your own low cost biosensing wearable device for muscle sounds.

See an Xth Sense performance athttp://vimeo.com/20889787


Xth Sense:http://res.marcodonnarumma.com/projects/xth-sense/
http://marcodonnarumma.com/works/music-for-flesh-ii/



What:
The workshop offers an hands-on experience and both theoretical and
practical training in gestural control of music and bodily musical
performance, deploying the brand-new biosensing technology Xth
Sense.

Developed by the workshop teacher Marco Donnarumma within a research project at The University of Edinburgh,
Xth Sense is a framework for the application of muscle sounds to the biophysical generation and control of music.
It consists of a low cost, DIY biosensing wearable device and an Open Source based software for capture,
analysis and audio processing of biological sounds of the body (Pure Data-based).
Muscle sounds are captured in real time and used both as sonic source
material and control values for sound effects, enabling the performer
to control music simply with his body and kinetic energy.


The Xth Sense biosensor was designed to be easily implemented by anyone,
no previous experience in electronics is required.
The applications of the Xth Sense technology are manifold: from complex
gestural control of samples and audio synthesis, through biophysical
generation of music and sounds, to kinetic control of real time
digital processing of traditional musical instruments, and more.


How:
Firstly, participants will be introduced to the Xth Sense Technology by its
author and led through the assembling of their own biosensing wearable hardware using the materials provided.

Next:
They will become proficient with the Xth Sense software framework: all the features of the framework
will be unleashed through practical exercises.

Theoretical background on the state of art of gestural control of music and new musical instruments will be
developed by means of an audiovisual review and participatory critical analysis of relevant projects
selected by the instructor.

Eventually, participants will combine hardware and software to implement a solo
or group performance to be presented during the closing event.


At the end of the workshop, participants will be free to keep the Xth
Sense biosensors they built and the related software for their own
use.


Participants:
No previous experience in electronics or  programming is required, however participants
should be familiar with digital music creation.
Musical background and education does not matter as long as
you are ready to challenge your usual perspective on musical
performance.

Participation is limited to 8 candidates.


Participants need to provide their own headphones, external soundcards and laptops with Pd-extended
already installed.
Free download is available at
http://puredata.info/community/projects/software/pd-extended



We will work either on Linux or Mac OSX =>  10.6 operating systems.
If you don't have access to none of them, please download a live
distribution of Pure:Dyne at:
http://puredyne.org/index.html



Musicians interested in augmenting their favourite musical instrument by means
of body gestures are encouraged to bring their instrument along.

Dates 17-18-19-20 August, 11.00-19.00 daily (6 hours sessions + 1 hour break)
nnnnn, Unit 73a, Regent Studios, 8 Andrews Road, London, E8 4QN


Fee
£80 including materials.
To reserve a place please contactryan at ryanjordan.org  <http://lists.pawfal.org/listinfo.cgi/openlab-pawfal.org>  andm at marcodonnarumma.com  <http://lists.pawfal.org/listinfo.cgi/openlab-pawfal.org>  and you can pay online here:
http://nnnnn.org.uk/doku.php?id=xth_sense&#fee_and_booking  <http://nnnnn.org.uk/doku.p%E2%80%8Bhp?id=xth_sense&#fee_and_b%E2%80%8Booking>  		 	   		   		 	

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