EC Container 5
instruments
New Interfaces - the Harpejji
01/02/10 17:22
Jordan Rudess and the Harpejji, which is described on their site as a member of a small family of stringed musical instruments known as tapping instruments. Tapping instruments are descendents of the electric guitar but are optimized for a style of playing that involves tapping on the strings to produce a note. One of the primary benefits of this style of playing is that it only requires one finger to make each note, unlike strumming which requires at least one finger on each hand to make a note.
By freeing up more fingers, the player has the freedom to play arrangements that are physically too difficult to play with the more traditional playing techniques. Unlike all other commercially available tapping instruments, the harpejji has a keyboard-inspired playing interface that many will find easier to learn, more comfortable to play and more interesting to explore.
The harpejji is played on a stand, horizontally or on a slight incline or decline. A decline position allows the audience to see more of your playing, whereas an incline position makes it easiest to reach the top frets.
Prices are from US$3999 to US$4999, so it is being target as a serious instrument for professional musical practice. An entry level instrument is missing from their range. The following YouTube video shows some of the capabilities of the instrument as do more more videos on the makers site
By freeing up more fingers, the player has the freedom to play arrangements that are physically too difficult to play with the more traditional playing techniques. Unlike all other commercially available tapping instruments, the harpejji has a keyboard-inspired playing interface that many will find easier to learn, more comfortable to play and more interesting to explore.
The harpejji is played on a stand, horizontally or on a slight incline or decline. A decline position allows the audience to see more of your playing, whereas an incline position makes it easiest to reach the top frets.
Prices are from US$3999 to US$4999, so it is being target as a serious instrument for professional musical practice. An entry level instrument is missing from their range. The following YouTube video shows some of the capabilities of the instrument as do more more videos on the makers site
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Vision tests
18/01/10 03:03
I am experimenting with some algorithmic approaches to image generation, preparing some material for live electronic music performance, driven by the sound, and I rather like this one
Moving from Garth Paine on Vimeo.
Experimental Video performance
21/12/09 15:46
Some experiments in using musical analysis to drive image generation in realtime. I am interested in video generation from the music I am making in performance and have been looking for a platform that makes interesting results - tell me what you think of this?
Evolving Tapestry from Garth Paine on Vimeo.
Singing Bowl Robot Video
20/11/09 19:58
Here is a little video of the singing bowl robot I have been building - this is V2 prototype. I still have some work to do to refine the leather I am using on the beater stick to get the tone I want. At the moment the tone is a bit raspy - there is also some inconsistency as I have managed to drop the bowls with motors attached a few times so they are a little inconsistent I think - some work to do there to smooth them out again... Anyway here is the beginnings of a growing thing....
The Singing Bowls Robot V2 from Garth Paine on Vimeo.
The Bowls V2
17/12/09 20:49
Version 2 of the Singing Bowls robots.
This one is excellent - the motors are really quiet - the foam works really well - easy to work, good quietening characteristics and really strong. I am very proud of the spring loaded servo connection to the playing stick - this allows for small variations in pressure and for minor in-consistencies in the bowls symmetry. You can see the Arduino and Xbee in a pocket and the battery pack goes in the other side.
In the end I will have 6 sets that can be hung in a space generating physical diffusion of sound. I am also thinking they could be used for perambulatory performances.
I will try and upload a video in the next week.
This one is excellent - the motors are really quiet - the foam works really well - easy to work, good quietening characteristics and really strong. I am very proud of the spring loaded servo connection to the playing stick - this allows for small variations in pressure and for minor in-consistencies in the bowls symmetry. You can see the Arduino and Xbee in a pocket and the battery pack goes in the other side.
In the end I will have 6 sets that can be hung in a space generating physical diffusion of sound. I am also thinking they could be used for perambulatory performances.
I will try and upload a video in the next week.