Week 1: Theory class: Introduction to "Interaction"
In this first class will start from scratch, discussing about the concepts of "Interaction" and "Interactivity".
For that, I would recommend you the following 3 readings.
If you still want more, you may also read this one :)
As you will hopefully notice, opinions and points of view can be quite different, even on such an apparently basic topic. So, please, do not follow or trust anything blindly (specially academic papers!).
Think for yourself. Think about these readings, be (constructively) critical, and try to build your own ideas.
Try also to formulate questions that could be later discussed in class.
Think also perhaps about this one: "how much of what is typically considered as interactive - sometimes even considered as the paradigm of interactivity -, is really interactive?"
For next theory class (week 3), prepare the questions of slides #17, 18 and 19.
What do you understand by "real-time" and "real-time interaction"? (you can do some Googling...)
Week 2: Practice class:
Material for the session (including homework!)
Download pd-extended ( mirror )
Tutorials:
Week 3: Theory class: "Real-time Interaction"
Slides
Week 4: Practice class:
patch
slides
Assigment: Create the Input part so it uses input methods other than PD controllers (like sliders and such).
The devices must be useful to control the logic part, while respecting the limitations of 3 outlets with a range 0-100. You can change the logic part if you want. You can use multiple devices or just one. Experiment for a while to see how it feels, and choose the mapping that you are more confortable with.
Send it to me before 30 Oct.
Instructions to use Kinect (via OSCeleton)
Week 5: Theory class: "Real-time Musical Interaction / Digital music performance / NIME"
The next class we will cover a very wide topic, that of New Interfaces for Musical Expression (NIME). These are some recommended readings:
This is probably the first paper that introduces the idea of "Interactive Music" and "Interactive Composition". It is rather concrete and specific, but some of its general ideas are still completely relevant.
This is an academic paper that does not look like one. It covers different aspects of the design and conception of Musical Interfaces, and it is mostly based on personal and empirical experiences, rather than on systematic research. That said, it is probably very hard to do a systematic reserach along these lines, and in that sense, the paper is full of very useful and relevant information, that every NIME designer should know and take into account. Things haven't changed as much as we might think in the last 20 years!
This paper complements very well the previous one. It somehow covers the same aspects, but from a more systematic point of view. Also very recomandable for every NIME designer.
This is a book chapter I wrote for the "Cambridge Companion to Electronic Music". It provides a very basic and introductory overview of the field. Here are the references of the whole book (including those of the current chapter).
If you want to read more, you can find some guidelines (together with hundreds of references) on different subtopics in my PhD thesis, specially in the first chapters.
The assignment (for Monday 12th October) can be done in two alternative ways:
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Imagine a interactive musical system or device you would like to see/play/conceive/design... Justify why you would like it, how you imagine it should work, etc.) . After that, try to find something related (there are MANY chances that what you have imagined, has already been done). Don't cheat! i.e.: first imagine, later do your research.
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Analyse an existing interactive musical system you specially like. Try not to focus on the commercial products (which are rather limited), but check for some alternative/academic production instead.
Where to find information / Some links:
Send me a PDF by e-mail (sergi.jorda@upf.edu), before Monday November 12th at 14.00.
It doesn't have to be a scientific paper! It can just be a draft with ideas, drawings, links, etc.
Week 6: Practice class:
patch
Homework:
Please complete the third part of your interactive system: output. Try to integrate the three different parts.
You will have to present your work in class, so if you need extra material to do so, bring it with you.
Also, start thinking about your final project!
Week 7: Theory class: Interactive Music
slides
For next class, you can refine & resubmit the "interactive music proposal" you have already submitted, based on some of the topics we have discussed in class.
Week 8: Practice class:
Presentations of your work!
Homework:
Remix your project with parts of other groups.
Proposed exercises:
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Use your Input and output parts with the logic of another group.
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Combine 2 Logic parts together (Input -> Logic1 -> Logic2 -> Output)
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Combine your input with somebody's output and logic.
What I want from you:
Take some of the most interesting combinations and describe the resulting program. How YOUR parts are supposed to behave and how are behaving now? What did you expect and what did you found?
Write a short report and send it to me in two weeks.
Complete projects: B C D E F G H J K L N
Week 9: Theory class: Interactivity & Control
Class slides
Additional information about mMTCF (Pd programming on Androids). This topic will not be covered in class. It is included here just in case anyone would be interested.
Before last theory class (Monday 10th December at 14:00), remember to mail me a draft for a Mobile App proposal. This app should make extensive use of motion sensing (ie. not only multitouch!) and should not be musical control or videogame app; neither a "real world" app (ie. not Augmented Reality, no geolocalization, etc.). It is probably not an easy task, so if you don't come with any idea outside these application domains, try it again being a bit less restrictive (but indicate it so in you document). For the draft file, send me a PDF with any format and content you want/think will be useful. Drawings, photos, mock-ups, hand-written notations, etc. will be specially welcome.
Week 10: Practice class:
Please tell us your availability for the final presentation:
http://www.doodle.com/m5hgfuyfq5dwcs62
