Jazari: Wiimote Drums

Wiimote-Controlled Robot Drum Circle Makes Human Hippies Obsolete

Create Digital Music thread

technical detail

musical background:

The original impetus came from the failure of my electronic style-modeling music to connect with audiences. I had implemented algorithms that built statistical models of a song or style that allowed me to generate original music in that style. These algorithms worked on a symbolic (note-based) level, so the results of the algorithm had to be manifested as audio with synths or samplers. So, I was a guy on stage with a computer, and the music came out of speakers. No one had any idea what I was doing to create the sounds they were hearing, and for all the audience knew, I pushed play and checked my email. Continuing in this vein was a dead end.

My thinking was that if I built physical forms for my artificial musical agents, the interaction between me and the agents would become more understandable, and the performance as a whole would take on more theatrical appeal. Furthermore, the introduction of a sophisticated controller system would allow me to play or improvise with my agents instead of just directing them. Once the project was underway, this improvisatory performance mode took on greater significance, and it’s only now that I’m circling back to working with machine learning and style modeling.