128-spring-2023/hw3

Project #3: An "Big Sound Sketches"

In this homework, you are to sketch out a proposal & an early working prototype for a full-ensemble SLOrk piece.

Due dates

• 2023.5.9 Tuesday midnight (over Discord in the #hw3-big-sound-sketches channel): a video of an early sketch (sound + interaction)
  • submit at least one video per person (if you aren't yet in a group) OR per group (if you have a group idea in mind)
  • if group video, be prepared to talk about your contribution?
  • if you/your group have more than one idea, feel free to submit more than one for feedback from the class
• 2023.5.10 Wednesday (in class): be prepared to try out your sketch using 12 stations

In this project, you are to 1) create a laptop orchestra instrument for a single hemispherical speaker array, 2) create a mini-musical statement using the instrument and perform it in class.

Readings

• "The Birth and Rise of the Laptop Orchestra" from Artful Design
• "Why A Laptop Orchestra?" by Dan Trueman

Specification

• design and prototype a instrument idea intended for the full ensemble (up to 12 human performers and stations)
• consider issues of playability, expressiveness, the sound through the hemispherical speaker arrays, and also use in an larger ensemble setting
• come to class on Wednesday prepared to try out your sketch in a full-ensemble setting (12 performers and stations)
  • how will it sound?
  • how will it play?
  • will it be networked?
  • will it be conducted? if so, how? (feel free to invent your own conducting gestures)
  • bring plans for a brief musical statement (1-2 minute) to try with the group
• please check in your instrument prototype into SVN with a scripts and before class to facilitate running your sketch from every station

Resources

• ChucK audio programming language (download this!)
• S.M.E.L.T. toolkit for mapping keyboard, mouse, joystick to sound
• If you need help with ChucK and/or S.M.E.L.T. please reach out in Discord or contact the teaching team!
• feel free to start experimenting and prototyping on your own, but you'll want to get into the listening room and work with an actual hemi speakers
• three full station will be set up in the CCRMA Listening Room.
• if you don't know how to use the SLOrk svn repo then please email yourself all necessary files your instrument uses (i.e., the ChucK program(s)) so you can retrieve them in class to install on a slorkstation during class