Your right, but i was laughing at the videos, i mean seriously they
are fucking funny. So are the models. But in regards to your points
you are spot on. I do not think that everyone should picture an
image of a laptop/electronic performer wildly gesturing in the air
like a maniac, it invokes an insecure feeling of embarrassment i
assume, but why should it. A composer does so because he is
essentially doing the same thing, interacting with a set of
components in real time. I think that if someone was to implement
the technology they would end up knocking the socks off of the
audience. It would also allow the listener the same feeling they get
when they witness a traditional musical performance as opposed to a
hunched over laptop performer who more so resembles a troll hunched
over a rat he just caught. Emotions would become part of the
performance, as would improvisation, on par with a guitar solo.
Something sorely lacking in most any laptop performance.
The videos are still funny as shit tho...:)
aLEKs
On Jan 31, 2006, at 9:08 PM, Graham Miller wrote:
why is everybody bashing this idea? i can't believe the resistance,
especially here, among so-called progressive musicians... sure the
site may be cheesy (haven't bothered to download the videos -
couldn't get past the blatant ableton design infringement), but the
concept is solid - it's been tossed around for ages - and once it's
refined a decade down the line (mostly likely less), they'll be
selling them at radioshack. maybe not this company. probably not
this company. but it'll happen. remember the nintendo game glove?
great idea, ahead of it's time.
motion capture is, without a doubt, the next big 'consumer' thing.
and in the hands (body?) of the enlightened, it'll also be the next
big 'art' thing as well. it starts with the military (doesn't it
always?)... then it'll trickle down from WETA and ILM into the
gaming industry and eventually into interactive media, which means
music and performance. motion capture is the precursor to direct
neural interfaces - the most immediate way of turning thought into
media.
just think of much communication is embedded in body language...
what a simple hand gesture can communicate. all those tracking dots
on andy serkis' face... supercomputers and laser scanners picking up
the slightest change in facial expression and converting that in to
control change information. it's fucking brilliant. motion capture
is now at the microscopic level of nuance and subtlety. it will
bring the body back into electronic music. sorry kim.
keep in mind, motion capture can mean even tracking something as
minute and subtle and complex as an eyeball, where it looks, how it
focuses, technology already in use for paralyzed people. it doesn't
have to be these huge primitive basic movements. giant rave filter
sweeps, DJ arms flapping in the wind. no. i can be far more
intricate. it will be far more intricate.
it will, without a doubt, pave the way for an entirely new kind of
hybrid performer... just look at the work andy serkis is doing in
LOTR and kong... insanely futuristic. ( also, for a more abstract
look at the concept of motion capture and music, check out kodwo
eshun writings: http://www.ccru.net/swarm1/1_motion.htm )
i'm reminded of the temporal police interface in minority report...
imagine hooking that up to ableton live or reaktor... now you've got
a proper MIDI interface:)
best,
graham
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