Application Update

So far the technical side of the application is complete. The Max/MSP patch is all set up with all the symbols I need connected to Reason via Midi and Reason is all setup to take orders from the symbols from Max. I had some issues initially with the combination of instrument symbol and finger symbols in that the finger symbols had to change multiple controls in Reason without upsetting all the other controls they are connected to. Luckily Dan showed me how to set up multiple channels using the same symbol ID so it only changes the instrument that is selected and not all the others simultaneously.

Here are some pics of part of the max patch and the Reason setup mode in which the lightning bolts indicate an assigned symbol/action.

Project Progress Update

So with (very) little money spent I have made myself a box to house a video camera and mirror in order to get underneath projection for this project. It's not the prettiest of React-Tables and the like but it does the job nicely. Got a deep plastic storage box, drilled a few holes here and there for cables and then gaffer taped a mirror and camera holders into place. I managed to get full coverage of the box and with the aid of an inside light it illuminates nicely so all the symbols get detected well. To start off with i was using a plain glass top for my symbols to be placed upon but I was having a few issues with lighting from above and below in the form of glare that would make certain areas undetectable for the symbols. Fortunately I stumbled upon a piece of perspex which happened to be already frosted and it works prefectly. Just need to spray the inside of the box white to disperse some of the light so its not as harsh in the one spot.

Here are some pics....

Interface Idea

The previous post talks about the idea of the application and the technical process of how it will work. This post is going to talk about the idea of using a custom interface in order to use the application effectively and with minimal confusion.

The idea of reducing the number of symbols and reusing the same ones multiple times is the first step to hopefully creating a fairly complex sound application without having to make the process of music creation complex. The use of finger and hand symbols is another way of simplifying and making the process of interaction different to that of the regular symbols placed on the Reactivision table/ deck. By using the hands and fingers the user should become more familiar with what each finger and palm symbol does for each instrument based upon them controlling the same or similar functions. This way the user will know what each symbol is to do and they don't have to search through a field of symbols to find what they want as it will be attached to them.

I can't rely on the reduced number of symbols and similar function symbols alone, so I plan to create a graphical interface to accompany the application. I haven't quite decided how the application will work yet, whether I will simply create an interface in photoshop to overlay over the max patch or whether to go down the animated flash interface route. However it is done the interface will be designed to change as each new instrument and effect is added to provide the user with real time updates of exactly what is going on and what each symbol on the hands of the user does for that chosen instrument/effects unit.

First thing to do towards this project is to project it from underneath rather than above as seen in the previous assignment, that revealed a few issues both with lighting and the covering of symbols with hands etc. The underneath projection of symbols seems the more safer and reliable option.