Multimba: Meeting with Mikael

Back from the Siena Design Project exhibition, distractions behind me, raring to go....I touched base with Mikael Fernstrom. Not much activity in recent weeks, what I had done was develop a clearer objective(or brief) for the thesis: 'An Exploration of ways in which Interactive Media Technology can enhance the capabilities of a Traditional Musical Instrument'. One thing Siena taught me is that clearly undertanding a project's objective and scope is very important. Also spoke to Fillippo Fano (contemporary muscian) about functionality suggestions.

Meeting with Mikael began with Mikael explaining the notion of resonators on a vibraphone; to create a much stronger standing wave and amplify the fundamental frequency of the sound produced. He also mentioned the presence of a rotating disk at the top of each resonator. As the disk rotates, a vibrato or wah wah effect is created.

He also mentioned using the 5 notes per octave rather than the traditional 12, as well as possibly having an option of playing a musical instrument in reverse.

He gave me a list of research material.
Bob Moog - dvd - "Moog" a documentary film by Hans Fjellstad.
Don Buchla i.e. Marimba Lumina
Joe Paridiso
Hiroshi Ishii
Tod Machover's 'Brain Opera'
'Gravichords, Whirlies, and Pyrophones - Experimental Musical Instruments' - Bart Hopkin
'Experimental Musical Instrument Journal' - Library

We then discussed technology - piezo sensors and fsrs force sensing resistors
Mikael recommended fsrs as they're more sensitive than piezos, and also connecting many arduinos to these, depending on how many inputs.

We also discussed alternative technologies such as touchscreen(Nora's project) or a novel projected QWERTY keyboard Mikael has in his office(limited). I said I like to understand how to use sensors and arduinos coupled with PD.