Presentation for the Cumulus Conference, Milan, June 5th. Residual Orchestras. Notes on low profile, automated sound instruments

1. Residual
Notes on low profile,
automated sound
instruments
orchestras
Andrea Valle
CIRMA - StudiUm - Università di Torino
MACIR

2. Music instrument:
a device capable of
generating sound once a
certain amount of energy
is provided.
->
A converter into acoustic
energy
Residual orchestras:
automated, low cost/
recycled sound/music
instruments

3. Physical computing:
uncouple computation (as a process) from
computers (as objects) by moving the
former into the “real world”.
Features
- beyond “multimedia computer”
- technological reappropriation (DYI)
- heterogeneity (both hw and sw)

4. Punk Munari
1. Banzi: punk attitude in
Arduino, learning by doing
2. Munari: “with a lot of
patience, learning the
technique while I’m working
and without knowing before
what will come out
after” (Codice ovvio)
3. “System-D”: “débrouille-
toi!” (recyclers from Dakar)

5. Values from sustainable design
1. refabrication: shaping and reshaping
the semiotic status of material culture
2. softening: “produced while designed”,
improvisation-like mood, open
3. flexibility: capability of the residual
orchestras to be modified in relation to
specific needs

6. Interface, I
Gestural controller

7. Interface, II
SuperCollider live coding

8. Layers:
I. physical
II. physical computing
III. computational
real-time performance
development flow
strong influence
needed to implement
less needed
II: control
I: objects
III:computer
knowledge
budget

9. Machina logotelica

10. Trilobiti

11. Regnum vegetabile
(with Mauro Lanza)

12. Regnum animale
(with Mauro Lanza)

13. !
Regnum vegetabile
(with Mauro Lanza)

14. https://vimeo.com/22671138
Live writing with Rumentarium

15. Thank you