record

Thesis Info

LABS ID
00663
Thesis Title
Sketching Sound: Gestural Interaction in Expressive Music Programming
Author
Spencer Salazar
2nd Author
3rd Author
Degree
PhD
Year
2017
Number of Pages
146
University
Stanford University
Thesis Supervisor
Dr. Ge Wang
Supervisor e-mail
ge AT ccrma.stanford.edu
Other Supervisor(s)
Language(s) of Thesis
English
Department / Discipline
Music
Languages Familiar to Author
English
URL where full thesis can be found
purl.stanford.edu/mf249vj6694
Keywords
computer music, mobile technology, sketching, audio synthesis
Abstract: 200-500 words
New developments in technology lead to new types of interactions in computer music performance and composition. In the realm of mobile touchscreen devices such as phones and tablet computers, a variety of research efforts and software applications have explored the musical possibilities of multitouch interaction, the physical properties of the devices themselves, the orientation and location sensing of the devices, and their persistent connection to the network. However, these interactions have been largely ignored in the space of music programming on the device itself. We have developed two prototype systems to explore concepts employing these interactions and technologies to program music on mobile touchscreen devices. The first of these, miniAudicle for iPad, is an environment for programming ChucK code on an iPad. The second prototype developed is a sound design and music composition system utilizing touch and handwritten stylus input. In this system, called "Auraglyph, " users draw a variety of audio synthesis structures, such as oscillators and filters, in an open canvas. Once created, these structures may be further parameterized by touch and other hand-drawn figures. These systems and the principles they embody have been evaluated personally by the author and with feedback from a variety of musicians and music technologists. Ultimately, we believe this research shows that the critical parameters for developing sophisticated software for new interaction technologies are consideration of the technology's inherent affordances and mindful attention to design. To this end, we have proposed a set of principles for designing these systems stemming from this research and previous research in this field.