Humanising the Computerised Instrument (MusicBlog)

I have been playing in Reaktor lately. Building a patch to use in conjunction with my iPad.

 

Its a pretty simple setup really.

The Reaktor patch is a subtractive synthesiser, with a layout to resemble/match the iPad GUI i built.

• 3 x Oscillators
• 12db LowPass filter and 12db HighPass Filter - with the ability to mix between the two.
• LFO with TRI and SQUARE waves and ability to mix between the two and invert the wave.
• Ability to boost the LFO speed to get into the audible frequency range.
• X-Y control provides a great way to 'perform' with the synth.

The iPad is running an app called TouchOSC, which I built the GUI for. Its a fantastic multi-touch controller for iOS devices and is coming to Android devices soon too.

The set up is still a bit buggy/touchy, but with refinement should provide a fun way to come up with different tones when in the studio. Next I'm thinking of making some touch based granular voice re-synthesisers.

I've played with a lot different soft-synths and hardware-synths over the years now, and although computers are powerful enough to support some pretty impressive synths, I have always found them cold and difficult to interact with, and always preferred playing a less powerful instrument, but which provides more physical/emotional interaction/response.

I absolutely hate using a mouse with a synth, I get tired of that very fast and end up leaving the studio - or just surfing YouTube.

The other option is assigning the physical knobs and controls I have available on my hardware synths in my studio. However the problem i then have is, the software and hardware do not relate. They were not intended for each other. So yes, although I can technically control the soft synths with my hardware synths/keyboards, it's not a natural translation.

For example, I could use my Korg-ms20 midi controller for a soft-synth which only has 3 knobs - its totally overkill, and would be confusing/tiring remembering the assigned knobs.

Having to remember these knob assignations ultimately distracts/removes from the creative process. It's an extra technical thought process which gets in the way of intuition.

By using malleable tools like the iPad, TouchOSC and Reaktor the options and possibilities are pretty vast. It allows artists to create virtual tools and instruments designed specifically for each other - providing an undistracted connection between musician and computer, allowing for a more personalised performance.