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audio cubes
General discussionWe've recently seen a couple of high-tech audio interface innovations (f.e. the multi-touch screen, audio cubes,...). They often share an aesthetically pleasing look and offer new ways of interactivity and creativity towards producing sounds and music. However it has come to my attention, that most of these ideas and prototypes dissappear into oblivion after a short while. So what is it that holds back the commercialisation of these products? Do they lack support from the audio industry, are they not as user-friendly as they claim to be, are the users not ready for these kind if innovations or are they still being researched on?
I don't know about you guys, but I personnally would love to get my hands on those kind of gadgets!
AUDIO CUBES:
a tangible user interface (TUI) consisting of a number of cubes made out of a plastic material. Each cube contains a digital signal processor (DSP) with optical sensors and emitters (infrared, red, green and blue LEDs). The sensors and emitters receive and send audio signals which are generated or processed by the signal processor in the cube. Each cube is powered by a rechargeable battery pack. By positioning the cubes relative to each other and moving them around, a signal processing network can be created. A musician can use this interface to learn a new way of interacting with sound and music.
references: article in FutureMusic (august 2006) audiocubes
Replies
wow, some nice stuff they're working on there! that laser harp seems cool aswell!
Originally posted by : Hecticcc
wow, some nice stuff they're working on there! that laser harp seems cool aswell!
The harp looks cool indeed, but not much possibilities yet (atleast not shown on the demo). And its acctually looks just like a rip-off, modernized version of the THEREMIN, wich was popular in the 1920's. (but waw, blinkin lights :O ) ;)
Seen some guys at a Pragha Khan show last night using a line of 8 of those cubes! Looked fuckin impressive!!
here's a demo using them with ableton http://www.percussa.com/index.php?p=demos
I personally don't use ableton, so I can't really judge how "usefull" these things are..
Al ik can tell you is that it looked cool and that it costs 649euro for a box of 4 of these cubes... which is maybe a bit pricy for a controller, no?
Sure LOOKS impressive, but the practical or artistic use of these cubes seems to be very limited. It is just another way of pushing buttons not more, specially the Cubes with Ableton seems really useless... Well that is if you don´t want to be the coolest at some concert ^^
the issues with innovative devices like that are: 1) big industry companies rarely pick them up so they are produced on tiny scale and thus severely expensive (exception: tenori-on by yamaha) 2) these devices don't have a critical mass of users and often stay in the realm of experimental performers. the continuity of instruments is only guaranteed when a vast amount of people learn to play them, teach each other, write music for it (cq. piano, violin, etc.). this rarely happens on a large scale with innovative devices 3) often these devices require a fair bit of technical knowledge to get the most of it (like programming/scripting skills). most musicians don't have those.
Originally posted by : Akwalek
i dont care how usefull they r, i just gotta have them...wow...
They are in promo when you order them from their website, so nows your chance!
I think it's more of a show-element then a handy control-devise to be honnest. So if you do lots of lives (in the dark) people might remeber you by it... (if not everyone starts using them)