Analog gestural interface controlling a Bugbrand Modular
The Bugbrand Modular is an interesting synth mostly consisting of a huge number of banana jacks. Banana jacks are only used in a handful of other modular systems – notably Serge, Modcan and Fenix, plus in the control signals of Buchla. There are are certain electronic and aesthetic differences between each system, but that does not completely rule out cross-patching between systems. Differences in signal levels (and banana socket colour schemes!) should be considered and amplification / attenuation / offsetting may be necessary to achieve best results. A common ground connection must also be made between different systems – the BugBrand system has a black banana socket ground terminal on the power supply.
Read more about Bugbrand here >>
In this video:
This is a live performance by Palle Dahlstedt on a custom built instrument, using a simple pencil drawing as a gestural interface for controlling complex analog synthesis (on a Bugbrand Modular). The instrument works by creating a voltage potential field in the graphite/pencil markings on the paper using custom movable electrodes made from coins. Then, various control voltages are extracted from other points on the paper, controlling various aspects of the synthesized sound.
A big thanks to Tom Bugs for very valuable electronics advice!
The sound is recorded directly from the BugBrand Modular (with a slight reverb), and from contact mics on the pencil sharpener. There is no normal microphone, which explains the slightly awkward silence in the beginning, while I’m drawing.
Recorded at the second performance (of two), May 6th, 2011, Gothenburg, Sweden. Concert arranged by Levande Musik (www.levandemusik.org)
This work is part of the research project Creative Performance at University of Gothenburg, funded by the Swedish Research Council.
Comments
DATAMASKIN
