Muio Workshop and DaTaRaMa

Posted by admin on February 4th, 2007 filed in openness

Yesterday ptechnic hosted a workshop lead by Steve Symnons on his muio device for physical computing applications. It’s an impressive device for a couple of reasons: you can build a basic version of the device yourself in 15 minutes for about £12, the assembled device, thanks to use of a Delcom chip, requires no programming! Steve has built an OSC server for the device so that it can be used in conjunction with SuperCollider, PD and all the rest, and works on Linux (we saw numbers), OSX and even windows.

a basic muio with LDR:

The workshop was followed in the evening by the first DaTaRaMa:

“a democratic data event. Bring your laptop, gameboy, pda, mini disc etc plug into a PA & Beamer have a drink and show off what you are working on, this can be music, sound, still images, moving image. Anything that can be produced on a portable device.”

The event is held in the Star and Shadow cinema every couple of months.
Matt Gray gave a nice demonstration of a sequencer built with SuperCollider and SwingOSC called Linac, that will hopefully be cross platform and available soon.
Steve Symons did a nice live set with a variety of pieces designed for installations and for use with Owl Project devices. His SC piece which adapts the Game of Life rules for generative audio purposes produced some particularly nice results.
I gave a quick demonstration of a generative piece I’m currently working on which is based around making use of internal mixer feedback and other chaotic sound sources, examples of which will be up on the site in the next couple of weeks.
The night was calmly brought to a close by the Fisheries Commission (Live GameBoys and real romance) and a short showing of films from an unknown maverick who has invented a christian torch that lasts 600 hours (amazing for so many reasons, i really wish I had pictures).

It is simply not decent to hold any Linux oriented event without a splendid display of facial hair.

Beards of the Day:

Thanks to conchur for the photos