Audiocubes
Encyclopedia
The AudioCubes are a collection of wireless intelligent light emitting objects, capable of detecting each other's location and orientation, and user gestures, and were created by Bert Schiettecatte
. They are an electronic musical instrument
which is being used by electronic musicians for live performance
, and they are an example of a Tangible User Interface
.
The concept of the AudioCubes was first presented by Bert Schiettecatte
in April 2004 at the CHI2004 conference in Vienna. A first prototype of the AudioCubes was shown at the Museum for Contemporary Art, MUHKA in Antwerp in December 2004. They were used in an art installation created in collaboration with Peter Swinnen during the Champ D’Action Time Canvas festival.
In January 2007, the AudioCubes were launched on the market and offered online on the website of Percussa, the company which Bert Schiettecatte
founded in October 2004 to further develop and commercialize the AudioCubes.
s (DSP), a USB-rechargeable battery, and a translucent housing.
A number of applications were specifically created to work with the AudioCubes.
In addition, a number of Max/MSP patches were created to work with AudioCubes
When two cubes (assigned sender and receiver role) are put next to each other, they detect each other, and triggers are sent as MIDI notes to any MIDI compatible hardware or software. These triggers can then be used to control on/off type of signals, such as start and stop audio clips in a Digital Audio Workstation
(DAW), such as Ableton Live
. At each face of the cube, a different audio clip can be assigned in a DAW
, which makes it possible to start and stop up to 16 audio clips with only two audiocubes.
The audiocubes can also measure distances to nearby objects or your hands when configured as a sensor cube. In the same way, this sensor data is sent to the computer as a MIDI controller which can be used to control effects and parameters in the DAW
. Since each cube has 4 sensors, you can control up to 4 parameters per AudioCube.
In addition, you can also control the RGB colors of the AudioCubes and use this information as feedback during a live performance
.
. The past few years a lot of research has been done in the field of Tangible User Interface
. The Reactable
is another example of such an interface. It is an installation on which people can move around objects which are followed by a camera and projector on a surface.
received in 2009 the prestigious Qwartz Max Mathews award in Paris. He was also invited to give a talk at TED
x Mediterranean in Cannes, September 2010.
Bert Schiettecatte
Bert Schiettecatte is a Belgian entrepreneur who created the Audiocubes.-Biography:Bert Schiettecatte was born in Ghent, Belgium. He has an electronic music production background...
. They are an electronic musical instrument
Electronic musical instrument
An electronic musical instrument is a musical instrument that produces its sounds using electronics. Such an instrument sounds by outputting an electrical audio signal that ultimately drives a loudspeaker....
which is being used by electronic musicians for live performance
Live performance
live performance may refer to:*A play or musical*A concert, a live performance before an audience*A dance performance, dance performed for an audience.*Live radio, radio broadcast without delay...
, and they are an example of a Tangible User Interface
Tangible User Interface
A tangible user interface is a user interface in which a person interacts with digital information through the physical environment. The initial name was Graspable User Interface, which no longer is used....
.
The concept of the AudioCubes was first presented by Bert Schiettecatte
Bert Schiettecatte
Bert Schiettecatte is a Belgian entrepreneur who created the Audiocubes.-Biography:Bert Schiettecatte was born in Ghent, Belgium. He has an electronic music production background...
in April 2004 at the CHI2004 conference in Vienna. A first prototype of the AudioCubes was shown at the Museum for Contemporary Art, MUHKA in Antwerp in December 2004. They were used in an art installation created in collaboration with Peter Swinnen during the Champ D’Action Time Canvas festival.
In January 2007, the AudioCubes were launched on the market and offered online on the website of Percussa, the company which Bert Schiettecatte
Bert Schiettecatte
Bert Schiettecatte is a Belgian entrepreneur who created the Audiocubes.-Biography:Bert Schiettecatte was born in Ghent, Belgium. He has an electronic music production background...
founded in October 2004 to further develop and commercialize the AudioCubes.
Hardware architecture
Each AudioCube is identical, has four onboard infrared sensors (one on each face) to communicate and measure distances to objects nearby, digital signal processorDigital signal processor
A digital signal processor is a specialized microprocessor with an architecture optimized for the fast operational needs of digital signal processing.-Typical characteristics:...
s (DSP), a USB-rechargeable battery, and a translucent housing.
Software Applications
The AudioCubes work with any MIDI and OSC compatible hardware and/or software.A number of applications were specifically created to work with the AudioCubes.
- MIDIBridge: sends/receives MIDI from/to other MIDI compatible software/hardware
- DeckaBridge: specifically created to let AudioCubes work with the DJ software DeckadanceDeckadanceDeckadance is a DJ console and mixing tool developed by Image-Line software. Initially released in May of 2007, it operates on Windows and Mac OS X, and comes in a House Edition and Club Edition...
- PluginWrapper: application to use VST-plugins together with the AudioCubes.
- Loopshaper: to make sounds and loops with one AudioCube
- Modulor: detects and communicates to a network of AudioCubes wirelessly, and reassembles data from a MIDI device
- OSC server: sends information about the location, orientation, and sensor data of the AudioCubes to other OSC applications
In addition, a number of Max/MSP patches were created to work with AudioCubes
Live Performance
Once the AudioCubes are assigned a role (sender, receiver, sensor) in MIDIBridge they can detect each other or sense distance to objects nearby.When two cubes (assigned sender and receiver role) are put next to each other, they detect each other, and triggers are sent as MIDI notes to any MIDI compatible hardware or software. These triggers can then be used to control on/off type of signals, such as start and stop audio clips in a Digital Audio Workstation
Digital audio workstation
A digital audio workstation is an electronic system designed solely or primarily for recording, editing and playing back digital audio. DAWs were originally tape-less, microprocessor-based systems such as the Synclavier and Fairlight CMI...
(DAW), such as Ableton Live
Ableton Live
Ableton Live is a loop-based software music sequencer and DAW for Mac OS and Windows by Ableton. The latest major release of Live, Version 8, was released in April 2009. In contrast to many other software sequencers, Live is designed to be an instrument for live performances as well as a tool for...
. At each face of the cube, a different audio clip can be assigned in a DAW
Digital audio workstation
A digital audio workstation is an electronic system designed solely or primarily for recording, editing and playing back digital audio. DAWs were originally tape-less, microprocessor-based systems such as the Synclavier and Fairlight CMI...
, which makes it possible to start and stop up to 16 audio clips with only two audiocubes.
The audiocubes can also measure distances to nearby objects or your hands when configured as a sensor cube. In the same way, this sensor data is sent to the computer as a MIDI controller which can be used to control effects and parameters in the DAW
Digital audio workstation
A digital audio workstation is an electronic system designed solely or primarily for recording, editing and playing back digital audio. DAWs were originally tape-less, microprocessor-based systems such as the Synclavier and Fairlight CMI...
. Since each cube has 4 sensors, you can control up to 4 parameters per AudioCube.
In addition, you can also control the RGB colors of the AudioCubes and use this information as feedback during a live performance
Live performance
live performance may refer to:*A play or musical*A concert, a live performance before an audience*A dance performance, dance performed for an audience.*Live radio, radio broadcast without delay...
.
Artists
The AudioCubes are used by many live performers all over the world such as Mark Mosher, Pearls for Swines, Richard Devine, Steve Baltes, Bostich from Nortec, Ilan Kriger, Arecio Smith, Julien Pauty, the European Bridges EnsembleExample of Tangible User Interface
The AudioCubes are an example of a Tangible User InterfaceTangible User Interface
A tangible user interface is a user interface in which a person interacts with digital information through the physical environment. The initial name was Graspable User Interface, which no longer is used....
. The past few years a lot of research has been done in the field of Tangible User Interface
Tangible User Interface
A tangible user interface is a user interface in which a person interacts with digital information through the physical environment. The initial name was Graspable User Interface, which no longer is used....
. The Reactable
Reactable
The Reactable is an electronic musical instrument with a tabletop Tangible User Interface that has been developed within the at the Universitat Pompeu Fabra in Barcelona, Spain by Sergi Jordà, Marcos Alonso, Martin Kaltenbrunner and Günter Geiger....
is another example of such an interface. It is an installation on which people can move around objects which are followed by a camera and projector on a surface.
Awards
For the creation of the AudioCubes Bert SchiettecatteBert Schiettecatte
Bert Schiettecatte is a Belgian entrepreneur who created the Audiocubes.-Biography:Bert Schiettecatte was born in Ghent, Belgium. He has an electronic music production background...
received in 2009 the prestigious Qwartz Max Mathews award in Paris. He was also invited to give a talk at TED
TED
TED may refer to:* TED , an annual multidisciplinary conference* TED spread, the yield spread between U.S...
x Mediterranean in Cannes, September 2010.