OK, this event (which we at CatSynth were unable to attend) was last week, but this picture is still awesome. Another from our friends Dmitri and Elise of Slope114 and their cat.
If you have a cat-and-synthesizer picture, please share it with us via Facebook, @catsynth on Twitter, or on Instagram with hashtag #catsynth.
From Kinetik Laboratories on Youtube, via matrixsynth.
Short impro with Kinetik machines and Kiki.
Visit:
http://kinetiklaboratories.blogspot.it/
“Play Ball!” at Arc Gallery and Studios is a multimedia show about women’s passion for baseball bringing together artists Amanda Chaudhary, Mido Lee and Priscilla Otani. The installation was a true collaboration brought together our respective talents in physical object making, electronics, software, sound, and photography.
One of the more challenging aspects was the interactive sound installation, which was to be installed a series of columns representing the bases on a standard baseball diamond. Four sound sets were composed based on field recordings made at Bay Area games and installed on an Arduino-based system for playback. The electronics included the Arduino itself, a Wave Shield from Adafruit for sound playback, and several motion sensors.
The sensors and main electronics package were installed in spheres made from baseball scorecards.
Programming the devices, installing them into the physical space, and then testing and debugging was an incremental, iterative, and at times grueling process. But through repeated efforts and understanding the interaction of sensors, wiring, and our software code we ultimately made it work.
[Photos by Priscilla Otani]
Within the final installation, viewers can explore the bases and the surrounding life-size images representing the diversity of women at baseball games. As viewers pass by individual bases, different sounds will be triggered, creating an immersive sound, space, and visual experience.
“Play Ball!” opens at Arc Gallery and Studios on Friday, April 3. In keeping with the theme, traditional stadium fare (including hot dogs and peanuts) will be served.
From Virtual Flannel on YouTube.
VFVHS01 now available on Bandcamp!
Hand decorated and home dubbed by Virtual Flannel.
https://virtualflannel.bandcamp.com/a…
Eno the cat poses with classic Roland SH-101 and Yamaha CS-10 synthesizers. From milescomo on Instagram.
“Eno approves of the new studio setup.”
We approve as well 🙂
If you have a cat-and-gear picture, you can share it with us on Facebook, via Twitter @catsynth or Instagram @catsynth and we will feature it on a future blog post.
Yesterday, I attended the Church of the Superserge at Robotspeak here in San Francisco. It is a monthly gathering for electronic music and synth geekery hosted by the same folks who produced the big Serge Modular 40-year Reunion Concert.
There is always an impressive array of gear on hand. Here we see Robotspeak’s Steve Taormina warming things up before the show with a tower of modules. Also note the Prophet 2, Moog pedals and more in front.
This is a casual, BYOB affair, so I stopped at a bodega across the street to grab a beverage. I encountered this rather stoic cat sitting next to the door.
The music began with an ambient set by Clarke Robinson. There was an ever changing cloud of sound, sometimes quite tonal. There was also a bit of textural detail added by that small box in front of his modular.
Next up was Elise Gargalikis, performing on a very compact suitcase rig featuring Serge modules and a looper. Her performance was more abstract and detailed than the previous, and featured her captivating voice as an integral sound source for the electronics.
JD Northrup rouded out the afternoon with a decided techno set featuring strong patterns and arpeggios atop a four-on-the-floor beat. The rhythm remained fairly constant throughout the set (which was longer than the others), but the timbres from his setup featuring Make Noise modules along with a few others was continuously changing.
A few of us were compelled to dance in place at points; and eventually Robotspeak’s own disco lighting came up.
All in all, it was a fun afternoon. I look forward to more of these events in the coming months.
Another picture featuring Miles the cat, this time with an Alesis Micron. From L.T., via matrixsynth.
“Seems Miles the Cat is developing a keen interest in synthesizers and such.”
By timbolature on YouTube, via matrixsynth.
“A Moog Theremini comes to visit, and finds a fan in the form of Tom the Cat. Recorded by Offspring #2.”
Tom is playing the Theremini in way that only a cat can play 🙂
