The integration of computer-generated sounds and acoustic sources during live electro-acoustic improvisation

Abstract

A performance duo specializing in live electro-acoustic improvisation sought to create a balanced orchestration between live sound sources and computer generated sound. The sound sources were a Trinidadian steel-pan and four sheets of lead plate glass. The improvisation was limited to controlled, disciplined movements whose minimal nature exploited the natural acoustic properties of the sound sources. The sounds of the steel-pan and the glass were analyzed and algorithms were written that extracted acoustic information from the live sound. The analyzed sounds were then processed and re-introduced into the improvisation with dynamic control of the amplitude, parameters for, and amount of processing. Spatialization and integration of the acoustic and computer-generated sounds was considered and a multi-channel speaker system was used to introduce both into the performance space. This performance was undertaken for the 2001 International Computer Music Conference, in Havana, Cuba.