Concept
Overview:
'Utility' is a project carried out by Andrew Mays as part of an honours degree in 'Interactive Media Design' at the University Of Dundee. My goal for the project is to create a midi-controller for the recording software 'Garageband'- produced by Apple.
I aim to create a device that can be used effectively for music composers of different experience levels. The final device will have enough functional versatility to be useful to experienced users of various intruments and playing styles, while being restricted enough to help beginners getting started with composition. The nature of the project makes it very technically orientated with prototype patches being created in PureData (PD) and various electronic components connected to an I-cubeX digitizer.
Inspiration:
My inspiration for this project comes from my own musical and recording background. In music I have 12 years playing experience (mainly guitar), 5 years recording experience using various hardware and software mediums spanning analog 4-track desks through to digital recording tools, and 3 years original song writing experience for several bands I have been involved in.
Through my own experiences of writing both solo material and writing with others, it can often be the case where the music is limited by the composers ability to play a limited selection of instruments. With my prototype device, I aim to provide a controller that makes use of the specific built-in instruments in the software and which also provides unique ways in which to play those instruments that suits a variety of musicians. I aim to steer away from the conventional midi-keyboard setup and provide a device that can be played in various positions, whether that be at a desk, standing up, using drum sticks, or playing the device as if it were a fretted instrument.
Key Features:
The first main feature that I am aiming to incorporate into the final piece is the ability for the device to be useful for both melodic and percussive elements. I hope to create intuitive controls for both aspects of musical creation that work with the software and trigger appropriate outputs (such as essential parts of the drum kit: snare, hi-hat, kick drum, cymbal) when selected. This will be achieved through giving the user an option of selecting melodic or percussive input via a switch located on the body of the device.
I wish the final device to be useful mainly for beginners, but still provide tools that can help in some stages of the writing process for more experienced artists. From my own experiences and feedback from others that I have written music with, it can often be challenging to write a part for an instrument in which you are not trained for. With my device I am attempting to eliminate this difficulty through providing familiar control placement.
From a beginners perspective, I also wish to lower the potential for mistake in the writing process. This I aim to accomplish by limiting the amount of notes the user can play and hence lowering the margin for error (e.g. Notes in the wrong key). Users will be provided with the choice to choose thier desired key (C through to B, including sharps), the tonality of the piece (major or minor) and will be provided with a 7 note scale in which to create melodies.
