More Max, More Grid

A bit of an outbreak of writing for Sound On Sound over the last couple of months: a two-parter on Max for Live in the Ableton Live Techniques series (one two), and a review of the Livid Instruments Ohm64 controller.

For those (myself included) who are on the fence regarding the Ohm64, the fact that it can now be ordered in customised colours might be persuasive.

Xenakis at Spitalfields

We are starting work on the software, tracking system and audio engine for an interactive installation piece - the Xenakis Pavilion - for the Spitalfields Festival. This photograph shows the area where the installation will materialise, TARDIS-like, in early June.

Trespassing at Somerset House

We have been commissioned to compose a sound score for Shobana Jeyasingh Dance Company for a new work entitled Trespass at Somerset House. More details here.

Ras goffa, Spring Loaded, London

Fresh from a performance at British Dance Edition 2010, ras goffa Bobby Sands is showing in the Spring Loaded festival at The Place on April 10th.

(Photo: Keith Morris.)

Max for Live for Print

Late news: our Max for Live review was published in the February issue of Sound On Sound. It may still be on news stands, and is available for download here.

By the Numbers

Nearly five years after I pondered using the Conet Numbers Stations recordings for a bit of sound art, madebyrobot a.k.a. Jon Sykes has curated a rather nice compilation of concept tracks on the theme, released by PublicSpaces Lab. Cassiel is featured with Ciocirlia (track 5).

(Cover Art by Rita Monteiro @ PublicSpaces Lab.)

Vitruvian Fieldwork

Work continues in Field on the Vitruvian-inspired software Choreographic Language Agent for Wayne McGregor's Entity piece, the latest incarnation of which will be performed in November.

Since most of our projects involve sound art, we usually obsess over CPU performance and RAM, but Field/CLA is graphics-heavy with lots of OpenGL action, so the GPU rules. This 2006 MacBook Pro is way underpowered, so we're awaiting delivery of a 2009 model, slightly faster CPU-wise but (hopefully) a revelation in terms of graphics performance.

Ras goffa, British Dance Edition

ras goffa Bobby Sands is being performed as part of British Dance Edition 2010: details here.

Memorial Lasers

We have some shots on Flickr of the laser rig we designed and programmed for ras goffa Bobby Sands (the Bobby Sands memorial race) by Eddie Ladd.

Further performances this week at Chapter, Cardiff.

Ableton to Zawinski

In anticipation of the release of Max for Live, I felt a sudden desire to program Ableton Live to be able to read mail. With a bit of help from MXJ and Jython, Live can attach to a POP3 server and load email header information into the names of sound clips. Et voila, via Vimeo and our fledgeling Posterous blog for Max for Live tips and tricks:

http://maxforlive.loadbang.net/ableton-live-now-obeys-zawinskis-law-thanks-t.