[microsound-announce] Theremin Sensors Workshop with Andrei Smirnov 5Days May18-22 Berlin

[Farah Hatam]

Theremin Sensors Workshop with Andrei Smirnov  

= 5 days with final concert-presentation = 

 

Monday 18 May - Saturday 22 May 2009, 12.00-18.00 daily 
Final presentation Saturday 22 May, 19.00 

Location: eNKa / ElsenStr. 52 (2.Hof) Berlin, Germany 
Telephone: +49 (0)176 20626386 

Course Participation fee: 100 euros

Registration is required for this workshop and can only be done via 
email to:  eNKa_NK[at]gmx[dot]de, www.myspace.com/enka52

Please register early to ensure a place. Places are limited to 12.  

 

This intensive workshop offers hands-on introduction to interactive
systems, based on the theremin-sensor technology developed by Andrei
Smirnov and based on the same principle as a well known electronic
musical instrument the Theremin, invented by Russian inventor Leon
Theremin in 1919. 

 

The sensors are small and sensitive digital Theremins useful for
numerous applications including motion tracking, gestural interfacing,
monitoring of small variations of electrical capacitances related to any
sorts of conductive materials and media, including metal objects, foil,
liquids, water, human body, plants, metal threads, thin plastic films
with metallization, all sorts of Christmas stuff etc. 

 

As a starting point of the workshop participants will convert their
laptops into digital multichannel Theremins to develop further, during
the workshop different interactive audio/video installations, motion
capturing systems, unusual gestural interfaces, 3D Theremins, digital
Terpsitones and other unusual musical instruments. 

 

The workshop is oriented on sound and media artists, composers and
musicians, who have particular interest in sound art and interactive
systems, forgotten history and musical technology in general.  

 

The theoretical introductions, which accompany a workshop, give detailed
technical overview of sensor technology and construction, basic
principles of operation of the theremin based systems, art and music
applications, useful concepts and ideas, condensed historical content,
mostly related to almost forgotten historical facts.  

 

Participants will learn 

= How to detect different sorts of motion and measure it  

= How to monitor very small variations of electrical parameters  

= How to deal with the data acquired  

= How to integrate these systems into musical performance, dance, video,
sound and art installations  

= How to build multichannel sensor systems based on Arduino
microcontrollers 

= How to program new instruments and perform with them  

 

Requirements 

Each participant should have a computer with an audio input and
headphones.  

All computers and software should be configured and checked in advance
(!).  

 

Minimal configuration 

1. Laptop with PD or MAX/MSP installed 

2. Stereo audio input 

3. Personal headphones 

4. All appropriate cables  

5. Appropriate amount of power plugs 

 

Useful options  

Experienced participants interested in development of multichannel
theremin-sensor systems should bring multichannel sound cards or Arduino
microcontrollers which will be converted into multichannel USB
theremins.  

For those who hate computers and interested in pure analog circuits some
breadboards will be very useful. 

 

Software 

Participants should have some skills in PD or MAX/MSP programming.  

It is also possible to work with any favorite software, oriented on
interactive systems development, which allow external control via OSC or
MIDI (Supercollider, Isadora etc.). In all cases control data will be
provided via MAX/MSP runtime or PD patches from instructor's library. It
is important to remember that in many cases the use of extra software
will result in significant increase of latency and other possible timing
problems. 

 

Analog and digital USB sensors for testing, experimenting and
performance as well as all appropriate software libraries will be
provided by instructor as well as different stuff for antenna
construction.  

 

========================================= 

 

=Schedule=  

 

Day#1 

10:00 - 12:00 - Lecture:  

Introduction to the Theremin Sensors and their applications.  

12:00 - 13:00 - questions/break  

13:00 - 17:00 - practical workshop  

 

Day#2 

10:00 - 12:00 - Lecture:  

Multichannel t-sensor systems: development and programming.  

12:00 - 13:00 - questions/break  

13:00 - 17:00 - practical workshop. Participants can bring their own
materials and antennas to experiment with, or use already prepared
stuff. 

Day#3 

10:00 - 12:00 - Lecture:  

Motion tracking and beyond. Overview and comparison of different
concepts.  

12:00 - 13:00 - questions/break  

13:00 - 17:00 - practical workshop. Participants are working on their
projects developing installations and performances for the final
presentation.  

 

Day#4 

10:00 - 12:00 - Lecture:  

Hot riding t-sensors. Tips and tricks.  

12:00 - 13:00 - questions/break  

13:00 - 17:00 - practical workshop. Participants are working on their
projects developing installations and performances for the final
presentation.  

 

Last day 

Last preparations and final presentation of results 

Schedule will be announced 

 

========================================== 

Learn More:  HYPERLINK "http://asmir.theremin.ru/tsensors.htm" 

 

 

 

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