Colby Leider

The FrankenPipe: a novel bagpipe controller

The FrankenPipe project is an attempt to convert a traditional Highland Bagpipe into a controller capable of driving both real-time synthesis on a laptop as well as a radio-controlled (RC) car. Doing so engages musical creativity while enabling novel, often humorous, performance art. The chanter is outfitted with photoresistors (CdS photoconductive cells) underneath each hole, allowing a full range of MIDI values to be produced with each finger and giving the player a natural feel. An air-pressure sensor is also deployed in the bag to provide another element of control while capturing a fundamental element of bagpipe performance. The final product navigates the realm of both musical instrument and toy, allowing the performer to create a novel yet rich performance experience for the audience.

Multichannel Audio in Electroacoustic Music: An Aesthetic and Technical Research Agenda

Multichannel audio is becoming increasingly important to musicians, particularly those who use the studio as a musical instrument to create, process, and mix music. This paper presents a broad overview of the aesthetic and technical challenges that composers of electroacoustic music face by weaving historical context along with a discussion of some of the artistic concerns and scientific hurdles encountered by many within this community when working with surround audio content.