Jordan Hochenbaum

The machine orchestra: An ensemble of human laptop performers and robotic musical instruments

This article introduces the Machine Orchestra, a mixed ensemble of human and robotic performers. The Orchestra is coordinated through technical and musical classes at the California Institute of the Arts (CalArts), where the pedagogical focus is to combine the musical elements of a laptop orchestra with the technical skills required to create a robotic ensemble. As of this publication, seven electromechanical instruments have been developed by members and collaborators of the Orchestra. The ensemble has given notable international premieres and performances at venues including the Roy and Edna Disney/CalArts Theater (REDCAT) in Los Angeles and 01SJ, the biennial music and arts festival in San Jose, California. Well-known researchers and performers are invited to participate in the Orchestra to bring novel technical, musical, and collaborative ideas to the ensemble. In this article we describe the design and production of seven robotic instruments, details on the visual and sonic aesthetic of the ensemble, technical considerations of the computer network employed in performance, and information on an assortment of compositions in the current repertoire.

Building on the foundations of network music: Exploring interaction contexts and shared robotic instruments*

Historically, network music has explored the practice and theory of interconnectivity, utilising the network itself as a creative instrument. The Machine Orchestra (TMO) has extended this historical idea by developing the custom software suite Signal, and creating a shared, social instrument consisting of musical robotics. Signal is a framework for musical synchronisation and data sharing, designed to support the use of musical robotics in an attempt to more fully address ideas of interconnectivity and embodied performance. Signal, in combination with musical robotics, also facilitates the exploration of interaction contexts, such as at the note level, score level and sound-processing level. In this way, TMO is simultaneously building upon the historical contributions and developing aesthetics of network music.

Extended Interface Solutions for Musical Robotics

We present a framework for coupling musical robots with interfaces based on open-ended control architecture, allowing for new and expanded forms of expression. The MahaDeviBot allows for a single performer to simultaneously control up to 12 drums. The ESitar doubles both as a multi input control interface, and as a traditional sitar. Finally, the BricKTable represents a completely open-ended control interface possible of multi user interaction, and real-time control data feedback.