Rob Lunn's Blog

This all started because I wanted to test the audio interface feature on my Zoom H2. I recorded the video using the video camera on my mac and recorded the audio (using the Zoom H2) directly into Audacity. To elongate the e minor chord I used Max/MSP, specifically the Sogs~ object.

Sogs~ doesn’t come with Max but you can get it from the Ircam website. You can download it (along with a couple other useful objects) for about $40. I am willing to pay the money because I use it all the time. Here is a screenshot of the sogs~ help file that I used in this video (click on the image to see a larger version):

For the next step I used the free program, Spear, to add a few artifacts to the “suspended” e minor chord. Here is a screenshot of Spear (again, click to see a larger version):

Finally, I combined the audio and video using Final Cut Pro.

-Rob

ircam, Max/MSP, musical musing, robert lunn, sogs, spear, suspended in e minor

This is a recent performance of my piece, The Lazy Virtuoso on an Imaginary Piano. The piece developed from a class project I did at Ohio State. Using Max/MSP, we were supposed to wave at a camera and have something happen.  The camera picks up my motions and translates it into midi sounds. I am using the piano sound but one could very easily use an violin, organ, or any other sound available.

This is tough to do live because the lights are always brighter than the ones I use in my studio.  With brighter lights, the camera picks up a lot more motion and is very sensitive.  The more motion picked up by the camera means higher sounds.  Therefore, sometimes when I played in the “middle register” of my imaginary piano, I would get higher sounds than I was expecting.

If you have max/msp on your computer you can download a simplified version of the patch by visiting:  http://robertlunncomposer.com/pages/max.htm

-Rob

imaginary, lazy, Max/MSP, piano, virtuoso

I finally got a green screen so that I can add different backgrounds to my videos. The green screen I have is 5 x 7 and is collapsible from TubeTape.  The piece is Ebb and Flow, something I composed for classical guitar and Max/MSP.

Here is the video:

Here are the steps I took to make this video:

1. I recorded (video and audio) against the green screen.

2. I then took the audio and ran it into my Max/MSP patch and recorded the echo and granular synthesis.

3. I then combined the original audio and the processed audio in Cubase.

4. I added the audio to the video. Here is a short video of what the video looks like at this stage:

5. Using the video software, Magix, I deleted the color green (Chroma key) and added some videos I downloaded (for free!) from Stock Footage for Free.

This was rather time intensive (3 hours), particularly for making a video with cheesy backgrounds. Since this was my first time using a green screen I can expect the next one to go a little quicker (I hope!).

Here are some things I learned:

1. I need a more powerful computer (don’t we all). My computer was having a hard time when I was editing in Magix.

2. More light to illuminate the green screen.

3. I need a bigger space. I need to be farther away from the green screen so that it doesn’t bleed onto me (just look at the edges of my arms and head).

Here are a few pictures of my setup:

-Rob

scores, tabs, and mp3s available at http://www.robertlunncomposer.com

 

controller, ebb and flow, foot, green screen, magix, Max/MSP, mfc10, midi, robert lunn, tubetape, yamaha

This is an improvisation using Max/MSP. This is the same patch I used in Prayer:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HQFK5ajYlYU
I’ve been composing a lot for electric guitar and Max/MSP. I was curious what a classical guitar would sound like running through the patch. I decide to experiment with an improvisation.

I am using a Yamaha MFC10 Midi Foot Controller to make changes in the patch during the performance.
I hope you enjoy!

Rob
www.robertlunncomposer.com

Classical Guitar, gentle waves, Max/MSP, robert lunn