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The Drancing accelerometer music "air instrument"

[book] Submitted by webel on Sun, 16/11/2008 - 13:35
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What is Drancing ?

[book] Submitted by webel on Mon, 29/12/2008 - 12:17
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Drancing is a gestural synthesis accelerometer music system (an "air instrument") under development by Dr Darren Kelly since 1996. Drancing employs triaxial-accelerometers (3D vector acceleration transducers) to synthesise music, visuals, and computer controls from human gestures, dance, and movement.

The name Drancing is derived from "Drumming-by-Dancing" (or "air drums" mode) which is just one of its many applications. It can also be used as an "air synthesizer", "air guitar", or "air piano", and to make sounds never heard or named before.

Drancing uses real-time synthesis of sound and visuals

[book] Submitted by webel on Mon, 29/12/2008 - 12:22

A distinguishing feature of the Drancing system is that it can employ continuous, real-time synthesis of sound to create strong aural biofeedback, not just triggering of pre-recorded samples (although it can trigger samples as well).

The "organic" DrancelRGB LED visuals and real-time computer-generated visuals also promote strong visual biofeedback. It is by design a "synaesthetic" instrument.

Video: YouTube: Drancing accelerometer music with Wiimotes: 3D variable frequency oscillators + amplitude variation + triggered "air drum" samples

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Demonstrates combined oscillator frequency variation, amplitude variation, and triggered Drum sample ("Drumming by Dancing") modes along with DrancelRGB monitor visuals projected onto the "Drancer" performer.

For this demonstration two hand-held WiiTM Remotes on a MacBook Pro were used. (The original Drancing accelerometer suit (since 1997) used 5 triaxial accelerometers in a "body star" pattern").

Drancel RGB PureData/GEM accelerometer monitors

The Drancel accelerometer "light atom" principle can be applied to any light source or video generator; here PureData/GEM computer visuals are used to create Drancel accelerometer monitors, based almost exactly on the Java visuals from previous versions of DranceWare.

The corresponding (very pragmatically developed) prototype PureData/GEM patches look a bit rough, however the resulting monitor lights are beautiful when projected behind a performer, and they provide excellent visual feedback to accompany the audio synthesis.

Photo of the original Drancing accelerometer suit

The original Drancing prototype used 5 triaxial accelerometers in a "body star" formation in a suit and a cable for data transfer.

Video: Drancing suit 2002: triaxial accelerometer sound axes: variable frequency and variable amplitude modes

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Demonstration of the axes of a triaxial accelerometer using sound synthesis. The relationship to gravity is explored using vector acceleration with 3D Variable Frequency Oscillator (VFO) mode, then amplitude variation "triaxial chord" mode.

Video: Drancing suit 2002: variable frequency + variable amplitude mode

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The (X,Y,Z) channels of five 3D accelerometers vary the amplitudes and the frequencies of 5 x 3 = 15 pure sinusoidal oscillators.

One can hear "beat" frequencies generated by similar frequencies corresponding to different accelerometer channels, such as when the arms are raised to similar levels, which effect can be exploited for musical nuance and for movement therapy to measure symmetry of posture.
[book] Submitted by webel on Tue, 16/12/2008 - 14:54
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