Frontend candidate for Modular IV

devo · Post by **devo** » Thu Nov 16, 2006 1:08 pm

Just thought this looked pretty cool and it is hard not to think about the combination of this and a powerful modular platform such as SFP.

http://mtg.upf.edu/reactable/videos/demo2_basic1.mp4

devo · Post by **devo** » Thu Nov 16, 2006 1:30 pm

I just realized that the software is open source that runs on Windows, Mac and Linux. If you figure out how to setup the camera on the table surface together with a projector you are good to go.

Post by **irrelevance** » Thu Nov 16, 2006 1:54 pm

Very cool

I imagine there's a few modular gurus here on Z who could twist and warp sounds and patches and make it look effortless.

Great interface though. Love the visual feedback idea.
Open source to eh?

Lima · Post by **Lima** » Fri Nov 17, 2006 12:36 am

Fantastic! Most intuitive and inspiring!

Another video:
http://mtg.upf.edu/reactable/videos/demo2_basic2.mp4

for the full list watch here:
http://mtg.upf.edu/reactable/?media

ds-sound · Post by **ds-sound** » Fri Nov 17, 2006 12:33 pm

How can I play this file format...?

eliam · Post by **eliam** » Fri Nov 17, 2006 12:59 pm

vlc plays it here

ds-sound · Post by **ds-sound** » Fri Nov 17, 2006 1:23 pm

This interface is awesome.
It only demonstrates what great and amazing gadgets future technology holds for us.
I'm so glad I'm still young, and have all 50+ years ahead of me to enjoy the brilliance of mankind.

I'm sure that in a few decades we'll all be regarded with the same antique respect we now hold for the early moog-geeks of the 60s, as our children and grandchildren will manipulate sound by moving their hands through the air, or by the power of thought...

(thanks for the video-player!)

djmicron · Post by **djmicron** » Sat Nov 18, 2006 12:15 am

i think it's more about gui and controllers, but i don't see any news about synthesis and sound processing.
As many examples are demonstrating, it seems that the most of people is attracted by graphic design, but loosing the focus on the most important thing:
the sound

if you learn with creamware modular 2/3, you will be able to make patches with real analog gear, but with systems like reactable, you will never know how things are done in the real world.

For example, i don't see any advantages by using reactable in a studio situation, but it is for sure very attractive in a live situation.

ChrisWerner · Post by **ChrisWerner** » Sat Nov 18, 2006 12:28 am

Amazing fusion of visuals and sound modeling.
It would be great to have some of them at our spheric sessions.

I hope we can buy this thing soon.

Thank you for the link.

Post by **irrelevance** » Sat Nov 18, 2006 2:28 am

djmicron wrote:i think it's more about gui and controllers, but i don't see any news about synthesis and sound processing.
As many examples are demonstrating, it seems that the most of people is attracted by graphic design, but loosing the focus on the most important thing:
the sound

if you learn with creamware modular 2/3, you will be able to make patches with real analog gear, but with systems like reactable, you will never know how things are done in the real world.

For example, i don't see any advantages by using reactable in a studio situation, but it is for sure very attractive in a live situation.

The sound came across very well, even in this format!

GUI is equally as important as the sound. GUI consideration is what brought the modular concept from the lab to the studio and eventually the home imo. I don't view the reactable concept as a one trick, live pony at all. As Stardust already mentioned, this kind of interaction could be likend to meditation; as there is no need for seperate left/right hemisphere activities. The action brings about the sound which ultimately designs the process. Sure this kind of programming can be done with the tools we have now, but the immediacy of Scope or any current gui relying on the scroll and click option is just not as apparent imo.

I can however see down sides to the interface though. For example ,with an increase in immediacy I believe the user forgoes the level of control and precision that he/she would normally enjoy within current environments like Scope.

Horses for courses ladies and gentlemen. I certainly wouldn't mind the option to express myself with such a system, but it would certainly never replace Scope or what Scope offers.

ds-sound · Post by **ds-sound** » Sat Nov 18, 2006 2:36 am

djmicron wrote:it seems that the most of people is attracted by graphic design, but loosing the focus on the most important thing: the sound

this is partially what I like about this new invention - it simplifies the process of sound making. modular synthesis now becomes a game, and everyone from kids to the drummer's girlfriend can now try and make interesting patches with ease.

if someone wish to go more low-level, he always can, and the sound engine of this video modular can also be upgraded with time.

astroman · Post by **astroman** » Sat Nov 18, 2006 4:56 am

ds-sound wrote:
djmicron wrote:it seems that the most of people is attracted by graphic design, but loosing the focus on the most important thing: the sound
this is partially what I like about this new invention - it simplifies the process of sound making. ...

I'd even say it emphasizes on sound, or rather puts sound back into focus

you cannot handle complex patches with this interface, so you have to deal with few of excellent quality - brings back the beauty of the pure saw - similiar to those marvellous Flexor examples.
It's all too easy to get lost in the endless area and it's possibilities of the Modular (screen) environment...

but there's not much 'invention' in this project except a few controller interactions
It sure looks stunning and it's size is very unusual at a first glance, but actually it's the latter that makes it possible at all.
A 'regular' touch screen is tiny with even tinier sensor electronic, precision manufacturing and expensive production.
This thing on the other hand deals with resolutions (probably) almost in the cm range, offering a variety of relatively cheap ways to detect objects and their movement.
My guess is that it's simply a tilted 'back projection' screen, like some TV models have, or an LCD projector under a transparent surface.

cheers, Tom

devo · Post by **devo** » Sun Nov 19, 2006 12:05 pm

astroman wrote: but there's not much 'invention' in this project except a few controller interactions

...

My guess is that it's simply a tilted 'back projection' screen, like some TV models have, or an LCD projector under a transparent surface.

cheers, Tom

You are quite right - on the site they talk about a camera and a projector handing the input and the output. The software (reactivision) that can be downloaded seem to focus on the input based on image (video) recognition. Not sure if the complete GUI as seen in the video is covered by that software.

Wasn't there another video floating around a year or so ago where they were showing off something that looked like a big touchscreen with capability to sense multiple "touches" - they used it to do all sorts of things like image editing, games, simulations...I wonder if they weren't using the same technique.

There seem to have been a 3 day workshop in Amsterdam on how to build your own reactable. If they throw another one I'll seriously consider to find time to attend.