GDGM - Report from the First Meeting

May, 15th 1997 (14:15-16:00) - Salle B22 - IRCAM

Introduction

Butch Rovan started the first meeting trying to define the basic goals that led us to create this informal discussion group:

Which Gesture?

Initially, gesture in an instrumental sense, mostly regarding its applications as a performance control for sound synthesis, although it is extremely important to meet people with different ideas about the subject. It was noted that we can profit from the fact that IRCAM is such a multi-disciplinary Institute in order to share ideas and experiences.

Origins...

The group began when we (Philippe, Marcelo, Shlomo and Butch) started informally discussing the topic of instrumental gesture as an outgrowth of our various projects. One common question was raised: how can one implement a meaningful gestural interface without attempting to classify or at least understand which kind of gestures one is interested in?

We realized that the word "gesture" can have such a variety of meanings that it is sometimes hard to focus on a specific application--and even harder to explain the reasons for some choices regarding technological issues--without a theoretical basis supporting the practical work.

How to Start Building a Theoretical Basis?

We started with a reading from Claude Cadoz because his is one of the few theoretical frameworks on instrumental gesture (better: the only one we could find up to now!). Cadoz developed his gesture/transducer classification (typology) from his work on the CORDIS System/Force Feedback Keyboard at ACROE. (NOTE: we are eager to investigate any other interesting theoretical discussions concerning gesture, its typology, etc. Please forward any bibliographic suggestions to one of the members listed above.)

Points of Contact

The meeting proceeded with a presentation by each attendee of their interests and current projects regarding gesture. Although the meeting included people from different backgrounds and interests, it was clear that there will be definite advantages to collaborating and sharing ideas.

Alex Mihalic pointed out that he is working on a project for flute and eight controller pedals. Although a pedal is one of the simplest MIDI controller devices, he is having trouble finding a suitable interface that allows connecting eight pedals. (NB: as an outcome of the meeting, a solution may have been found to his problem. Butch found that there is a company--PAVO electronics--that sells a kit for an eight pedal MIDI controller.)

Butch Rovan discussed his interest in comparing different transducer technologies, hopefully arriving at a typology that would allow one to make intelligent choices regarding which solution would be the best for a particular application. In particular, Butch is working on a glove controller at present using FSRs (Force Sensitive Resistors), infrared sensors, and accelerometers. Also, he mentioned a collaborative work on gesture mapping strategies that he, Marcelo, and Shlomo are doing based on the remapping of MIDI control data from a WX7 via non-linear functions, ultimately synthesized in CAST, the additive synthesis system from CNMAT.

Following that, Marc Battier continued by suggesting some pertinent readings that the group should consider, including Bob Moog's work "Position and Force Sensors and Their Application to Keyboards and Related Devices." He also mentioned different works on the Theremin (including his recent presentation at the Marseille conference). (NB: see Marcelo's comments on the Marseille conference in the report available on the main page.)

Marie-Helene Serra stated that she would like to see the group help develop a resource library that would benefit students in pedagogie wishing to work with gestural controllers. This library would include videotapes of various sensors being demonstrated. She also outlined an upcoming project that will be done by two visiting students this summer. Their project includes a comparison of sensor and different interface technologies. (NB: several of us found this last point very interesting, since we have independently been working in the same direction. It was stressed that we can benefit from mutual collaboration on this project.) Finally, Marie-Helene mentioned that Michel Waisvisz in interested in becoming part of a group at IRCAM that would focus on controller issues. Our group was mentioned as a natural choice.

Continuing, Marcelo Wanderley described the work he is doing with the Analysis-Synthesis team, under Philippe Depalle and Xavier Rodet. The theme of his thesis is "Gesture Acquisition and Modeling, With Application to Sound Synthesis;" as part of his work, he has been collecting a detailed bibliography on gesture. (NB: part of the bibliography is available from the GDGM homepage.)

Philippe Depalle stressed that the Analysis-Synthesis team has an interest in gestural control of sound synthesis. (This had also been mentioned by Rene Causse and Francisco Iovino before the meeting. They are interested in applying gestural control to the Modalys physical modeling software.)

Daniel Dadamo discussed his interests in gestural control in his composition. He is currently investigating ways to get controller information from a Bass Clarinet.

Suguru Goto finished by describing some of his work on the MIDI Violin; he proposed to make some demonstrations, and also mentioned that we could invite guest speakers. Some possible speaker choices were discussed by the group, including Claude Cadoz, David Wessel, Atau Tanaka, Alex Mulder, among others.

Wrap Up...

As can be seen, most of the meeting was spent just getting acquainted with each other's work and expressing goals for the group. Consequently, we never did discuss the Cadoz reading!

What Next?

The next meeting time has been set (see the main page for details). We plan to really discuss the Cadoz reading at the meeting, relating it to our current projects. (If you are interested in reading the Cadoz paper, there is a copy in Butch Rovan's mailbox that can be borrowed in order to make a copy.)

Also, see the main page for a link to Marcelo's report on the recent Marseille conference on Musical Gesture. There is also a beta version of a larger report, which contains the report mentioned above as well as Marcelo's detailed comments on the conference presentations. This includes a synthesis of Cadoz's ideas and gesture typology, as well as ideas under development by some of us on gestural acquisition, classification, mapping, etc.

Future plans include starting a mailing list, and many additions to the website. We hope to assemble the biggest bibliography on the subject available, and also to feature online versions of IRCAM reports on related technological, musical, philosophical, etc., issues.

All comments and suggestions are welcome!

IRCAM, 22 May 1997

B. Rovan
M. Wanderley

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