[sdiy] Environmental, Concept, and "Subscription Modules"

[jbv]

> Hey, somebody has to defend Cyn, here!
>
> The idea has artistic merit,

Yes, it's interesting from an artistic point of view (especially theconcept of
using VERY slow variations events to drive musical processes,
just like a random LLLLFO)

> You can use a PC to grab the data off the Internet and send out the
> corresponding MIDI data. A MIDI/CV converter completes the job.
>
> The trick is reading HTTP and writing MIDI, but it's *theoretically* easy.
> Internet and MIDI functions are built into Microsoft's Software Development
> Kits, for one. If I had the tools, I'd try it.

IMHO this can be achieved in a much simpler way : the idea is touse one of
those cheap Ubicom chips that can handle protocols
such as HTTP or SMTP. Each sound module would feature 1 of these
chips and therefore have its own IP address. The chip would make a request
over the net, which would actually trigger a CGI script on a server.
That script would grab all necessary data over the web, process them and shape

them as a suite of ASCII values. Those values would then be sent back to the
chip that made the request. The CGI script could even shape these values
into ready-to-use MIDI Ctrl data, and therefore would free the Ubicom
chip from further processing...
Well, there might be only 1 IP per whole synth... The idea is to have all
data grabbed & processed externally, so that the data loaded by the synth
is as slim and ready-to-use as possible...

Yes, this idea has an artistic value, but still quite limited : it is actually

very closed to 2D or 3D display of data grabbed on the web, except that
2D/3D is replaced by sound synthesis and/or processing. What I mean
is that it's quite straightforward and linear.

OTOH I think some more interesting things can be achived with various
electronic modules / instruments featuring some of these Ubicom chips,
located in various places on the planet and hooked to the net.
Some kind of realtime worldwide musical collaborations... Which could
also include some data grabbed here & there on the web, or locally...
I haven't brainstormed much on this, but the basic idea is to define a
limited set of musical rules and let things evolved into more complex
structures...
Of course, this kind of thing can be done locally, but I have the feeling
that adding the net to process might add some nice & unexpected features
to the process... Especially if it's an open process into which anyone with
his/her home-made and unique sound modules & processors can plug or
unplug as he likes, and therefore adding the contribution of his/her gear
anytime and anyhow he likes...

A few months back I posted a suggestion about the benefits of having an
IP address for each piece of gear and connecting it to the web, but didn't
get much response...
Just like often on this list when it's not about pitch shifters of expo
converters...  **SIGH**

JB

>
>
> Now, you wanted that PC in a Modcan-compatible module, right...?
> --
> john
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "harrybissell" <harrybissell at prodigy.net>
> To: "John L Marshall" <john.l.marshall at gte.net>
> Cc: "Cynthia Webster" <cynthia.webster at gte.net>;
> <cgs_synth at yahoogroups.com>; "DIY" <synth-diy at dropmix.xs4all.nl>
> Sent: Wednesday, October 01, 2003 10:01 PM
> Subject: Re: [sdiy] Environmental, Concept, and "Subscription Modules"
>
> > Yeah definately !!!
> >
> > "I'll have what the lady on the FLOOR is having...."
> >
> > H^) harry
> >
> > John L Marshall wrote:
> >
> > > Cynthia,
> > >
> > > Too many triple lattes.
> > >
> > > Take care,
> > > John
> > > ------------------------------------------------------------------
> > > www.sound-photo.com
> > > ------------------------------------------------------------------
> > >
> > > ----- Original Message -----
> > > From: "Cynthia Webster" <cynthia.webster at gte.net>
> > > To: <cgs_synth at yahoogroups.com>; "DIY" <synth-diy at dropmix.xs4all.nl>
> > > Sent: Wednesday, October 01, 2003 12:54 PM
> > > Subject: [sdiy] Environmental, Concept, and "Subscription Modules"
> > >
> > > > (from a thread on the CGS list)
> > > >
> > > > Environmental,  Concept and "Subscription Modules"
> > > >
> [big snip]