[sdiy] Sal Mar Construction

[Dave Manley]

Paul Perry wrote:
> And here is a picture of the device the circuit was designed for 
> (Franco did the electronics.)
> http://emfinstitute.emf.org/exhibits/martiranosalmar.html
> and how it sounds: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AHhsBZU6gAo
Thanks for the link, Paul.  I also found 6 more very short live 
performance videos at this users page:

http://www.youtube.com/user/ZanterM

Also found this in the Vasulka archives, written by Salvatore Martirano:

"THE SAL-MAR CONSTRUCTION, a real-time composing/performing instrument.

The SMC was designed, financed and built in 1969 - 1972 by engineers 
Givilbiss, Franco, Borovec and composer Martirano here at the University 
of Illinois. It is a hybrid system in which TTL logical circuits (small 
and medium scale integration) drive analog modules, such as voltage 
­controlled oscillators, amplifiers and filters. The SMC weighs 15001bs 
crated and measures 8'x5'x3'.

It can be set-up at ore end of the space with a "spider web" of speaker 
wire going out to 24 plexiglass enclosed speakers that hang in a variety 
of patterns about the space. The speakers weigh about 6 lbs. each, and 
are gently mobile according to air currents in the space. A changing 
pattern of sound-traffic by 4 independently controlled programs produces 
rich timbres that occur as the moving source of sound causes the sound 
to literally bump into itself in the air, thus effecting phase 
cancellation and addition of the signal.

The control panel has 291 touch-sensitive set-reset switches That are 
patched so that a tree of diverse signal paths is available to the 
performer. The output of the switch is either set 'out 1' or reset 
'out2'. Further the 291 switches are multiplexed down 4 levels. The 
unique characteristic of the switch is that it can be driven both 
manually and logically, which allows human/machine interaction. Most 
innovative feature of the human/machine interface is that it allows the 
user to switch from control of macro to micro parameters of the 
information output. This is analogous to a zoom lens on a camera. A 
pianist remains at one level only. that is, on the keys.

It is possible to assign performer actions to AUTO and allow the SMC to 
make all decisions. During Musique et Ordinateur, May 3-19, 1983, at the 
University of Paris, d'Orsay, on May 4th, I played a 45 minute piece 
which was followed by questions and a discussion with the audience. At 
the conclusion of this exchange I assigned my role in a performance to 
AUTO. The SMC remained in place for the duration of the of the Conference.

I was able to teach a French student, a bright computer science major, 
to play the SMC in about 6 hours. Since the control panel is made of 
kitchen counter top, Formica glued to flakeboard (washable), I labeled 
the functions of the most important switches directly under, the 
switches. He remained with the SMC during the rest of the conference and 
allowed visitors to try it with great success. I heard later, second 
hand, that a few chauvinists claimed that his performance was better 
than mine. I'm sure it was a slower paced performance."


-Dave