Musical Instrument Interfaces

Abstract

Controlling digital tools, instruments or appliances can be a quite tedious task. It could seem as if the huge computational and technological potentials of digital technologies – often internalized and inaccessible – in many cases take precedence over the very interface that is to unleash its powers. The following is a preliminary overview of my motivation and some of the main issues within the context of my research on musical instrument interfaces. My own experiences and frustrations as a musician and sound engineer is probably the primary driving force behind this project. Originally being a drummer, my approach to creating music have always had a very physical and tactile dimension to it. Problems and difficulties arose, however, when I started working with other instruments, such as analog and digital synthesizers, tape machines and computer software. What I am interested in is the interaction between the musician and the relevant instruments or pieces of technology.