Theremin-sensor hot riding workshop

|Abstract|
This intensive 3-day workshop offers a hands-on introduction to interactive systems, based on the sensor technology, developed by Andrei Smirnov to measuring and monitoring human motion, air and water flows, variations in the vibrations of light beams, temperature, different mechanical vibrations etc. The sensors are built on the same principle as the well known electronic musical instrument Theremin, created by Russian inventor Leon Theremin in 1919. It was the first electronic musical instrument, made with special antennas to control sound by the free movement of hands in the space surrounding it. More recent digital USB theremin-sensors can be used in different kinds of motion capturing systems, to measure and monitor variations of air flow, mechanical vibrations, changes of electrical capacitance of any conductive medias etc. The theoretical introductions, which will accompany the workshop, will give detailed technical overviews of sensor technology and construction, art and music applications, forgotten, but very useful concepts and ideas, condensed historical content, mostly related to almost forgotten historical facts.
During the workshop participants will develop and realize their ideas regarding all sorts of pickups, antennas and conductive medias (like metal objects, foil, water, human dody, plants, metal thread, fabrique with metal threads, thin plastic films with metallization, all sorts of Christmas stuff etc which could be useful to produce different sorts of interactive audio/video installations and motion capturing systems.
What you will learn:
How to detect any sorts of motion and measure them
What information could we get and how to deal with it
Physical and technical details regarding the motion tracking
Basic principles of operation and construction of the theremin based systems
Applications of interactive motion tracking systems
Ways to integrate those in musical performance, dance, video, sound and art installations.
|Regulations|
The workshop is oriented to sound_media artists, composers_musicians and those who have an interest in sound art and interactive systems, unknown history and musical technology in general.
You are expected to bring your laptops and have some skills in programming in MAX/MSP, PD (Pure data), Supercollider, Isadora or any other software, oriented on interactive systems development.
The analog and digital USB sensors for testing, experimenting and performance will be provided.
|Fees|
The workshop is FREE. Donations - 5 Euro per day for drinks and snacks during the workshop are welcome
|Registration|
is limited to 10 participants. A bigger group is also possible, if several people wish to develop work in collaboration. Lectures are open to everybody without any limitations and free of charge.
|Andrey Smirnov|
http://asmir.theremin.ru/about.htm
http://www.theremin.ru

|Useful links|
http://crca.ucsd.edu/~msp/software.html -PD
http://puredata.info/PD resources
http://www.audiosynth.com/ - Supercollider
http://www.cycling74.com/products/download.html - MAX/MSP
http://www.cycling74.com/community/guide.html -MAX/MSP resources
http://theremin.ru/workshops/smirnov_lib.htm -Smirnov's library