Abstract

We present here the last developments concerning the graphical user interfaces we are designing to control sound instruments in the new FTS Client/Server architecture or through MIDI. In particular, MoveInSpace, the movement generator interface for sound spatialization significantly improved since our last publications (JIM96 and ICMC96 proceedings).
This interface is developed under object-oriented and real time concepts. It constitutes a graphical tool to define tridimensional trajectories, independently of the spatialization system. The composer can choose predefined trajectories or define new 3D trajectories with the mouse or with a data glove. From one particular trajectory, several other trajectories forming a class can be derived thanks to different transformation methods: translation, scaling, speed modifi-cation, moving, adding or removing points.These trajectories are saved by pressing the record button and are played back by pressing the forward or backward play buttons. During the saving process, an icon representing the trajec-tory is created. A set of classical command buttons—Stop, Play, Pause, Return To Zero, Loop — is also available. It is moreover possible to correlate the spatial movement with parameters of the sound (e.g.:frequency, amplitude, filter parameter,… ). Actually, the user can define other functions, in the way he defines the altitude curve.The composer can explore the resources of spatio-morphological transformations, correlating sound spatialization to other sound processing, like pitch shifting, dynamic filtering,… As a matter of fact, MovelnSpace becomes a general multi-controller. It allows to simultaneously control the dynamic evolution of a large set of parameters and can be useful to pilot sound processing programs that require the definition of many parameters. Different parameters concerning size and shape of the room where the sound is spatialized are easily specified and visually controlled by the user, such as the real and the virtual dimensions of the room, the number, the position and the size of the loudspeakers. We also introduced the interpolation concepts in this inter face.The user will be able to place and size interpolation spheres in space. Each sphere represents a set of parameters and a resulting set will be calculated by interpolation, depending on the position of a point moving in this space. We are testing this tool on different spatialization system : on an acousmonium controlled by VCA, on a quadraphonic spatialization system and on the Ircam “Spatialisateur.”This interface constitutes an efficient graphical tool to easily control spatialization instruments or, in general, any sound processing programs that require the simultaneous definition of many parameters.

• Caroline Traube (Belgium), SERVICE DE PHYSIQUE GENERALE, LABORATOIRE D’INFORMATIQUE MUSICAL. I am an engineer, specializing in Telecommunications. Now, as a researcher at the University of Mons, I develop graphi­cal interfaces for computer music composers. I am also a student of Annette Vande Gorne, in composition of “acous­matic music”.
• Todor Todoroff (Belgium), POLYTECHNIQUE DE MONS, Belgium.  Born in 1963, Todor Todoroff is an Electrical Engineer with a specialization in telecommunications (1987). After having done research in the field of speech processing at the Free University of Brussels, he is now head of the Computer Music Research at the Polytechnic Faculty in Mons (Belgium) where he develops computer tools for electroa­coustic music in collaboration with the Royal Conservatory of Music in Mons. He received in 1993 a First Prize for Electroacoustic Composition at the Royal Conservatory of Music in Brussels. His main musical work is focused on tape music, with a special interest in dealing with space and multiphony, but he also composes music for film, video and theatre productions, as well as for installations in collabora­tion with contemporary artists. He received the Prize of the Audience Ex-Aequo at the 1991 International Noroit Competition in Arras (France) and was finalist at the 1992 International Luigi Russolo Competition in Varese (Italy) and at the I. Concorso Internacional de Musica Eletroacustica de Sao Paulo 1995 (Brazil). His music has been played on the radio in several countries and has been programmed in many festivals (Ars Musica 93 and 94, ICMC 95 and 96, ISEA95, Euracousma 93, JIM 95 and 96).