Abstract 

Keywords: Mechatronic Instruments, Spatial Performance, Interface Design, New Loudspeaker Systems.

This paper describes compositional approaches to working with the new speaker.motion mechatronic loudspeaker system. The spatial affordances that come with the new loudspeaker system require new compositional ideas to explore the dynamic use of spatial attributes in electronic music. The speaker.motion system is first introduced and the communication protocols that composer use to control the system are discussed. The paper then continues with two case studies describing site-specific compositions that have been developed for the speaker.motion system each of which uses the spatial affordances of the system at the fore-front of their creative output. In assessing the compositional strategies of the system the paper also includes discussion provided by other composers who have utilized the speaker.motion system and their thoughts on the new ways it affords spatial performance and composition approaches. The paper then concludes with the future directions of both the system and the development of compositions for it.

• Ajay Kapur, School of Engineering and Computer Science, Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand
• Bridget Johnson is a sound artist and composer whose work crosses many platforms and mediums. Her main focus is designing new intuitive interfaces for musical expression, and this often manifests in the design of custom-built music performance hardware and software. She is a Senior Lecturer and the Major Coordinator of Music Technology in the School of Music and Creative Media in the College of Creative Arts at Massey University in Wellington, New Zealand

Full text (PDF) p. 475-481