MSN/AV (Maximum Silence to Noise/Audio-Visual)

MSN/AV is an interactive audiovisual system performed by two musicians. The sound world is created through ring modulation synthesis controlled by multi-dimensional touch gestures. At the heart of MSN/AV is a novel implementation of ring modulation in Pure data software that features two identical oscillators. These oscillators morph from silence to white noise, passing through sine and square waveforms along the way. Interaction data from each performer is passed to a Touch Designer network which generates and/or manipulates “on screen” visual materials. The goal is to explore gestural control of sound and vision while creating new artistic work that engages with rich audio spectra and the entanglement within audiovisual practices. This expressiveness in gesturally controlled ring modulation synthesis builds on a history of ‘noisy’ interactive electronic instruments like the Crackle Box, BoardWeevil, and Atari Punk Console, which use ring modulation or similar techniques to produce dynamic inharmonic spectra. While ‘live visuals’ are now common in contemporary performance, the role of the musical score is evolving. Yet, aside from a few notable exceptions (Louise Harris, Myriam Bleau, Vicki Bennett, Nonotak Studio), there is little artistic research on improvising musicians in responsive audiovisual environments—an area MSN/AV seeks to explore.