First Max/MSP Project in a LONG time.

So, I've been tasked with composing for a 16 note input system for the Maker Faire. A pendulum will swing, generating MIDI, and it has been by job to do something nice with this MIDI. Also part of the challenge is to make the installation fit within the remit of a faire. It will be busy with people walking round from stall to stall, so sometimes it will be active and sometimes it will not be. I needed something that can be left running unattended, and will not be too irritating, yet when it is being used, it will be engaging enough to be interesting.

This has lead me to a two tier application. After seconds of un-use, the system will merely play nice atherial samples, MIDI triggered, the program will be randomly changed every 2 minutes.

To activate the system, the user will speak into the microphone in front of the pendulum. this will trigger the system to begin recording sound up into the 16 buffered. Once the voice has stopped, the 16 buffers will be played in sequence with the MIDI In, coupled with the "Glitch" VST cyclically stepping though it's effects, this should be enough to keep the public entertained.

With this done and under my belt, I can start thinking more about chaos (in the hope I can produce some true algorithmic based sounds for the project!)

Note: Max/MSP and LabVIEW are definitely NOT the same thing, although they may look like it... spent a lot of the day getting my syntax out of a mess! ;)