Bats, Max, boids and music: ultrasonics, artificial birds, and Max programming in a non-tactile musical environment

Abstract

Bats, Max, Boids and Music, are each elements that contribute to M-SEA, a music technology system in development since 1999. M-SEA, standing for Multi-Sensor Environment for Audio, is a non-tactile system that uses ultrasonic sensing in a IOOsqm (or smaller) area to detect locations and activity levels of people moving within the space. Sensor data is converted to digital data by a proprietary M-SEA hardware interface and relayed to the hub of the system, an Apple computer running M-SEA's proprietary software. The software uses the digital data to manipulate musical materials and parameters, the resulting music played back in real-time to those moving within the space. This paper presents the' Digital Voyage' undertaken to develop and explore each of the system elements listed above, and provides an overview of the M-SEA hardware and software. Brief descriptions of music programs created for the system are incorporated.