Embrace the Weirdness: Negotiating Values Inscribed into Music Technology

IF 0.4 Q4 COMPUTER SCIENCE, INTERDISCIPLINARY APPLICATIONS

Computer Music Journal Pub Date : 2021-09-01 DOI:10.1162/comj_a_00610

Giacomo Lepri;Andrew McPherson

{"title":"Embrace the Weirdness: Negotiating Values Inscribed into Music Technology","authors":"Giacomo Lepri;Andrew McPherson","doi":"10.1162/comj_a_00610","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"Abstract This article explores the ways specific hardware and software technologies influence the design of musical instruments. We present the outcomes of a compositional game in which music technologists created simple instruments using common sensors and the Pure Data programming language. We identify a clustering of stylistic approaches and design patterns, and we discuss these findings in light of the interactions suggested by the materials provided, as well as makers' technomusical backgrounds. We propose that the design of digital instruments entails a situated negotiation between designer and tools, wherein musicians react to suggestions offered by technology based on their previous experience. Likewise, digital tools themselves may have been designed through a similar situated negotiation, producing a recursive process through which musical values are transferred from the workbench to the instrument. Instead of searching for ostensibly neutral and all-powerful technologies, we might instead embrace and even emphasize the embedded values of our tools, acknowledging their influence on the design of new musical artifacts.","PeriodicalId":50639,"journal":{"name":"Computer Music Journal","volume":"45 3","pages":"39-57"},"PeriodicalIF":0.4000,"publicationDate":"2021-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Computer Music Journal","FirstCategoryId":"1085","ListUrlMain":"https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/10301825/","RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":null,"ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q4","JCRName":"COMPUTER SCIENCE, INTERDISCIPLINARY APPLICATIONS","Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Abstract

Abstract This article explores the ways specific hardware and software technologies influence the design of musical instruments. We present the outcomes of a compositional game in which music technologists created simple instruments using common sensors and the Pure Data programming language. We identify a clustering of stylistic approaches and design patterns, and we discuss these findings in light of the interactions suggested by the materials provided, as well as makers' technomusical backgrounds. We propose that the design of digital instruments entails a situated negotiation between designer and tools, wherein musicians react to suggestions offered by technology based on their previous experience. Likewise, digital tools themselves may have been designed through a similar situated negotiation, producing a recursive process through which musical values are transferred from the workbench to the instrument. Instead of searching for ostensibly neutral and all-powerful technologies, we might instead embrace and even emphasize the embedded values of our tools, acknowledging their influence on the design of new musical artifacts.

查看原文本刊更多论文

拥抱怪异:音乐技术中的谈判价值

摘要本文探讨了特定的硬件和软件技术对乐器设计的影响。我们展示了一个作曲游戏的结果，在这个游戏中，音乐技术人员使用通用传感器和纯数据编程语言创建了简单的乐器。我们确定了一组风格方法和设计模式，并根据所提供的材料所暗示的互动以及制作人的技术音乐背景来讨论这些发现。我们提出，数字乐器的设计需要设计师和工具之间的情境协商，音乐家根据他们以前的经验对技术提供的建议做出反应。同样，数字工具本身可能是通过类似的协商设计的，产生了一个递归过程，通过这个过程，音乐价值从工作台转移到乐器上。我们可能会接受甚至强调我们工具的嵌入价值，承认它们对新音乐作品设计的影响，而不是寻找表面上中立的、全能的技术。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

求助全文

约1分钟内获得全文求助全文

来源期刊

Computer Music Journal 工程技术-计算机：跨学科应用

CiteScore

1.80

自引率

0.00%

发文量

审稿时长

>12 weeks

期刊介绍： Computer Music Journal is published quarterly with an annual sound and video anthology containing curated music¹. For four decades, it has been the leading publication about computer music, concentrating fully on digital sound technology and all musical applications of computers. This makes it an essential resource for musicians, composers, scientists, engineers, computer enthusiasts, and anyone exploring the wonders of computer-generated sound. Edited by experts in the field and featuring an international advisory board of eminent computer musicians, issues typically include: In-depth articles on cutting-edge research and developments in technology, methods, and aesthetics of computer music Reports on products of interest, such as new audio and MIDI software and hardware Interviews with leading composers of computer music Announcements of and reports on conferences and courses in the United States and abroad Publication, event, and recording reviews Tutorials, letters, and editorials Numerous graphics, photographs, scores, algorithms, and other illustrations.