Addressing the Network: Performative Strategies for Playing APART (2007), F. Schroeder Publications and Pedro Rebelo Publications. This paper has been accepted by the International Computer Music Conference 2007. An in progress version is available here [PDF]. “Addressing the Network…” describes a recent network music performance study that was carried out at the Sonic Arts Research Centre in Belfast, Northern Ireland in March 2007. A wide variety of network scenarios were tested and a large database of movie and sound files were created.

For the study three professional musicians were placed in separate studios at the Sonic Arts Research Center and asked to perform under a variety of conditions that simulated geographically displaced network performance, such as different latencies. One scenario in which computer generated graphics (Avatars) was introduced to test the performers interactions is described in detail. Network Performance Scenarios can be reviewed at here.

1. Network Simulation: Each musician in a separate space with basic monitoring under the following conditions:
1a. no-latency monitoring
1b. stable latency monitoring (90 – 150 ms)
1c. variable latency monitoring (90 – 150 ms)

2. Video Link (3 way iChat)
2a. Video link with no latency
2b. Video link with Stable Latency

3. Enhanced Monitoring: Each musician in a separate space with enhanced monitoring under the following conditions:
3a. Spatialised monitoring with no latency
3b. Spatialised monitoring with stable latency (90 – 150 ms)
3c. Spatialised monitoring with variable latency (90 – 150 ms)
3d. Spatialised and Ancillary monitoring with stable latency (90 – 150 ms)
3e. Spatialised and Ancillary monitoring with variable latency (90 – 150 ms)

4. Avatars: Each musician in a separate space with visual avatar presence from other musicians
4a. Basic monitoring, stable latency with Basic Avatar
4b. Basic monitoring, stable latency with Audio-Modulated Avatar
4c. Spatialised monitoring, stable latency with Basic Avatar
4d. Spatialised and Ancillary monitoring, stable latency with Basic Avatar
4e. Spatialised and Ancillary monitoring, stable latency with Audio-Modulated Avatar
4f. Spatialised and Ancillary monitoring, variable latency with Audio-Modulated Avatar

5. Traditional Performance Scenario
5a. Musicians sharing one stage

Pieces Played:
Ornette Coleman – “Bird Food”
Pedro Rebelo – “One Note”

ONE NOTE
Pedro Rebelo 2007

One player begins a long note on a chosen pitch
Other players slowly join in and approach the same pitch

Once the whole ensemble is playing the same pitch as long sustained notes….
Player begin to deviating from the pitch slightly

Players gradually stop, leaving one player sustaining the resulting pitch
Repeat from line 2