1st Edition

Interactive Technologies and Music Making Transmutable Music

By Tracy Redhead Copyright 2024
    210 Pages 81 B/W Illustrations
    by Focal Press

    210 Pages 81 B/W Illustrations
    by Focal Press

    Challenging current music making approaches which have traditionally relied on the repetition of fixed forms when played, this book provides a new framework for musicians, composers and producers wanting to explore working with music that can be represented by data and transformed by interactive technologies.

    Beginning with an exploration into how current interactive technologies, including VR and AR, are affecting music, the book goes on to create an accessible compositional model which articulates the emerging field of ‘transmutable music’. It then shows how to compose and produce transmutable music for platforms like video games, apps and interactive works, employing tutorials which use a range of inputs from sensors, data, and compositional approaches. The book also offers technical exercises on how to transform data into usable forms (including machine learning techniques) for mapping musical parameters, and discussion points to support learning.

    This book is a valuable resource for industry professionals wanting to gain an insight into cutting edge new practice, as well as for assisting musicians, composers and producers with professional development. It is also suitable for students and researchers in the fields of music/audio composition and music/audio production, computer game design and interactive media.

    1. Introduction Section 1 – Understanding Transmutable Music Systems 2. Aesthetics of Transmutable Music 3. Components of Transmutable Music Systems Section 2 – Approaches for Composing Transmutable Music 4. Experience and Interaction 5. Variability 6. Transmutability 7. Evaluating Transmutable Music Section 3 Interactive Technologies and Music Making (Background and Context) 8. The Convergence of Remix, Production and Video Games 9. The Convergence of Music, Technology, and Interactivity Section 4 Compositional Approaches in Transmutable Music: Tutorial Series 10. Mobile Music Making Basic Tutorials with MIDI 11. Mobile Music Making Advanced Tutorials (OSC) 12. Adaptive Music for Video Games Section 5 - Conclusion, Companion Website and Glossary 13. Conclusion 14. Online Resource 15. Glossary

    Biography

    Tracy Redhead is a musician, composer, and researcher working in music performance, production, and technology. Her career spans from singer/songwriter roots to pioneering interactive music projects with cutting-edge technologies. Holding a Master of Arts and PhD in Music, she is currently a Lecturer of Electronic Music and Sound Design at the University of Western Australia. She explores the intersection of science and art, and novel forms of expression.