The Duchamp Examination #10 for Guitar and Computer

Playing MIDI guitar into a computer, Boomerang loop pedal and a Metasonix module, Robert dissects, examines and re-produces a precomposed (but not prerecorded) piece through a combination of analog and digital mastication and redigestion, in real-time solo performance. Duchamp might have said "Bob chews his cud". Shortened for You Tube. www.robertedgar.com

Category:

Music

Tags:

• experimental
• MIDI
• computer
• music
• loop
• guitar
• Duchamp
• performance
• solo
• electronic
• poop

[rbedgar]

Right now I'm working on a similar system for MIDI guitar but including video and graphic manipulation, programming it in MAX/MSP/Jitter. The main difficulty is getting it so I can keep track of everything during a performance, and not just spend my time trying to figure out what's happening to the signals. I'm hoping to have it performable by early 2008.

[rbedgar]

6. The output of the Boomerang goes to my amp, and to my HD camera that recorded it all.

In the past I made video-based live performance systems, that did this kind of thing (mostly) with video. This was an attempt to create a robust and variable system that I could control the digital manipulation with the same expression that I use with regular guitar...the guitar as instrument and interface, not just triggering, but modulating many aspects of the sound.

[rbedgar]

5. The mixer output was mixed to mono and went to the Boomerang loop pedal. The loop pedal is extremely versitile for performance. I do a lot of capturing, looping, modifying the loop playback direction and overlaying signals that are looping during playback. The Boomerang also passes through what is being fed live. So I'm able to create a changable bed of looped material, and play over it live.

[rbedgar]

3. Audio output of the Roland synth then went into a preamp for boosting and then into an overdriven Metasonix filter. It then went from the filter output to the mixer.

4. Microphone went to the mixer.

[rbedgar]

2. MIDI OUT signal into computer, into SONAR and then VSampler3 software, where it triggers vocal samples according to note pitch and MIDI footpedal settings. VSampler3 also modulated the sample based on realtime MIDI footpedal work and string bending. The signal was output as audio and routed to the mixer, as well as looped back to the Roland guitar synth where it triggered Roland samples.

[audiotrax2000]

Wow, that was really fascinating! I've never seen MIDI guitar used like that. How exactly is it triggering/changing the loops? This is really original.

[rbedgar]

Thanks.

There's a 500 character limit to comments, so I'll have to post my answer over a few of them.

I set up several signal paths. All eventually lead to a mixer (to my left in the picture) which I changed as I played, according to which section I was in. You can see me reach over every now and then. The signal paths were:

1. Straight guitar out to the mixer.

[twirlyboggs]

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