I Rock the Party that Rocks the Party
So as you may know from some of my previous posts I’ve been doing lots of Max/MSP programming, moving my previously hardware-centric performance setup into the laptop.
I recently put out the v05 version of my Party Van software, and it is looking/sounding great if I don’t say so myself.
Here’s a performance video using solo snare + electronics:
Here’s what the latest version looks like:
And a full walkthrough/demo of the patch/GUI:
And about what it is:
Description and Overview
The Party Van is a live sampling and performance instrument built using Max/MSP. It was programmed around the Monome 64 and Arc 2 controllers but includes mapping for an iPad running TouchOSC (custom layout included) as well as the Keith McMillen Softstep foot controller. Additionally, the patch has MIDI learn functionality built in, so every parameter can be mapped to any MIDI controller.
Nice work! I’m curious how you’re setup works in terms of microphone input/monitoring, i.e., in the above performance how do you avoid feedback from your monitors into your mic?
In the above performance I have an actual ‘audio recording’ mic set up in addition to my normal ‘mini omni’. I don’t perform like that.
I have a ‘thru’ control on my patch and for general use, I have that cranked up, but with the microphone input halfway up, not enough to really hear it coming out of the loudspeaker, but enough to sample/playback if I stop playing (and enough to trigger the analysis sections of the patch).
In the above video I actually have a PA speaker a few feet from the snare/mic, and there’s no feedback. It’s all about mic placement and careful level control. In other takes I use the mini mic to feedback on the snare (similar to what I do at the end, but more actual feedback involved).
The mini mic is a generic electret omni microphone (basically a cheap lapel mic) that pics up the drums OK enough, but is not so precious that I can’t beat it up.
I love that solo snare video and thank you very very much for the patch!