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FloCtrl Software and Performance

This page tells you everything about performing in the Federation of Laptop Orchestras performance on April 16, 2012, 7:30pm Central Daylight Savings Time = (just for reference) 8:30pm local (EDT) time in New York.

Rehearsal and Sound Check Schedule (all times EDT = time in New York)

Date	Time	Notes
Apr 11	4:30pm setup
	6pm connect
	6:30-7:30pm play	based at CMU
Apr 13	10am SARC/CMU test	based at CMU, RBD in transit, to be confirmed
Apr 13	2pm Blork rehearsal	BLORK class online a bit before 2pm. Roger will try to connect via Skype-or-Google and possibly conduct, CMU will be running JackTrip
Apr 14	2-6pm	based at LSU
		video and audio at CMU, but no ensemble
Apr 16	12:30pm start setup	(setup at CMU, McConomy Auditorium)
	4:30-6pm connect	based at LSU - all orchestras
	6-8pm rehearsal
	8:30pm performance

Communications

Install Google Hangout software -- it runs in the browser, but it's a pretty large plug-in. I've been using Seamonkey (I think it's about the same as Firefox) on OS X, and it works well.

Send your google id right now to me (rbd) at cs.cmu.edu. We'll create a hangout and invite you. If you don't see a hangout to join, you can try inviting me (rbdannenberg) to one and I think I'll get the message.

Connecting via Hangout First, start a chat with someone in the "Chat with..." box under "Start a hangout". After they after they accept, then start a hangout and invite them.

While we're establishing connections, use hangout's chat feature (you need to click on "chat" to see it). If you don't get an answer from a question, ask again because messages do scroll off and get missed sometimes. On the other hand, if there are a lot of messages scrolling by, be patient before you add to the confusion by resending a question/request.

We'll run JackTrip servers at LSU. You need:

• stereo both ways

• 256 frames per block (this is a Jack parameter, not a JackTrip parameter)

• 44.1kHz (also a Jack parameter)

• a port offset as follows:

  • CCRMA: 0

  • BLORK: 1

  • TAMU: 2

  • LSU: servers

  • CMU: 3

  • SARC: 4

Once everyone is connected, we can switch to FloCtrl chat. See "chat window" below for info on addressing and sending messages.

Get the Software for Mac OS X

Download FloCtrl.app.zip (approximately 500MB) from: https://sourceforge.net/projects/floctrl/files/.

Unzip the file to get an application bundle named FloCtrl.app (it will appear in the finder as FloCtrl). Do not rename this application, but you can move it.

Start the application. It begins by showing a dialog.

Using the Software

The first thing you should see it this dialog box:

• Federation: This is the name of the federation you wish to connect to. For our purposes, it should probably be flo.

• Orchestra: This is the name of the Orchestra you want to connect to. This is dependent on your location. Use one of the following (lower case) names. (Do not change or "correct" any names because these names are wired into our conducting software):

  • ccrma

  • blork

  • tamu

  • lsu

  • cmu

  • sarc

  • helo

• Name: This is the performer name. It should be something short and unique without spaces, e.g. Roger Dannenberg will be rbd

• IP: Your IP Address. Should be sensed and provided automatically by Java. If your IP Address starts with 192.168. or 10. then you are on a private network and probably using a network address translation (NAT) router or gateway to reach the Internet. This will not work for the concert because you do not have an address that can be connected to by other computers.

• Server URL Base: The prefix address of the server URL. Defaults to http://www.music.cs.cmu.edu/cgi-bin/

• Be the orchestra's supernode?: Toggle if you are registering as the supernode (One and only one per orchestra, ideally a machine on a wired internet connection).

• Be a performer?: Radio button for being a Performer. Most people will check this.

• Be a conductor?: Radio button for being the Conductor (one per federation -- do not select this option, except possibly for testing before the concert).

• Supernode that's not performer or conductor?: You can be a node or supernode with a chat-only interface. This is mainly for testing purposes.

After setting parameters, click the Start button. Most parameters will be saved as preferences, so next time, you will probably be able to just push Start. On some systems a dialog may pop up asking you to allow this program to open internet connections. Sometimes this dialog is hidden by other windows, so FloCtrl may appear to hang - you should look for the dialog if any and say yes.

Technical Details

The performer interface allows you to select sounds and play tones by typing keys on the keyboard. You can adjust the volume (note that volume changes take effect only when you release the slider -- a bug that may be fixed later).

Output is mono sent to both left and right stereo output channels. One of these should be mixed and sent to LSU. The other is available for local speakers if you use them.

The Interface

Performers should follow the directions given on the interface while playing as musically as possible. This is a federation, not a dictatorship. Any anarchy that produces good results will always be forgiven, but part of the musical exploration here is musical cooperation at a distance, so let's try to make that work too!

Note that the interface does double-duty as both instructions for laptop performers and for instrumental soloists. Most orchestras will have one acoustic instrument soloist who should run the performer interface as well.

Starting from the top left, interface elements are:

• Pulse - this will pulse when you are to play in "pulse" time. See below.

• Orch: - Options are "Play", "Stop", "Fade In", "Fade Out." This applies to laptop performers.

• Solo: - Options are "Play", "Stop", "Fade In", "Fade Out." This applies to the designated soloist in your orchestra (if any).

• **Pitch: ** - Options are "Any", "High", "Medium", "Low."

• Dyn: - Dynamics options are "Loud", "Soft", "Any."

• Keyboard - This is not an input control. Shows the range of pitches available and the keyboard keys that correspond to the lowest and highest pitches. Also, middle C is shown in blue for reference. Type '1', '2', '3', ..., 'q', 'w', 'e', ... for a chromatic scale.

• Restrict Instruments checkbox - Ignore this for now.

• Drum Mode checkbox - changes the display for drum samples.

• Synthesizer - Buttons to select sample sets.

• Volume - A slider for setting output volume, to change the volume Shift++ and Shift+- can be used from the keyboard.

• Next Language - Prepare to play a new musical language (see below).

• Current Language - Base your current improvisation on this language.

• Intensity - An intentionally vague indicator. "Intensity" can refer to many musical parameters, including dynamics, pitch, intervals, timbre, speed, and rhythmic contrasts. When intensity goes up, try to do whatever you are doing even moreso, and vice versa.

• Chat Window - Ignore the address columns. To send a message, type an address, a space, and text. An address is /orch/name for an individual, or \orch\* for everyone in the orchestra, or \*\* for everyone in the federation. The conductor will be \lsu\rbd but don't expect much conversation with the conductor -- there will be a lot going on.

Languages

The "languages" are adapted from ideas and graphics by Anthony Braxton. Although these are mostly about playing sounds, never forget that silence is essential too.

Here's how I (RBD) interpret them for this work:

• Long Sound - just what it says. Long tones. If you see a Pulse, you can change pitch.

• Accented Long Sound - just what it says. Choose samples with sharp attacks. Reattack on the same or a diffent pitch when you (musically) need a breath.

• Trills - just what it says.

• Staccato Line Formings - repeat a pitch rapidly with short (staccato) tones. You can change pitch when the music calls for it.

• Intervalic Formings - play musical lines with generally large intervals. You can rest at any time too.

• Short Attacks, Rhythms, Intervallic Variety - similar to intervalic formings, but with short notes with sharp attacks.

• Angular Attacks and Lines - also similar to intervalic formings, but with more rhythmic variety and intensity. Too much will produce mush, so throw in plenty of silence, allowing others to be heard.

• Legato Formings - long, connected musical lines. Again, silence is ok too.

• On Cue, Accented Long Sound - same as Accented Long Sound, but attack the sound when you get a pulse in the Pulse window.

• On Cue, Short Attacks - play short, sharp attacks when you get a pulse.

• On Cue, Legato Formings - play a legato line, changing pitch when you get a pulse.

• Drum Circle - The orchestra should attempt to make a drum circle. Get a simple percussion groove going, keep it simple, and stick to it. There are 6 other orchestras to provide contrasting material, so don't try to be virtuosic with the drumming.

• Rising Pitch Formings - Play slowly ascending pitch lines.

• Falling Pitch Formings - Play slowly descending pitch lines.

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