Performance technology for Nigel Westlake's "Fabian Theory"
UPDATE 1/29/2019: THE PATCH IS CURRENTLY NOT AVAILABLE DUE TO CHANGES IN SOFTWARE AND LACK OF TIME TO UPDATE. THE PAGE REMAINS AVAILABLE FOR REFERENCE AND IN THE EVENT I AM ABLE TO DEVELOP A NEW PATCH.
My friend Kevin Estes has been conducting his doctoral research on selected percussion works of Australian composer Nigel Westlake. Throughout the course of the research, Kevin was interested in exploring different technological options for performers to utilize in Westlake's Fabian Theory for marimba and digital delay.
Westlake originally composed the work using the Roland SDE-2000 Digital Delay unit. This unit allowed for an input signal to be delayed up to several seconds and allowed for 5 or 6 seconds of looping. Since then, digital delay units are capable of delaying and looping far longer units of time. Units also function differently and can lead to confusion in understanding the terminology Westlake uses in his score and how it applies to modern delays. Delay/looping units can cost a couple hundred dollars, but most people already have laptop computers. Additionally, some sort of foot pedal (trigger device) controlled by the performer must be able to send a message to turn delay on and off and control the loop. Kevin involved me to help develop a small program (called a patch) utilizing Max/MSP for performing Fabian Theory.
I had a few goals with the patch:
provide a simplified and cost-effective approach to performance technology by using components performers likely own and with which they are already familiar
create a highly adaptable platform that can accommodate all users
design a streamlined and straightforward user interface for ease in practice and implementation for performance
In order to achieve these goals, I had to design a patch with the following points in mind:
provide the ability to use almost any device capable of sending an ASCII or MIDI message as a trigger device, e.g. USB mouse or a MIDI percussion controller
give the performer the option to record the loop live (as originally intended) or to prerecord the loop and play it back during performance
allow the performer to practice with the delay effect
provide for control over volume of delay and loop independent of each other and without using an assistant to change volume
Screenshot of user interface for Fabian Theory
© Michael Ptacin
The current version of the patch was developed through months of testing and feedback from Kevin. The patch went through several incarnations before I finally came to this release. As more people use the patch, I fully expect to receive additional feedback and suggestions about what might make the patch better. Please note, for performers wishing to create a prerecorded loop, the looped measures should have the delay effect! You will need to apply this in some kind of audio program (Garage Band, Audacity, etc.). I also recommend tweaking settings so the loop does not sound too dense, possibly add greater dB falloff (maybe -8dB) for each echo.