video 1: documentary from oboro.tv
video 2: installation at Neutral Ground-Soil (prototype of the input sound module of SKIN-PÔ)
image jpg: equipment set up plan

Related projects: Transduction and SKIN-PÔ

Tontauben is an immersive interactive environment that makes use of small spherical electronic interfaces in an audio installation. Tontauben happens in a space gallery where five balls (the spherical interfaces) lie spread about here and there on the floor. The visitors just have to pick them up to trigger spatial sound diffusion and to interact with Tontauben’s immersive environment.

By manipulating the spherical interfaces (five balls of 10 cm diameter) users trigger the creation and the distribution of sounds. The characteristics of the sounds (frequency, tonality, pitch, etc.) are modulated by the spatial position, of each sphere and by the spatial relations that the balls entertain toward each other.

Initially a local positioning system (LPS) has been developed has been developed in collaboration with Serge Provencher, electronic engineer and Poly-Grames. Now Tontauben is using a new positioning system developed by Ubisense. The audio module was programmed using Pure Data and allowed the interpretation of data received by the LPS into sound and distribution events.

The sound architecture

The sound architecture is based on sound algorithm that are using the X, Y, Z of each of the spheres, provided by the LPS as dynamic variables. Tone generators influenced by frequency modulators and VST (Virtual Studio Technology) will also be layered onto the sounds thus produced. The system can analyze the force applied to the spheres, the distance reach and their position in time to apply effects that play on the level, the pitch, the duration, the degree of emergence of the sound produced. The sound specialization is actualized by the spatial position of the spheres in space.

Collaborators

Individuals:

Thomas Ouellet Fredericks, artist and programmer, Montreal
Serges Provencher, Independent electronic engineer, Montreal
Charlie Savage from Ubisense, electronic engineers, Denver.

Organisations:

Ubisense
Oboro
Poly-grames, Polytechnique de l'université de Montréal, Montreal

Financial support:

Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec
Conseil des Arts du Canada
Centre Interuniversitaire des Arts Médiatiques (CIAM)
Fondation Daniel Langlois pour l'art, la science et la technologie
Oboro