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Rubyconf 2009 is in San Francisco this year and BArCMuT is hosting a Ruby themed event to bring together Ruby audio library creators and inspire collaborations between Ruby developers and the computer music community. We will be at the ashburymusichall.com space at Pier 38 which houses a large number of cool startup companies.

Presenters will include:
- Adam Murray on using Max/MSP as the scheduler for realtime Ruby scripts that process and generate MIDI. Demonstration of a Ruby-based arpeggiator and a system for triggering events via analysis of MIDI input.
- Tom Lieber on Ruck, a tiny library that brings ChucK's strong timing to Ruby. Online or offline, scripted or live, override one method to use Ruck's virtual clock for good or for awesome.
- Noah Thorp an overview of existing Ruby Audio libraries and what he's been up to at Ashbury Music Hall
- Lightning talk by Ruby McGavren on using his Ruby on Acid library for music and visuals: http://github.com/jaymcgavren/rubyonacid
- Lightning talk by J.D. Northrup on his exploration of Ruby, Reaktor, and Processing

Email me (Noah Thorp) if you would like to present, give a lightning talk, or have a library or Ruby based audio related web app to be featured.

Also, if you are at Rubyconf it's likely you will enjoy my talk:
http://www.rubyconf.org/talks/110-making-music-with-ruby-patterns-context-fun

Best,
Noah

BIOS

Adam Murray
Adam is a web developer who likes to apply his programming skills to music. He maintains a free set of objects for Max/MSP that includes ajm.ruby, an object for running Ruby code inside Max (http://compusition.com/web/software/maxmsp/ajm-objects). Adam looks forward to exploring the possibilities of Max for Live with custom Ruby software, and hopes to release his first computer music album sometime next year.

Tom Lieber
Tom is a recent CS grad who makes a hobby of creating noisy sketches in Processing and ChucK for the people who don't visit his blog. He currently works at Smule making noisy iPhone apps.

Noah Thorp
Noah is an enthusiastic community organizer, music composer, and software developer. He started BArCMuT in 2007 as an extenstion of his Listen Labs record lable (started in 1998). His music project Rabbit's Rum with Kristina Forester ( rabbitsrum.com) was nominated for an Independent Music Award and recently composed the music for the Capacitor dance troupe's Urban Canopy show, performed at TED 2009 and the California Academy of Sciences. As part of Listen Labs, Noah performed late 90s laptop (and desktop) music performances and authored algorithms to convert EEG and geophysics density data to music - resulting in a presentation at the Subtle Technologies conference and a Meet the Composer Grant. Noah is currently the VP of Engineering for Ashbury Music Hall ( ashburymusichall.com ), an online music and music technology teaching platform startup where he writes lots of Ruby.

Thanks to Stanford CCRMA for hosting BArCMuT!

Presentations will include:
- Ge Wang (Stanford CCRMA Assistant Professor and Smule CTO) will give a tour of TAPESTREA ( http://taps.cs.princeton.edu/ ).
- Jorge Herrera (Stanford CCRMA graduate student) will demonstrate Flash Audio synthesis approaches.
- Lucas Kuzma of The Strange Agency ( http://thestrangeagency.com/ ) will present his series of music applications for the iPhone. In addition to showcasing current and forthcoming apps, the talk will address making music on a mobile platform, and give a basic introduction to working with Audio Units on the iPhone.
- SHARE San Jose - http://share-sj.org - is a group of technology-oriented musicians and visualists that meets monthly to jam, experiment, and talk. Tim Thompson will describe the group's activities since its inception almost two years ago.

More about Ge's Tapestrea Talk:
This presentation is an introduction to TAPESTREA (or taps for short), a new software framework/paradigm to facilitate the creation of new sound from existing sound components, through interactive analysis, transformation, and re-synthesis. It leverages methods for sinusoidal modeling, transient detection, and stochastic background modeling to extract sonic "templates" from recorded sounds, which can be independently transformed and recombined into new sound scenes.

TAPESTREA is the research of Ananya Misra, who recently received her Ph.D. from the Computer Science department at Princeton University. Ananya also holds degree in Computer Science and Math from Bryn Mawr College. She currently works at Google in New York - we hope to bring her out to present TAPS in full someday! http://taps.cs.princeton.edu/

More on Jorge's Talk:
Is it possible to collaboratively synthesize sounds in real-time using nothing but a browser and a residential internet connection? This is the question that Herrera is trying to answer with the ActionScript based synthesizer he developed: The Horgie.

On one hand, The Horgie provides a framework for sound synthesis in Adobe Actionscript, which is going to be published as open-source. But it also propose an easy to understand and use User Interface, which allows quick sound crafting regardless of performers previous musical experience. This project is in its early stages, so an overview of the application and a simple UI are going to be presented.

All the best,
Noah Thorp
Bay Area Computer Music Technology Group Organizer
http://www.barcmut.org

NOTE
I often get emails by non Bay Area computer music technologists requesting that more BArCMuT materials be put online. If you have a digital camera and like taking pictures, bring it along and post photos your photos to the meetup page. If you would like to shoot video for public consumption send me an email. If you write a blog post you can link it from the event page at http://www.barcmut.org

BIOS
Lucas Kuzma was first compiled in Gliwice, Poland and subsequently extended with internet protocols in Ohio in the early 1990s. He was further developed in San Francisco during the dot com era, processing interactive design for clients like Absolut, Adobe, Macromedia, Adidas and HP. Showing some wear, he downloaded updates in design and media art from UCLA as well as in music technology from the MTG in Barcelona. Recently, he has been restarted in Los Angeles with the launch of "The Strange Agency" version, which produces experimental art and music applications for the iPhone ( http://thestrangeagency.com/ ). The complete, pro version of Lucas Kuzma will be released in Tokyo (late 2009) with an interactive design and mobile applications kernel in addition to the original programmer/artist/musician package.

Tim Thompson develops artistic software for both music and visuals, often involving the use of unusual controllers. Known for his development of the KeyKit programming environment for MIDI experimentation, he has more recently been inspired by Burning Man, where his interactive installations include a 12-foot high lyre, an antique radio, and (this year) an 11-foot high monolith. Tim's home page - http://timthompson.com - documents the variety of his activities.

Ge Wang is an Assistant Professor at Stanford University in the Center for Computer Research in Music and Acoustics (CCRMA), and researches interactive software systems for computer music, programming languages, mobile music, and education at the intersection of computer science and music. Ge is the author of the ChucK audio programming language, the founder and director of the Stanford Laptop Orchestra (SLOrk), and of the Stanford Mobile Phone Orchestra (MoPhO). Ge is Co-founder, CTO, and Chief Creative Officer of Smule, and the designer of the iPhone's Ocarina.

Jorge Herrera is a PhD student at CCRMA, Stanford University, working in the Music, Computing and Design group directed by Professor Ge Wang. He earned a BS and MS en Electrical Engineering from Universidad Catolica de Chile and recently he finished the MA/MST at CCRMA. During the last few years he has worked in web application development for different industries in Chile. Two years ago he decided to make music the main subject of his professional life. His research interests at CCRMA are computer interactive systems for computer music and, more generally, social music.

This is a collaborative event with the Overlap.org Max / MSP / Jitter salon.

The Max/MSP/Jitter/Live salon is a chance for users of Cycling '74s new media toolkit Max/MSP, and Ableton's Live sequencer, to come together and share patches and ideas, get inspired by featured projects, and network with the large community of users in the Bay Area that use these tools.

The salon will begin with a short introduction by all participants, and be followed by presentations. The remainder of the time will be spent on questions, ad hoc salon presentations, and collective projects. Everyone is welcome regardless of experience using Max/MSP/Jitter or Ableton Live. Being a software specific gather, we will try to focus on tips and techniques for channeling your raw creative force through these tools.

Presentations:
- UC Berkeley's Center for New Music and Audio Technologies (CNMAT) has had a twenty-year involvement with Max. Currently, CNMAT manages a distribution of dozens of objects and hundreds of patches covering controllers, additive and resonant synthesis, analysis, (electronic) music pedagogy, and open sound control. Michael Zbyszynski will present a brief overview of what is available, where to get it, and how it is being used both on stage and in the classroom.
- Peter Nyboer will be showing the new Livid Ohm64 controller. Peter says, "I'll talk about how to control the LEDs, show off the editor, and show some max patches that I've been developing that will provide good fodder for discussion on how to make instruments for this beast!"
- Matt Ridenour (VJ Mattbot) will present and perform with his Euclidian sequence generator Max external. There will be a web link provided to the Mac OS X beta version of the Max external, example Max patches and a Ruby class implementation for non- Mac/Max users.

BIO:

MATT RIDENOUR (a.k.a. VJ Mattbot) escaped the linear world of single channel film/video after discovering interactive multimedia in the Spring of 1995. His work occupies the liminal spaces between random and generative chance, impromptu decisions, preprogrammed structures, emergent behaviors, meaning and noise. His work has been presented in installation, live performance, theater, architecture, recorded media and network based formats. He has been coding audio, video, and installation pieces using Max/MSP since 2001. Matt Ridenour received his BFA in Filmmaking from the University of Oklahoma in 2000.

PETER NYBOER has been making software as a partner of Livid Instruments for about 5 years. Livid Instruments has a variety of open-source and commercial applications for audio and video artists. They have been making low-volume, high quality MIDI controllers and look to carve out a unique niche in the controller market with the Ohm64.

MICHAEL FERRIELL ZBYSZYŃSKI is a composer, sound artist, performer, and teacher in the field of contemporary electroacoustic music, is Assistant Director of Music Composition and Pedagogy at UC Berkeley's Center for New Music and Audio Technologies, and teaches Electronic Muic at San Francisco State University. Playing flute, saxophones, clarinet, Yamaha WX-5, live electronics, or things made from coffee cans and PVC, he has appeared with Respectable Citizen, Roscoe Mitchell, Myra Melford, Frank Gratkowski, the Berkeley Symphony Orchestra, the Merce Cunningham Dance Company, Capacitor Performance Group, Frances-Marie Uitti, at the Other Minds Festival, the Oregon Bach Festival, the Getty Center, and the Montréal Jazz Festival, and has been a resident fellow at the Montalvo Arts Center. He holds a PhD in composition from the University of California, Berkeley, studied at the Academy of Music in Cracow, Poland, on a Fulbright Grant, contributes to Make Magazine, and can be heard on the ARTSHIP recording label.

OVERLAP.ORG is an online platform for experimental media, releases, and events. Through innovative special events and exclusive online releases, Overlap shares new independent music, video and experimental art via its website Overlap.org, and provides anyone with a blog to share their media with the world.

http://www.aquabu.com/assets/2009/6/30/overlap_org_web_badge.png

http://www.aquabu.com/assets/2009/6/30/ableton_live-user_group_SF.png

BArCMuT members will be presenting at Maker Faire in collaboration with Berkeley CNMAT and Stanford University CCRMA. We have a dedicated area in the Expo hall with exhibits, presentation / performance stage, and installations.

For more info on getting there see these links:
http://makerfaire.com/bayarea/2009/car/
http://makerfaire.com/bayarea/2009/alternative/

Tickets are 20% off until May 20th with the MFAW code (ticket price $20):
http://www.makerfairetickets.com/

Also, talk to one of your BArCMuT friends below. They can buy up to 6 tickets at $10 each at the event for you at the maker checkin booth.

Exhibitors, presenters and performers from BArCMuT include:
* Kial Knickerbocker paticle chamber
* Ed Christensen - http://www.sonicpalette.com
* Aaron Leese Flyloops performance/presentation (http://www.flyloops.com/)
* Jef Stot, Mohammed Mohanna (biofeedback process using EEG and GSR data thru Max into Ableton and Jitter for audio and visual feedback)
* Tom Duff neural relaxation oscillator synth
* Jason Asbahar - entranced http://monstro.us/
* interim_descriptor - dj/vj application http://code.google.com/p/dvj
* Proyekto Collective - live pd patches
* Holly & Torso and Wake - SN76477 complex sound generator chip performance
* Star Pause - performance and lofi hackery
* DJCypod - performance / presentation
* Blue Fire - Handsome Voices - Kyma interactive

Stanford CCRMA Exhibits include:
* Colin Gilboy - Magnjo, The Magnetically Augmented Banjo
* Ed Berdahl - Haptic Drum
* Dan Schlessinger - Kalichord
* Michael Berger - GRIP MAESTRO
* Jason Sadural - Turntable Gestures for Computer Mediated Performance
* Mike Gao - Turntable Gestures for Computer Mediated Performance
* Colin Gilboy - JSASSynth, Modular Audio Synthesis for the Web
* Diana Siwiak - Catch Your Breath
* Jonathan Berger - Catch Your Breath
* Bill Verplank - The Plank
* Visda Goudarzi - Gestonic
* Fernando Lopez-Lezcanno - "el dinosaur"
* Carr Wilkerson - Software Tools
* Craig Hanson - talk performance about LUMI
* Luke Dahl - SLOrk performance

CNMAT exhibitors include:
* David Cole - speaking metal
* Adrian Freed - Stringless Cello and Other Chordophones
* Andrew Schmeder - Ball of sound
* Yotam Mann - DIY Musical Instruments

In addition to exhibits displayed for the whole weekend, the performance and presentation schedule will be as follows:

Saturday - May 30th, 2009
11:00am - Chris Hanson - LUMI presentation
12:00pm - Luke Dahl - SLOrk performance
01:00pm - Ed Christensen, Sonic Palette
02:00pm - Aaron Leese Flyloops performance/presentation
03:00pm - Star Pause - perform (requested Saturday time)
04:00pm - Jason Asbahar - entranced http://monstro.us/

Sunday - May 31st, 2009
11:00am - interim_descriptor - dj/vj application http://code.google.com/p/dvj
12:00pm - Proyekto Collective - live pd patches
01:00pm - Holly - SN76477 complex sound generator chip performance (Torsos & Wake)
02:00pm - DJCypod

Thanks to Dolby this month for hosting the Bay Area Computer Music Technology Group (BArCMuT)! Please RSVP for check in at the door.

GENE RADZIK, MATT TULLIS, and SPENCER HOOKS will present on DOLBY® AXON, an integrated voice solution that delivers an immersive, high-quality 3D voice experience for all types of games and virtual worlds. Dolby’s highly efficient server software allows thousands of players to communicate on each server, and for large worlds, scales across servers.

Dolby Axon enables developers to deliver a realistic voice experience that matches the game environment. Voices get louder as gamers approach one another, and fainter with distance. Like in life, voices are obstructed by objects in the game or virtual environment. Dolby Axon’s integrated voice gives creative control and provides unique interactive features that expand game play possibilities. For more information, visit: http://www.dolby.com/professional/game_development/technologies/dolby-axon.html

LIGHTNING TALKS:
- GABRIEL GAROD will present on Ruby audio web widgets for live web collaborations.
- ALESSANDRO SABATELLI (Apple, Slinc) will present on a recent event. On October 13th, 2008, polite/persuasion, slinc. and urbanyetti joined forces with Coffee Bar to offer San Francisco a night of inventive, seasonal and modern dessert accompanied by audio and visual stimulation. The presentation will cover the structure of the visuals accompanied by a short demonstration.
- PETER NYOBER's recent activities have been focused on prototyping, developing, and programming for a new controller from Livid Instruments. He will share the fruits of the process in the forms of a rough, partially working prototype, a software emulator, and some ideas of how we think it could be used.
- KIAL KNICKERBOCKER will present on "Particle Chamber", an adapted granular synthesis engine that generates a dynamic, 8 Channel, immersive soundscape based on multiple user positions, and motion, within the sensing area. IRs are used to detect user distance to the sensing array, relative sensor change, total system change, differential IR sensor change, and total sensors active; this data is used to manipulate several parameters of the granular synthesis engine, as well as a simple spacialization filter array.

BIOS
ALESSANDRO SABATELLI, an artist and engineer, is currently a Senior Technical Artist at Apple, Inc. where he spends much of his time working on and with Quartz Composer, a technology used by artists and engineers to create and render graphic animation. Along with Quartz Composer, he has worked on numerous projects at Apple, including the launch of the iPhone SDK, where he created Touch Fighter, the first 3D game for the iPhone. Alessandro is also the cofounder of slinc., where he works with a group of artists and engineers creating data driven visual installations. An example of his work can be seen in the lobby of the Museum of Modern Art in New York.

GABRIEL GAROD is currently a SCC computer sciences major and freelance rails developer. He has recently been writing live ruby coding applications, a text_2_midi rails application, and working toward designing a web audio widgets synth based in Ruby and Chuck for live online collaborations. Some of his work can be seen and heard at http://www.alphacore.com and http://github.com/Gabrielg1976

KIAL KNICKERBOCKER's interest in computer music was sparked at an young age, and started fiddling with electronic sounds in his early adolescence. Writing all sorts of dissonant, beat-based and free-from music throughout highschool, Kial was ready to expand his sonic arsenal. Studying Music Technology with Miller Puckette and Dr. Richard Moore, his interest in multichannel interactive sound was nurished to a state of indepent exploration. Kial looks forward to tweaking parameters, making waveforms, and bringing music technologist together to create evermore interesting, and asthetically pleasing immersive audio environments.

PETER NYBOER programs a variety of music, video, and interactive software for personal and commercial interest for Livid Instruments ( http://www.lividinstruments.com ) and M1 Interactive ( http://www.m1interactive.net/ ).

GENE RADZIK is a Dolby Product Manager for Interactive Voice with over 12 years of experience in a variety of roles at Dolby. Most recently, Gene was involved in Dolby's digital cinema and 3D launches. He helped product roll-outs in conjunction with the release of "Beowulf", "Journey to the Center of the Earth", and Disney's "Bolt", contributing to over 100 new Dolby 3D screens. He has print mastered many Dolby Digital film soundtracks including: Star Wars Episodes II and III (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1174486/ ) and supported early Ubisoft and Novalogic game titles in Dolby Surround. Gene is a co-chair of the AES Historical Committee and produced historical programs for AES conventions including "The Evolution of Video Game Sound" (2008).