Kevan Atkins | Sound Engineer | Sound Artist

Sirius Chronometer

Fri, 02 Oct 2015 00:00:00 +1000

Hey all, so following the Bendigo International Festival of Exploratory Music (BIFEM) this year, I have updated my chronometer software for a performance of Olga Neuwirth’s work Maudite Soit La Guerre. It has now hit the v1.0 milestone (actually 1.1.0 after a few changes), which I’m happy about and I’m proud to make it publically available now it is in a more user-friendly package.

Background

For those unfamiliar with this. Sirius Chronometer is a system I developed last year for the Australian premier of Karlheinz Stockhausen’s Sirius at BIFEM 2014 with Nicholas Isherwood, Tristram Williams, Tiffany DuMouchelle, Richard Haynes and Myles Mumford. The purpose was to allow the performers to stay in sync and keep track of their cues alongside the 8 channel diffusion using their mobile devices on the same wi-fi network as computer.

The original iteration of this system was a Node.js script that was sent OSC messages from a MaxMSP patch indicating the current playback position and cues, and then serving a web page on any device with a HTML5 web browser which displays the current time and cues synchronised with the patch through a TCP socket connected to Node server running on the computer. The advantages this system has over something like TouchOSC, which superficially can do the same thing, are:

There are fewer restrictions in the target platform. That is, it does not have to be an iOS device.
Not only does it not require a software to be purchased for each device, it also is open source, so it is entirely free!
Most importantly — and this was why a bespoke piece of software conceived in the first place - the clients or devices that the chronometer is being displayed on can be more than just dumb clients displaying what’s sent to them.

Why is the last point important? Well, an important aspect of this technology is that it is not only reliable, but it has failsafes. So in the case of Sirius Chronometer, it will continue to work in the absence of a wi-fi connection and it will recover at the right point if device crashes and needs to re-open the browser. The way this works is that rather than display time values and cues as they are received, the device relies more on its on its own internal time and only receives start, stop and periodic sync messages to synchronise. In the event that a device connects or re-connects, it will be sent the most recent cues and then whatever the current sync message is, e.g. sync 230000

This is quite important when performing such a difficult work as if someone were to cause interference on the 2.4 GHz, which can and does happen, the performance is not interrupted.

What has changed?

The biggest issue with this system as it was last year was on the useability front. It required the end user to open up the terminal, cd to the right directory, run node server.js, then find out their computer’s IP address, type it into the browsers remembering to enter the correct port number and then run the Max patch. So the documentation had to include how to use the terminal.

So what I have done in this version is bundle it into an app using NW.js so all the user has to do is open the app, and the instructions along with what to type into the browser are shown on screen. No fumbling around to find the IP address and port and any documentation for basic use is integrated. And this year I could quite comfortably hand it over to any non-technical user along with whatever Max patch or whatever is meant to drive it (anything that can send custom OSC messages can work with this).

What next?

From here, I have a number of options. One thing I would like to do is make it more compatible with exsting software out-of-the-box. At the moment, it requires certain OSC message to be sent to it to work. And while this still allows quite easy implementation with SuperCollider, MaxMSP, Pd, Bidule, or even Reaper if you use the built-in scripting. However, I would really like to make it work with MIDI timecode and more standardised messaging. That way, just about any audio software with MIDI can work with it without any extra messing around to get it to work.

I also want to give the user more options for configuration, such as setting the port, the sync interval and how things are displayed on the devices. Currently the sync interval is simply determined by how often the sync messages are sent to the local server. I could also perhaps implement a way to push symbol-based cues to the devices as well.

It could be worth also providing some visual feedback on the devices in the event that there is a failure.

On thing I am considering is porting it over to something like OpenFrameworks, which is an awesome C++ “creative coding” toolkit for writing cross-platform apps. One advantage there is I can greatly reduce the footprint of the app, increase the performance and be able to access a few lower level features that might help me improve sync accuracy. It would also make implementing MTC sync a bit easier as I can use RtMidi, which is awesomesauce.

Downloads

OS X 32-bit OS X 64-bit

Windows 32-bit Windows 64-bit

Source Code, Documentation & Example MaxMSP patch

Fork yeah! GitHub!

Improvements and suggestions are always welcome.

Overhaul

Fri, 19 Jun 2015 00:00:00 +1000

So, this is the new site. This time I’m eschewing the whole CMS-based design. It was more trouble than it was worth and had a lot of faults. All of the cogs that had to turn every time the site need to render a page just caused problems. The backend was really clunk and so it was left very out-of-date (as you can probably see from the very crusty old content that was migrated across), so I have moved over to a static page using Jekyll. That means I no longer have to worry about crap like webservers and whether my Rails app is actually running properly. As it is right now, it’s still a bit of a building site and there are some unpopulated sections, however this should hopefully be sorted in the next couple of weeks.

At the very least, I can at least provide updates on the various goings on, including a few exciting announcements which I will fill you in on soon. In the mean time, you can check out my SoundCloud as I sometimes post the odd bit on there.

News on Nine and Moat 2014

Tue, 04 Mar 2014 00:00:00 +1100

So today I have some good news and some bad news. The good news is that Moat Festival 2014 commences this week starting tomorrow kicking off an exciting two week theatre festival season at La Trobe University which includes a variety of really exciting shows and even an art exhibition which is a new addition this year.

And now to the bad news, I’m very sorry to announce that Nine will no longer be included as part of Moat Festival due to unforeseen circumstances which led to some complications (that I won’t get into here) which made staging this production far more difficult that it needed to be and so we were forced to withdraw our production. However, we do hope to still put this show on for you in future. So we are putting this whole project on ice and looking into our options in the future. Hopefully we (May, Asleen and myself) can viably stage this show independently either later this year or early next year.

If you still wish to see some show in this year’s Moat Festival season, check it out the under events section on the La Trobe Student Union page.

Nine Rehearsals - Week 2

Sat, 15 Feb 2014 00:00:00 +1100

Only two weeks in things are moving so quickly already. With only one rehearsal this week, I’m surprised we covered as much ground as we did. We blocked half of the second act and found ourselves running through to the end of the play with some improvised blocking anyway. Though this week is really the calm before the great storm that will be next week as we have to present for showings, get new photos done, really nail the second act and then tie the whole thing together. It’s crazy, feels like the whole process has just started but is also nearing the end as well.

Click here for details.

Event: Nine

Nine Rehearsals - Week 1

Sat, 08 Feb 2014 00:00:00 +1100

The first of the really exciting projects I’m working on this year is a play called “Nine” by Jane Shepard directed by May Parley. A two-hander originally written for two women which explores the human will to live through it’s two characters, in this case being a man (portrayed by me) and a woman (Asleen Mauthoor). We’re performing this in a really cool space; the storage room in Union Hall at La Trobe University. It’s a fantastic space when embraced for what it is. On Thursday, we had a meeting with Tom Willis, the lighting designer who alongside May had some really strong (yet simple) concepts to underpin the design of the show and was generally quite positive about the direction we were going in.

In the scheme of plays I have performed in this is probably the most involved part I have ever played and yet it has the least rehearsals with only six to eight rehearsals (excluding tech/dress) before opening so naturally I’ve really had to really do my homework on this one. Going into the first rehearsal definitely made me nervous. Having learnt 117 lines (with another 100 or so to learn still) without Asleen, it was hard to know if I had developed any habits that would jar against her pacing and delivery. Nonetheless, things thus far have been going smoothly and after a (admittedly stumbling) line run things smoothed out really quickly, we managed to rehearse off-book without too many issues and completely block the first half of the show. Taking it to the floor always makes a difference and here even two rehearsals in it has already started to lift off find its energy, which is great.

I hope the next week of rehearsals will be equally as fruitful. I’m really excited for this one.

Click here for details.

Event: Nine

The Gate

Sat, 03 Aug 2013 00:00:00 +1000

Presented by Centre for Theatre and Performance

Written by Peter Houghton\ \ Directed by Anne Browning\ Bachelor of Performing Arts: Second Year Production

A city teeters on the verge of anarchy. Inside, authorities attempt to tighten their control against the threat of foreign invasion. Outside, a motley group of criminals and dissidents wait for a trial that never comes – but of what are they guilty? If these outcasts can infiltrate the city walls, they can destroy the record of their crimes and perhaps, begin again. A comedy about legacy, guilt and honour in a world on the edge of darkness, The Gate reunites an award-winning writer-director team for the premiere of a new Australian play.

Anne Browning has directed several shows for MTC, Malthouse Theatre and Red Stitch, including the 2012 tour of Melissa Bubnic‘s Stop. Rewind. In 2013, she will direct Dorothy Hewett’s Man from Mukinupinfor La Trobe University and A Guide to Unhappiness by Sunny Leunig and Jono Burns for the Adelaide Cabaret Festival.

Tickets: $10\ Call the MAPA Box Office on 9905 1111 to reserve your seats.

Location \ Drama Centre, Building 68, Monash University

Performance Dates:

Thursday 5 September – 1:00pm and 7:30pm

Friday 6 September – 7.30pm

Saturday 7 September – 7:30pm

Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?

Sat, 03 Aug 2013 00:00:00 +1000

Adaptation by Edward Einhorn \ Music by Henry Akona \ Student Theatre and Film’s artistic director, Bob Pavlich, directs Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? This New York adaptation of the novel by Phillip K. Dick is the basis for the film Blade Runner and promises to enthral audiences. \ \ Most people emigrate to Mars - unless they have a job to do on Earth. Like Rick Deckard - android killer for the police and owner of an electric sheep. He has to find, identify, and kill six androids which have escaped from M ars. They’re machines, but they look and sound and think like humans - clever, dangerous humans. \ \ This adaptation has previously only been performed once before. This production by the Untitled Theater Company #61 in New York in 2010 played to sell-out crowds and garnered considerable press interest. \ \ Musical Director: Kevan Atkins \ \ Cast: \ Alex Blainey\ Catherine Morvell\ Jake Edgar\ Jake Matricardi\ Matthew Howat\ Nina Miscriky\ Sarah Wall\ Sean Sully\ Steph Elkington \ Yi Fan

Location: Studio One, Northcote Town Hall, Northcote

Performance dates: \ Thurs 29/8, Fri 30/8, Sat 31/8, Sun1/9 @ 7pm \ Wed 4/9, Fri 6/9, Sun 8/9 @ 8pm\ Thurs 5/9, Sat 7/9 @ 6pm\ \ All shows will be performed in Studio one and two in Northcote Town Hall- 189 High Street, Northcote. \ \ For all bookings and enquiries please contact the Student Theatre and Film Office on 9479 1198

Androids

Fri, 26 Jul 2013 00:00:00 +1000

Since June, I have been musical director & sound designer on a production of “ Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?”. The text was originally adapted from the Phillip K. Dick novel by Edward Einhorn for the Untitled Theatre company production in 2010 which an original score (including six arias) for cello and loop pedal composed by Henry Akona.

In this 2013 production at La Trobe, directed by Bob Pavlich, I have been enlisted to adapt and orchestrate the layered score to best suit this particular production. From the outset, I knew it would be a challenge in terms of handling all Henry’s underscoring (which actually covers most of the play) as well as preparing Luna (played by Sarah Wall) for her arias, which own up to strong Schoenberg and Stravinsky influences. As such, they present many challenges to the performer in terms of intonation and even more so, rhythm. Nonetheless, we’re definitely in a good place with all the arias learnt. They’re already shaping into excellent performances.

Now in the fourth week of rehearsals after weeks of experimenting, recording, sequencing, editing, attending rehearsals, taking frantic notes, rinsing and repeating we have finally reached the plotting stage. This has to be one of the most sonically dense productions I have ever worked on. Over three days, I have plotted 115 sound cues (90 triggered and 25 auto-follow) for this 90 minute show. Today is the last rehearsal before we head into the venue two weeks from now. In the mean time, we are having a break from rehearsals while Bob runs this year’s Short Works season. I can’t wait to get this into the venue!

Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?

When: 29th Aug - 8th Sep \ (stay tuned for more specific dates and booking information)
Where: Northcote Town Hall, Studio One

Androids and QLab

Fri, 26 Jul 2013 00:00:00 +1000

Just had the sound/lighting operator in for today’s run. 116 sound cues (91 triggered and 25 auto-follow). Hopefully it didn’t look too scary…