Part of the IMPROVe concept is the IMPROVe software which in version 1.0 is for both mobile phones and computer.
The IMPROVe software let’s you play around with sounds in a simple way using mobile phones. The way you play with the sounds is non-linear and basic but still let you do complex improvised compositions. The intention is to let you record sounds and the play with them on the spot only using your mobile phone. In version 1.0 we however focus on the performative aspect of using a mobile phone to improvise with recorded sounds together with others. This means that the sounds has to be recorded and played back using an external sound recorder and a computer.
Version 1.0
Version 1.0 of the software consists of both an application for mobile phone and for pc. During an IMPROVe performance we use a couple of mobile phones, a computer and a sound system.
To see and hear v1.0 in action take a look at the videos in the What is IMPROVe or the IMPROVe’d sites pages.
Mobile phone
The user interacts with the graphical user interface (GUI) on a mobile phone. The GUI makes it possible to control the playback and processing of sounds in realtime which then are heard in the sound system. One can also choose a new sound to play with. Each phone controls the playback of one sound at a time.
The phones are in v1.0 not playing back the sounds. They are sending control data over bluetooth wireless connection to a computer.
The software on the phones is written in Python for Symbian Series 60 mobile phones.
The computer
The computer is in v1.0 playing back and processing the different sounds. It receives bluetooth data from the phones which is then controlling the processing. The computer has to be there but is not in focus during a performance.
The application on the computer is a Pure Data real time synthesis patch.
The phone and computer software we have developed is in this stage not released since we still need to get it to work more smoothly and clean up the code. We however intend to release it in the future.
Future versions
Next step is to develop a Java-version for mobile phones that works on more platforms. Also the pc-setup will be made easier to setup so that we can release the software and let other people use it.
The version after that is to support all the activities in IMPROVe using only a
mobile phone. That means record, edit, playback and processing with a phone.
