Static slides from Jason Mesut's talk at MEX on December 1st 2010. Jason explores how physical controls and modularity so prevalent in music technology can influence interaction design of the future.

1. Inspiring music technology
for physical interaction design
Jason Mesut - Head of User Experience
twitter: @jasonmesut

2. Hypotheses
Interaction and industrial design changes the way
music is made
Music technology influences interaction design
Physical form factors afford greater control in products
and software
We can all learn a few things from physical musical
technology

3. This is a sneek peek into Jason’s grotto of geek
Focusing on a slice of hardware music tech
NOT software music technology

4. let’s go back in time...

5. HERBIE HANCOCK + QUINCY JONES
jazz master, music innovator producer legend

6. + CMI FAIRLIGHT - SAMPLER AND AUDIO WORKSTATION

7. HERBIE + QUINCY + FAIRLIGHT

8. CMI FAIRLIGHT

9. FAIRLIGHT

10. question
Why are so many obsessed with
screens and gestures?
There’s got to be other solutions
Different Different
forms of + forms of
input output

11. KNOBS AND FADERS

12. ROLAND SH-101

13. ROLAND TB-303 BASSLINE

14. ALESIS MICRON

15. ALESIS MICRON

16. ALESIS MICRON - INSIDE OUT

17. ARTURIA ORIGIN

18. BEHRINGER BCR-2000 IN ACTION

19. A REALLY BIG KNOB

20. SKEUOMORPH
a derivative design or object that retains
ornamental cues to a structure that was
necessary in the original

21. MOOG MODULAR SOFT SYNTH

22. question
are we going full circle?
physical digital

23. GRID BASED USER INTERFACES

24. AKAI MPC

25. DJ SHADOW, DJ NUMARK, CUT CHEMIST + 3 MPCS

26. TENORI-ON

27. TENORI-ON - INSPIRATION

28. FOUR-TET + TENORI-ON

29. LITTLE BOOTS + TENORI-ON

30. TEHN + MONOME

31. EDISON + MONOME

32. question
When should we use physical
interfaces over digital ones?
ne or
quick easier
speedy
access learning
control
support when space
when you
muscle is not
can’t see
memory restricted

33. MODULARITY

34. Music technology has been
modular for over 30 years
CV Gate MIDI OSC
Control Musical Open
Voltage Interchange Sound
Gate Digital Control
Interface
1960s 1982 1997-ish

35. question
how can we learn
from modularity?
Create a
Establish Use MIDI
market for
standards and OSC
user interface
and protocols
controls that
guidelines now
last

36. THE FUTURE PRESENT

37. HACKING + CIRCUIT BENDING

38. C64 HACKING

39. ROCK BAND - PREVIOUSLY HACKED, NOW MIDI’ED UP

40. REACTABLE

41. REACTABLE - IPHONE + IPAD

42. question
is physical better for consumer
or expert interfaces?
shift in expert
migration to
(and niche) prove
consumer
interfaces effectiveness
interfaces
rst

43. EIGENHARP

44. EIGENHARP: JAMES BOND THEME

45. EIGENHARP PICO

46. question
how does interaction design
affect creation or behaviour?
Maximise control Guide + in uence
enable exibility to in uence the
create, or do, creation or
or
whatever is desired behaviour to make
easier or for others’
bene ts

47. THE FINAL WORD:
HERBIE?

49. QUESTIONS ?
VIEWPOINTS ?

50. questions
1 2 3
Why are so When should Is physical
many obsessed we use physical better for
with screens interfaces over consumers or
and gestures? digital ones? experts?
4 5 6
How will
Are we How can
interaction
going we learn
design affect
full from
creation and
circle? modularity?
behaviour?

51. Sources for videos
Herbie and Quincy Little Boots + Tenori-On
http://ftvdb.b .org.uk/sift/title/241382 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N6tLRCDqJ2c Tehn +
Roland SH-101 Monome
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hSchTzFj9kg http://vimeo.com/11435470
Roland TB-303 Edison + Monome
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Enyny7vXGi4 http://vimeo.com/7733666
Harill + Revolution + Electribes C64 Keytar
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wUo8FMjaQHg http://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=1LZUH0p6cXc&playnext=1&list=PL6512AE8A11DC8F95
Arturia Origin &index=55
Unknown
ReacTable
Behringer BCR 2000 with Roland Alpha Juno http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MPG-LYoW27E
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pPsqoUsc9pI
Eigenharp James Bond
Big Knob http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=197dBb_F4Zo
Unknown
Eigenharp Pico
DJ Numark, Dj Shadow, Cut Chemist http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g-PofqMhzAo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IQcyLMa716k
Four Tet + Tenori-On
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M20ukzn_rsw