Près

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Current Version

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  • Macintosh computer equipped with an audio interface compatible with Max/MSP (e.g. Motu 828mkII; Motu 896; Digidesign DIGI002; RME sound-card) to run a patch including stereo hard-disk playback of sound-files, reverberations, delays and harmonizers.
  • MIDI interface (e.g. Motu Fastlane) to connect a MIDI sustain pedal to the Macintosh.

·         Sustain pedal (for Max triggering) connected to the Mac through any MIDI keyboard or voltage to MIDI converting device (e.g. MIDI Solutions’ Footswitch controller).

·         Microphone for the cello.

·         Mixer & stereo diffusion (possibly a return monitor for the cellist).

Note: A WINDOWS patch version will be available soon. For a request of a specific patch version, please contact Chester Promotions.

Original version (Obsolete)

  • IRCAM Signal Processing Workstation (Next computer with 3 ISPW cards).

Notes
The ideal sound for the amplification is a clear and rich 'close sound'. The microphone should be placed rather close to the instrument. The amount of amplification depends, naturally, on the concert space, but the amplified sound should not cover the acoustic sound of the instrument. The general level can be set to be rather loud, but not painfully so.

The Reverberation Effect (see Appendix I for parameters)

A special reverberation effect is used for the part I of Près: it consists of a program in which the reverberation time is changed constantly by the amplitude of the input signal. The general idea here is: the quieter the sound, the longer the reverb.
The amplified cello sound should blend well with the reverberation sound, but nevertheless remain clearly in the foreground. This effect is used throughout the first part of the piece, and possibly in the very end of the part III.
(The second reverberation is used to soften the amplified flute sound, the infinite reverberation sound, and possibly the recorded audio material on direct-to-disk.)

The SPX1000 effects

The effects for the SPX1000 (delays, harmonizers, reverberation) are loaded from the Max/MSP patch on the CD-ROM.

The Performance Situation

The instrumentalist triggers the changes in the SPX1000 effects and starts the pre-recorded audio material. The pedal changes are marked in the score with circled numbers. A second person is needed to assure a good mix balance between the different materials.