To communicate between PERFORMER A and VISUAL SERVER, Casket uses a new network protocol for music systems called Open Sound Control (OSC). Developed at UC Berkeley, OSC is much more powerful than the aging MIDI protocol. It allows a musical instrument to send customizable control information of any type (string, number, Boolean, array, etc) to a computer at a pre-defined IP address and port. In Casket, a custom program written in Supercollider running on PERFORMER A’s computer OUTPUTSs OSC-formatted data to the IP Address of the VISUAL SERVER at a certain port. The VISUAL SERVER runs a very lightweight java application that listens for all incoming messages on the OSC port (port 1250 in this case) and re-formats them as XML before OUTPUTSting them to an open network socket on a different port (in Casket, port 3000). Our flash movie (also running on VISUAL SERVER) listens for incoming XML-formatted data on port 3000, parses it into a basic object structure and performs a series of actions based on the incoming parameters.

What sets Casket apart from other audio and visual live presentation systems is that this is a very flexible and expandable system which takes advantage of a rich new network protocol to create dynamic audio and video that has a relationship that transcends the audio visualization norms.

Casket also makes it possible to develop distanced remote systems. For example, though this system was originally developed for live performance situations, we are planning to automate some tasks by replacing the human performance aspect of the system with live internet traffic monitoring engine which was used in our Prototype #38 for Whitney Arport. In another words, traffic on the internet controls the system, and creates a spontaneous live audio and visual presentation on its own. Once configured, the system will require very little maintenance, making it perfect for art installation applications.

Live in Sapporo, Nov 2003
QUICKTIME 240x180 - 3.2MB

Sample Movie
[Quicktime, 320x240, 17.5MB]

In this 2 minute and 18 second sample, video loops are triggered by wacom tablet input to create this sequence. This video is comprised of two layers. The pressure of the pen controls the opacity of layer one. The angle of the pen controls the opacity of layer two. The position of the pen determines which video loop is played.