LO – 10 Dubler Microphone

I am so excited that we are discussing sound synthesis in this class, since in my free time I produce music (for fun). Recently, I have been fascinated by sound synthesis and how computers can collaborate with a musician to make new sounds possible. In brainstorming what to write about for this LO, I thought of Andrew Huang, a Canadian YouTuber and music producer who is particularly well-known for taking samples of everything and making unexpectedly delightful compositions with these samples. His YouTube channel provides a wealth of entertaining information about production techniques and cool new gear he discovers, so it was hard for me to select a single thing to discuss in this blog. That being said, his most recent video about the Dubler microphone from Vochlea absolutely fascinated me.

This microphone ‘instantly’ turns audio input into MIDI information. The coolest thing about this is that you train the software to recognize the different sounds you sing into it, so you can beatbox into the mic and hear live playback of a full drum set. This is absolutely INSANE because this can transform the way a musician performs and records music. For example, a beatboxer could change the sound of their instrument (their mouth) in live performance by using this mic to control an 80s style drum kit or Skrillex style drum kit with a click of a button. Or you could record a virtual guitar solo with your voice if you don’t like playing a keyboard. I absolutely love how this invention uses technology to change the way people can manipulate sound in a way that has seemed like a fantasy until only recently. I think this relies heavily on the software’s ability to differentiate between different syllables and vowels. With recent development in audio controlled experiences like Alexa and Siri, it makes sense to me that technology is more capable than ever to precisely distinguish and interpret audio information.

Some honorable mentions for this blog post that showcase other musicians using electronics to challenge traditional music practices (some of my favorite videos of all time):

• Electronic Music for ORCHESTRA – Composer David Bruce interprets electronic composition for an orchestra, challenging the way sound for orchestra is typically conceptualized and performed. BEAUTIFUL!!!

• Synthesizers, As Digested by a Classical Musician – A classical musicians journey in learning about and applying electronic music principles in her own classical practice.

• Intro to Synthesis Part 1 – The Building Blocks of Sound & Synthesis – A fantastically dated yet still relevant intro to sound synthesis from a musicians perspective

• Suzanne Ciani On Modular Synthesis & The Buchla 200e – Just a lovely process video as Suzanne Ciani develops an atmospheric track.