SD/OS (self-motion) 1.1

This work is an electro-mechanical autonomous and interactive sound installation based on analog feedback networks. It originates from my interest in implementing systems exhibiting complex behaviours resulting from simple interacting processes and components. The main components used here are four loudspeakers, four piezo microphones and four electro-static microphones, together with a mixing-board to rout signals so that different topologies can be set in the feedback network. We have two different types of feedback configurations: one takes place through piezos placed over the loudspeakers’ low-frequency driver, the other one through microphones pointing towards loudspeakers. The characteristic of the feedback mechanism with piezos – operating at the minimum self-oscillating level – is that the emergent sound is function of the position of the piezos over the loudspeakers, and the position of the piezos is function of the emergent sound as it will change with the vibrations of the woofer, resulting in a mechanism which is capable of evolving through time and where sound affects itself. The feedbacks with microphones will be operating immediately below the self-oscillating threshold. The changing sounds emerging from the piezo feedback loops can either trigger or suppress the sounds emerging from microphone feedback loops, which will in turn reinforce or dampen the feedback mechanism with piezos. A contrast/support relationship between the two mechanism is established and they will both act as a complex, dynamical meta-system.

Dario Sanfilippo

Dario Sanfilippo is a freelance composer, performer and sound artist whose research is focused on the study and exploration of complex dynamical feedback systems for non-conventional sound synthesis, improvised human-machine interaction performances, and autonomous sound installations. His works and research have been presented in international festivals and experimental music events such as AudioArt Festival, Curva Minore Festival, Acoustic Fields Festival, Logos Foundation series, as well as Universities like Naples’ L’Orientale, Music and Performing Arts University of Vienna, University of Graz (IEM), Bangor University, Queen Mary University of London. His works and research have also been selected for international conferences like International Computer Music Conference 2012, Sound and Music Computing 2011, Digital Music Research Network 2011, and they have been published by record labels such as Creative Sources, Die Schachtel and Idroscalo, and journals like Computer Music Journal (MIT Press) and Interference Journal.