The setup and the execution of the electroacoustic part of this work requires a Computer Music Designer (Max expert).

Version Information

Performance date
April 15, 2019
Documentation date
July 24, 2019
Version
Prefixes 2 - SCALA
Status
valid
Validation date
March 20, 2020
Documentalist
Augustin Muller (Augustin.Muller@ircam.fr)
Length
15 min
Upgrade motivation
MAJOR UPDATE ! PREFIXES 2 is a new version of the piece "Prefixes"
Comment
This is new version of Prefixes.
A new version of the score for all instruments.
A 3rd keyboard played by the piano player has been added.
Keyboard 1 & 2 are the same as before, but with a new score.
The Max patch has been updated as well.

Other Versions

MaxMSP6May 8, 2014

Doc BattierJanuary 1, 1993

Detailed Staff

flute, alto flute, 2 clarinets, bass clarinet, horn, 2 trumpets, trombone, tuba, 2 percussionists, harp, piano, 2 electronic/MIDI keyboards/synthesizers, viola, cello, double bass

Detailed staff comes from Brahms, send mail to ressources-contenus@ircam.fr for correction.

Electronic Equipment List

Computer Music Equipment

1 MIDI controller
MIDI Controllers (generic) - midi faders for level control
3 MIDI Keyboard
MIDI Keyboard (generic) - K1 & K2 with sustain and expression, K3 with sustain only
3 Footswitch / Sustain Pedal
Footswitch / Sustain Pedal (generic)
2 Volume Pedal
Volume Pedal (generic)
1 samplor~
External objects (Cycling74)
1 Max 8
Max (Cycling74)

Audio Equipment

9 Loudspeaker
Loudspeakers (generic)

Downloads

Prefixes2_patch

1.31 Go


Instructions

Prefixes 2- Documentation


Audio Config

audio outputs :

5 audio outputs routed to 9 speakers (cf diagram)

  • out1 : stage left and front left
  • out2 : stage right and front right
  • out3 : side left and rear left
  • out4 : side right and rear right
  • out5 : HP coulisse

It is possible to reduce to 7 speakers with no side. Front is used for light amplification of the ensemble.

2 audio inputs :

  • Percussions (Maracas & Crécelle)
  • Clarinette Basse

Software installation

Max 7/8 64 bits.

Place the whole folder in your file preferences.

Midi Setup

  • Keyboard 1 on channel 1. Port can be shared with K2 (see p midiconfig)
  • Keyboard 2 on channel 2. Port can be shared with K1 (see p midiconfig)
  • Keyboard 3 on any channel, different port than K1 & K2 (see p midiconfig)
  • Use a midi mixer for following levels (perc reverb and sptialized clarinet)

Initialization routine

Once your preferred midi interface is configured :

  • Launch Prefixes_2019.
  • Check audio soundcard ; 48kHz, IO 256.
  • Check audio inputs and outputs
  • Check Midi keyboards & interfaces
  • Press INIT
  • Audio On

System calibration and tests

  • Check the levels of the respective loudspeakers :
  • same volume at the center of the hall for face-side & back.
  • Adjust the stage speakers to have a good depth effect and precision on stage.
  • check the "coulisse" effect (speaker in backstage)
  • Check the mics position for percussion (maracas and crecelle)
  • Check the keyboards with the players

Patch presentation

Prefixes 2 patch has 2 functions :

  • Keyboards : it's the core of the piece. Sounds are played by the means of keyboards in sometimes a virtuoso pianistic way (for K1 & K2 especially). K3 has been added in this version with extra sounds, and is positioned on top of the piano.
  • Real time reverb / sptialization : percussion instruments have to be reverberated at the beginning of the piece (see score). Bass clarinet is randomly spatialized at some moments.
  • Input 1 : Percussions mixdown (maracas & crécelle)
  • Input 2 : Bass Clarinet

Performance notes

Report to the score provided. Follow the indications of reverb for the percussion (beginning) and spatialization of the clarinet for mixing (no cues, just fader following) The keyboards 1 & 2 are really instrumental, and once set everything is done by the players. They need a precise hearing of their sound in the hall: thus, rely on the backstage speakers and not on monitors. Keyboard 3 is more like soundfiles. The general volume has to be set with the slider in the main patch. The individual volumes/routing of these sounds can be modified in the corresponding keygroup.


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