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I had a chance to check out Dream Squawk & The Shadow Puppet Sequencer at the ITP Winter Show 2008. Amy Khoshbin & Michael Clemow of Semiotech created these interactive instruments and have used them during live performances. They are both really interesting pieces that worked well together.

SemioTech was founded by Amy Khoshbin and Michael Clemow in 2007. Their work explores the fields of perception and "Expanded Performance" through the application of varying technologies on the performing arts.

Semiotech has created two theatrical musical performance tools: Dream Squawk for voice modulation, amplification and sampling by Amy Khoshbin and the Shadow-Puppet Sequencer Table for auralization of narratives, by Michael Clemow.

Learn more about Dream Squawk & The Shadow Puppet Sequencer [ITP Page]

Dream Squawk by Amy Khoshbin

Dream Squawk integrates the performer's costume (a bird mask) with the technology itself to maximize performer mobility and create movements natural to the character. Dream Squawk is implemented using a wireless lav microphone, custom wireless circuit design built into the beak of the mask (using potentiometers and switches to record/mute two live vocal samples to create loops, and to allow the user to tweak echo effects and speed effects independently), a separate module worn on the head, and custom digital signal processing software (written in Pd).

More about the Dream Squawk by Amy Khoshbin

Shadow Puppet Sequencer by Michael Clemow

The Shadow Puppet Sequencer Table demonstrates an approach to narrative construction that is intimately coupled with sound design. The table provides a translucent surface upon which cutouts can be placed and moved, creating shadows that double as musical notes. The relationships between the shadow objects are thus spacial as well as musical. These relationships can be manipulated by moving the objects on the surface of the table. The narrative is propelled by changing the spacial-and thus musical-relationships of the objects over time.

More about the Shadow Puppet Sequencer by Michael Clemow