Aether

aether.png

Aether is a wireless remote application developed for collecting spatially distributed sound memories. Its aim is to collect and use sound events on the fly. The client interface is shown on the left, the performance environment we are using it in can be seen on the right, a diagram of the setup is on the bottom of the image.

While walking around a larger space (that is coverable by an ordinary wireless network) one can send / receive realtime data between the client app and the sound system. All the logic, synthesis, processing is happening in the network provider server (a laptop located somewhere in space) while control, interaction and site-specific probability happens on the portable, site dependent device. The system was used for several performances of the Artus independent theatre company where action, movement had to be recorded and played back immediately.

The client app is running on an Android device that is connected to a computer running Pure Data through local wireless network (using OSC protocol). The space for interaction and control can be extended to the limits of the wireless network coverage and the maximum distance of the radio frequency microphone and its receiver. The system had been tested and used in a factory building up to a 250-300 square meters sized area.

The client code is based on an excellent collection of Processing/Android examples by ~popcode that is available to grab from Gitorious.

The source is available from here (note: the server Pd patch is not included hence its ad-hoc spaghettiness)