PadMaster: An Improvisation Environment for Real Time Performance

This paper will describe the design and implementation of PadMaster, a real-time improvisation environment running under the NextStep operating system. The system currently uses the Mathews/Boie Radio Drum as a three dimensional controller for interaction with the performer. PadMaster splits the surface of the drum into virtual programmable pads which can be grouped into scenes so that the behavior of the surface can be subtly or drastically altered during the performance. The behavior of the Drum is defined by the program stored in its EPROM. The drum software includes several functionally different programs that can be externally activated through MIDI System Exclusive messages. Through them, the Radio Drum can act as a stand alone conductor of a score or MIDI file, can improvise with several different options that map baton movement to MIDI commands or can act as a general purpose MIDI controller. This last program and the underlying protocol built on top of MIDI were originally designed by David Jaffe and Andy Schloss. This existing general purpose controller program was completely redesigned by the author. A more efficient and faster protocol was created that uses just one MIDI channel and is more 1 2 3 4 5 Reiving anennas Transmitting antenna