PERFORMANCES 
April 5, 2024, Sender Zurich
October 14, 2023, National Arts Center, Mexico City, 404 Festival
August 30, 2023, The Glass Room, Edinburgh Napier, Audio-Mostly 2023 (winner of Best Music Performance)
Premiere: November 6, 2022, Iklectik London,  Live Visuals Book Launch Afterparty
Live Shoot Performances: August 24, 2022 and May 9, 2023,  Northern Dance Newcastle

VIDEO
Vimeo Showcase: https://vimeo.com/showcase/7651150 

AUDIO
Soundcloud Set: https://soundcloud.com/steve-gibson-101/virtual-av-northern-dance 
Live set at Sender, Zurich: https://hearthis.at/gdsfm/20240405thai-disco-mit-steve-gibson-live-01001o11-marcellus-wallace-karma-hardon/ (start at 1:16:30, end at 1:45:30)

DESCRIPTION
VRitual AV uses the Leap Motion 3D controller, as well as a multi-touch iPad interface (in TouchOSC) to enable small-area gestural control of sound and light. It deliberately uses as few technological resources as possible in a limited spatial area, while retaining the complexity of interaction required for an expert (as opposed to a general) interactive performance. The interface is a model for portability, and in addition serves as a solution for older body-based performers (including myself), who may physically struggle with larger-area interaction.

VRitual AV consists of three shorter audio-visual pieces. My gestures are measured using an app called Glover and programmed to audio-visual effects in Ableton Live (sound), MadMapper (visuals) and Lightkey (light control). Each piece is structured in a linear manner with different sections generally occurring in the same order. Within that framework, improvisation using the Leap Motion and the iPad allows for spontaneous performance variations. The sound of VRitual AV is deeply steeped in the history of electronic music, with influences from the Berlin-school of electronic music (Tangerine Dream, Kraftwerk), 90s idm (Aphex Twin, Biosphere), and newer experimental electronica (Son Lux, Buspin Jieber).

The visual world of VRitual AV is informed by my interest in synesthesia. All visuals and lights have matching colours as well as matching effects related to the audio interactions. The visual element is produced within MadMapper, and the LED lights are programmed in LightKey and both are matched precisely with particular sound and visual effects. The visual world is therefore primarily abstract, with the interest lying in how the dynamic control with the Leap Motion shows corresponding movement in the visuals and lights that is similar to that in the music.

VRitual AV enables the performer to move his or her hands and draw to perform and mix music, lights and visuals in real-time with relative precision. The ultimate in tactile audio-visual interfaces!

Download a full portfolio.

STILLS FROM SHOOTS AT NORTHERN DANCE
All Images shot by Liam Hardy and edited by Steve Gibson
Performer: Steve Gibson

STILLS FROM PREMIERE AT IKLECTIC LONDON
All Images shot by Jonathan Crabb
Performer: Steve Gibson

STILLS FROM AUDIO MOSTLY 23, EDINBURGH (winner of Best Music Performance)
All Images shot by Lucy Middleton and edited by Steve Gibson
Performer: Steve Gibson

STILLS FROM 404 FESTIVAL 2023, NATIONAL ARTS CENTER, MEXICO CITY
Images shot by Jean-Philippe Côté, and Nancy Durán, and edited by Steve Gibson
Performer: Steve Gibson

STILLS FROM SENDER, ZURICH.
Images shot by Stefan Arisona and Marsellus Wallace, and edited by Steve Gibson
Performer: Steve Gibson

VENN DIAGRAM OF RELATIONAL FORMS, CONCEPTS AND DESIGNS

STILLS FROM HOME STUDIO SHOWING SOME KEY TECHNOLOGIES AND SOFTWARE
All Images shot and edited by Steve Gibson
Performer: Steve Gibson

SYNAESTHESIA MAP EXAMPLES
These maps show the audio-video-light mappings used in the first of the Performance Excerpts in the Vimeo links at the top of this page.