Scalable Connectivity Processor for Computer Music Performance Systems

TitleScalable Connectivity Processor for Computer Music Performance Systems
Publication TypeConference Paper
Year of Publication2000
AuthorsAvizienis, Rimas, Freed Adrian, Suzuki Takahiko, and Wessel David
Conference NameInternational Computer Music Conference
PublisherInternational Computer Music Association
Conference LocationBerlin, Germany
Abstract Standard laptop computers are now capable of sizeable quantities of sound synthesis and sound processing, but low-latency, high quality, multichannel audio I/O has not been possible without a cumbersome external card cage. CNMAT has developed a solution using the ubiquitous 100BaseT Ethernet that supports up to 10 channels of 24-bit audio, 64 channels of sample-synchronous control-rate gesture data, and 4 precisely time-stamped MIDI I/O streams. Latency measurements show that we can get signals into and back out of Max/MSP in under 7 milliseconds. The central component in the device is a field programmable gate array (FPGA). In addition to providing a variety of computer interface capabilities, the device can function as a cross-coder for a variety of protocols including GMICS. This paper outlines the motivation, design, and implementation of the connectivity processor.
URLhttp://cnmat.berkeley.edu/publication/scalable_connectivity_processor_computer_music_performance_systems