click image to see footage
Quicktime :|: 5'28 :|: 23.4 MB

3 examples of tolerances controlling synthesizers
example 1 :|: 3'19 :|: mp3 :|: 3.7 MB
example 2 :|: 3'19 :|: mp3 :|: 3.7 MB
example 3 :|: 0'23 :|: mp3 :|: 440 KB

:|: click to enlarge :|:

tolerances takes advantage of slight deviations in mass produced electronics to create complex sonic and visual relationships controlled and discovered by the viewer.

The piece consists of a matrix of flashing LEDs that hangs like a painting on the wall. It is connected to board of toggle switches on a table below. Viewers may choose to alter the sound by flipping toggle switches.
The flashes of each LED are being tracked by a computer and triggering software oscillators. The frequency of each oscillator is derived from the frequency at which the LED flashes. Because of the differences in the flashing frequencies, the pitches and rates at which they sound are asynchronous. Patterns are produced by using the switches to let the LED flashes through to the computer and hearing the resulting relationships between the chosen LEDs. When the switch is flipped in one direction every flash of the associated LED triggers a sound. In the other direction the oscillator is triggered every fifth flash. The patterns constantly change as the lights phase in and out of time. The sonic results cover the spectrum from slight syncopation to utter noise.

Technical information for Prix Ars Electronica
PDF :|: 52 KB