3. M#
M# is a mixed reality using Platform for performing and recording music. #(sharp) is a music symbol for making note to higher pitch, and alphabet M is a metaphor for ‘Mixed Reality’, ‘Making’, and ‘Music’. M# has a meaning of a new, easier way of Making Music with Mixed reality.
Why M#?
Performing Pysical instruments have highly interactive characteristics. The process of music itself, which user could actually make the music directly from the feelings from pressing, bouncing, and intuitive instruments enables user to directly and spontaneously reflect raw & impromptu inspirations to their music. But it is hard for real world performer’s to create or produce a new music output with only one instrument. On the other hand, Digital production programs are optimized on making or producing new music creation. Since the user could glance their own music in a macro & comprehensive view. This enables the user to easily create their own unique & creative musical assets. But since, it is literally ‘Digital’ ; user’s could not feel any physical interaction from this program. t’s efficient but hard to reflect the exquisite ‘emotions’ that real world’s instrument could give you.
Design Process
We attempt to create an alternative music platform that combines each advantage of Performing Physical Instrument and Producing Music by digital program. We believed that this is possible when we could find intuitive and interactive interaction, which reflects the benefit of MR technology.
1. We tried to make an new interaction that actively utilizes whole body movements instead of finger touching.
2. Also, we tried to make three dimentional interactions that could harmoniously embrace all three axes of reality.
3. Lastly, interaction that could reflect, use, and combine real world spaces or objects inside virtual reality. .
Through this we believed, we could provide a platform that many people could simply touch, enjoy and feel music actively.
Users could directly and spontaneously reflect their raw inspirations to the music they make. M# enables a much more unique & creative approach to musicians compared to traditional digital-music editing tools.
In addition, M#”s instrument usage is super easy and simple that it encourages any people to enjoy, touch, and feel music more actively. Even when they don’t have expertise in music.
To search the most appropriate interaction for our service, we did some brainstorming and body storming. First of all, We defined ‘sound : motion : visual’ as three key elements that mainly constitutes M#’s interaction. Based on this criteria, we listed as many elements as possible and imagined various ways of combining or linking them as natural interaction.
After We finished brainstorming process, we proceeded various body-storming experiments based on refined combinations at brain-storming process. To feel and examine the actual mood and practicality of each motion so our final interaction could be more intuitive.
At the Initial Body Storming, we tried to find the unique and dramatic motions that could reflect emotions of musical performance. But at the Second Trial, we focused on finding an appropriate and refined motions that could be practically used on real performance & production process. To reflect this, we continued our body experiments in an environment where music was played.
M# opened the possibility for anyone sharing the space to participate in the performance, by materializing the user interface and occupying that UI inside the space. Through this platform, we hope to create a space of possibility where anybody who loves music could feel the joy of making musical harmony.
