Monday May 20 2013 11:30-13:00 / lunch / 14:00-17:00

Complex dynamical sonic systems based on nonlinear feedback networks

In this workshop I will discuss complex dynamical feedback systems for human-machine interaction performance, autonomous sound installations and non-conventional sound synthesis. The workshop will be divided into two parts: a theoretical one, and a more practical one. In the first part, I will talk about the properties of feedback systems from a systemic and cybernetic perspective within the framework of emergent and complex phenomena, along with theoretical concepts related to such an approach for creative practices. In the second part, I will present some of my works and techniques, and the implementation of such systems through the Pure Data programming environment, analog devices or other softwares, although such systems can be machine-independent and the technical description provided makes it possible to implement these techniques in other environments.

Main discussed topics:

Part I

Positive and negative feedback

Nonlinearity, circular causality and iteration

Interaction, interdependency and synergy

Self-dis/organisation, homeorhesis and homeostasis

Chaos, emergence and complexity

Autonomous and self-sustaining non-automated systems

Non-random unpredictability

Organic sound

Analogue complex dynamical systems

The subversion of technology

The aesthetics of the emergent machine

Improvisation as a feedback mechanism

Part II

Feedback delay networks

Digital reverberation

Single-side modulation (frequency shifting)

Recursive asynchronous granular synthesis

Recursive nonlinear distortion

Adaptive limiting

LIES (topology)

LIES (distance/incidence)

LIES (analog/bent)

SD/OS (presence)

SD/OS (dirac)

SD/OS (self-motion)

The workshop will be held in english. Please pre-register to the workshop by sending an email to: sanfilippo.dario@gmail.commailto:sanfilippo.dario@gmail.com

WHEN: 20th of May

TIME: 11:30-13:00 / lunch / 14:00-17:00

WHERE: N.K. | Elsenstr. 52/2.Hinterhaus Etage 2, 12059 | www.nkprojekt.de

About the author:

Dario Sanfilippo was born in Agrigento, Italy, in 1983.

He is a freelance composer, performer and sound artist whose research is focused on the study and exploration of complex dynamical feedback systems for non-conventional sound synthesis, improvised human-machine interaction performances, and autonomous sound installations.

His works and researches have been presented in international festivals and contemporary music events such as AudioArt Festival, CurvaMinore Festival, Acoustic Fields Festival, AudioVisiva Festival, Quiet Cue concert series, Live!iXem Festival, as well as Universities like Naples’ L’Orientale, Bangor University, Queen Mary University of London; they have been selected for international conferences like International Computer Music Conference 2012, Sound and Music Computing 2011, Digital Music Research Network 2011, Colloquium of Musical Informatics 2010 and 2012, INTER/actions Symposium 2012, and they have been published for record labels such as Creative Sources, Die Schachtel and Idroscalo.

In 2012, his research paper “Towards a Typology of Feedback Systems”, co-written with Andrea Valle, was the Best Paper Award winner at the International Computer Music Conference 2012, and an expanded version of such paper is due to be published on Computer Music Journal.

He graduated in Music and New Technologies at the Conservatory of Trapani, and he is nowadays attending the M.Sci course in Electronic Music at the Conservatory of Naples, in the class of Agostino Di Scipio.