Browsing by Author "Barbosa, Álvaro"
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- Are Luminous Devices Helping Musicians to Produce Better Aural Results, or Just Helping Audiences Not To Get Bored?Publication . Joaquim, Vitor; Barbosa, ÁlvaroBy the end of the 90’s a new musical instrument entered the stage of all stages and since then, played a key role in the way music is created and produced, both in the studio and performing venues. The aim of this paper is to discuss what we consider to be fundamental issues on how laptopers, as musicians, are dealing with the fact that they are not providing the ‘usual’ satisfaction of a ‘typical’ performance, where gesture is regarded as a fundamental element. Supported by a survey conducted with the collaboration of 46 artists, mostly professionals, we intend to address and discuss some concerns on the way laptop musicians are dealing with this subject, underlined by the fact that in these performances the absence of gestural information is almost a trademark.
- Capture and transformation of urban soundscape data for artistic creationPublication . Gomes, José Alberto; Pinho, Nuno Peixoto de; Lopes, Filipe; Costa, Gustavo; Dias, Rui; Tudela, Diogo; Barbosa, ÁlvaroURB is a research project designed to collect and store raw data from soundscapes analysis. This paper presents a survey about using URB based on the analysis of work developed by several artists, focusing on the description of their creative process and outcome. By comparing the processes and statements of each artists, the authors identified diverse systematic approaches to reinterpreting raw data provided by urban soundscapes, raising questions about the artistic outcomes vs original sound sources. Furthermore, some considerations are inferred about the artistic relevance of using this process in the creation process.
- Creative engagement: multimodal digital games in children's learning environment in Macau S.A.R.Publication . Abreu, Filipa Martins de; Barbosa, ÁlvaroOne of the biggest challenges that we have encountered, when trying to encourage digital games in schools, is trying to explain what its benefits are in teaching and learning environments. In this pilot experimental study we explore how multimodal audio and visual games can be used in learning environments for children, specifically by fostering creative behaviors through User-Centered design approaches. To achieve this objective, a framework is being developed with multimodal experiences based on flexible design patterns that exploits basic visual and audio elements, allowing children from three to six years of age to play and learn through fun and subsequently trigger creative behaviors. These studies are making use of tangible objects, digital games and mobile platforms. We are making use of commercial digital games to understand and discuss the affordances of these games in an educational environment and how they support creativity in learning.
- Cross-adaptive polarity switching strategies for optimization of audio mixesPublication . Pestana, Pedro Duarte; Reiss, Joshua D.; Barbosa, ÁlvaroCrest factor is an often overlooked part of audio production, yet it acts as an important limit to overall loudness. We propose a technique to optimize relative polarities in order to yield the lowest possible peak value. We suggest this is a way of addressing loudness maximization that is more sonically transparent than peak limiting or compression. We also explore additional uses that polarity analysis may have in the context of mixing audio. Results show this is a fairly e ective strategy, with average crest factor reductions of 3 dB, resulting in equivalent values for loudness enhancement. While still not comparable to the amount of reduction peak limiters are typically used for, the approach is seen as more transparent via subjective evaluation, through a multi-stimulus test.
- Do pianists play with their Teeth?Publication . Lourenço, Sofia; Clemente, Manuel; Coimbra, Daniela; Barbosa, Álvaro; Pinho, JoséThe aim of this study was to find out whether the masticatory and postural muscles are used by pianists during their music performances. The study also aimed to ascertain whether the complex neuromuscular activity involved in the act of playing the piano also encourages hyperactivity in terms of the masticatory muscles. The bio-electric potentials of the masticatory and postural muscles of 20 pianists were recorded. The electromyographical figures obtained from regarding the temporal and masseter muscles are much higher than those recorded when in the resting position. These registrations, which are not the same as those obtained, for example, when the individuals are chewing hard food such as a carrot, are nonetheless indicative of daily parafunctional activity in musicians who often study for as much as 7 hours per day.
- EditorialPublication . Barbosa, Álvaro
- The foundation of soundscape-lab in MacauPublication . Cordeiro, João; Barbosa, Álvaro; Martins, Luís Gustavo; Gomes, José AlbertoIn this paper we present the framework of “Soundscape-Lab”, an emerging research lab in Macau, dedicated to study soundscapes in high-density urban and semi-urban environments. Macau is a special administrative region of China, known for its thriving gaming industry and being one of the most densely populated regions in the world. Despite its small size (30.3km2), the territory is quite heterogeneous, featuring islands, continental areas, bridges, beaches, forest, lakes, skyscrapers and an extensive waterfront with almost 40km. Such a variety of locations and human environments in a condensed small area makes Macau a unique setting to conduct large-scale studies, exploring emerging networked technologies for soundscapes monitoring and developing community based acoustic awareness.
- Loudness measurement of multitrack audio content using modifcations of ITU-R BS.1770Publication . Pestana, Pedro Duarte; Reiss, Joshua D.; Barbosa, ÁlvaroThe recent loudness measurement recommendations by the ITU and the EBU have gained widespread recognition in the broadcast community. The material it deals with is usually full-range mastered audio content, and its applicability to multitrack material is not yet clear. In the present work we investigate how well the evaluated perception of single track loudness agrees with the measured value as de ned by ITU-R BS.1770. We analyze the underlying features that may be the cause for this disparity and propose some parameter alterations that might yield better results for multitrack material with minimal modi cation to their rating of broadcast content. The best parameter sets are then evaluated by a panel of experts in terms of how well they produce an equal-loudness multitrack mix, and are shown to be signi cantly more successful.
- Network Latency Adaptive Tempo in the Public Sound Objects SystemPublication . Barbosa, Álvaro; Cardoso, Jorge C. S.; Geiger, GünterIn recent years Computer Network-Music has increasingly captured the attention of the Computer Music Community. With the advent of Internet communication, geographical displacement amongst the participants of a computer mediated music performance achieved world wide extension. However, when established over long distance networks, this form of musical communication has a fundamental problem: network latency (or net-delay) is an impediment for real-time collaboration. From a recent study, carried out by the authors, a relation between network latency tolerance and Music Tempo was established. This result emerged from an experiment, in which simulated network latency conditions were applied to the performance of different musicians playing jazz standard tunes. The Public Sound Objects (PSOs) project is web-based shared musical space, which has been an experimental framework to implement and test different approaches for on-line music communication. This paper describe features implemented in the latest version of the PSOs system, including the notion of a network-music instrument incorporating latency as a software function, by dynamically adapting its tempo to the communication delay measured in real-time.
- Online data mining services for dynamic spatial databases II: air quality location based services and sonificationPublication . Teixeira, Luis Miguel Lopes; Barbosa, Álvaro; Cardoso, Jorge C. S.; Carvalhos, Vasco; Costa, Manuel; Sousa, Inês; Franco, Ivan; Fonseca, Alexandra; Henriques, Diana; Rosa, PauloThis paper introduces online data mining services for dynamic spatial databases associated with environmental monitoring networks. In particular, it describes an application that uses these services with sonification for air quality location based information services to the general public. The data mining services use Artificial Neural Networks, to find temporal relations in the monitored parameters. The execution of the algorithms performed at the server side and a distributed processing scheme is used to overcome problems of scalability. In addition, two other families of web services are made available to support the discovery of temporal relations: vectorial and raster map? services and a sonification service. The map services were implemented in DM Plus, a client application presented in part I. The sonification service is described in this paper and illustrated through an application study that implements an air quality index with sonification for mobile phones.
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