Bio Eric Singer is a Brooklyn-based musician, artist, engineer and programmer with 20 years of arts and multimedia programming, engineering and performance experience. He holds a BS in Computer Engineering from Carnegie Mellon; a Diploma in Music Synthesis (Magna Cum Laude) from Berklee College of Music; and an MS in Computer Science from New York University. He has performed and lectured throughout the world with electronic musical instruments, as well as touring and recording with many bands on tenor, alto, and baritone saxes. He is a founding member of the Brooklyn-based arts collaborative The Madagascar Institute, and he has contributed to many of the group's spectacular projects in addition to reaching the semi-finals with the MI-originating team "The Brooklyn Benders" on The Learning Channel's 'Junkyard Wars' television show. He is also the founder of LEMUR (League of Electronic Musical Urban Robots), a group of artists and technologists creating robotic musical instruments. In addition to directing LEMUR, he currently works as an independent Arts Engineer and Consultant. Curriculum Vitae (click here for printable version) EDUCATION New York University, M.S. Computer Science, 1996 Berklee College of Music, Diploma in Music Synthesis, Magna Cum Laude, 1991 Carnegie Mellon University, B.S. Computer Engineering, 1988 WORK Independent Music & Arts Programmer/Consultant (1997-present) Program custom arts and music applications for artists and organizations. Clients have included well-known New York artists, arts institutions and organizations. Wet Electrics/Shape of Time, Lead Programmer/Architect (1999-2003) Co-developed Production Designer, a high-end real-time application commercially released in January 2002 for authoring and controlling video, audio, MIDI and lighting. Application was developed from the ground up in C++/Codewarrior. Co-inventor on two associated patent applications. LEMUR (2000-present) Founded LEMUR, a group of artists and technologists dedicated to creating robotic musical instruments. Co-wrote and received a $30,000 Rockefeller Foundation grant to fund LEMUR. Designed and built "GuitarBot", a robotic stringed instrument. Adjunct Assistant Professor, Interactive Telecommunications Program (ITP), New York University (2002) Proposed, designed and taught the graduate-level course Live Interactive Performance, the first performance course offered by ITP. Graduate Researcher, New York University Center for Advanced Technology (CAT)/Media Research Laboratory (MRL) (1995-97) Researched and developed hardware and software for music and animation systems under the direction of Ken Perlin. Co-created installations and published papers for SIGGRAPH '96 conference. Programmer, Performer and Assistant to Dr. Richard Boulanger (1992-94) Programmed for and performed Dr. Boulanger's contemporary compositions for computer and live instruments. Assisted and toured with Dr. Boulanger in the United States and Europe. SELECTED PROJECTS Alternative Musical Instruments LEMUR Robotic Orchestra Project (2000-present) Founded LEMUR, a group of artists and technologists dedicated to creating an orchestra of robotic musical instruments. Co-wrote and received a $30,000 Rockefeller Foundation grant to fund LEMUR. For more information visit lemurbots.org Sonic Banana (2001): Created tubular instrument with a button and bend sensors. Pushing button and bending tube sends MIDI data to control a musical performance. In the premier installation piece, Sonic Banana plays arpeggios, controlling chord, key, timbre, pitch bend and duration. About Face (2001): Co-created instrument which senses facial expressions by means of sensors attached to user’s face. Changes in expression trigger and control sound sample playback. Wireless MIDI Glove (1999): Created glove-based instrument to send hand gesture information to a computer via MIDI. Sensors send bend amount and fingertip pressure for each of four fingers. Electronic Baton (1996): Created electronic baton using a magnetic tracking device. Wrote software to read sensor data, analyzing for tempo, beat amplitude and baton position in X-Y space. Created software to conduct music from a MIDI file using the baton. PhotoTheremin (1996): Created instrument with eight photosensors to sense hand position and height. Created software to map user's hand activity to musical parameters such as loudness, tempo, liveliness, etc. Used to control performance aspects of a synthesized Zydeco band. Interactive Music Software Cyclops (2000-2001) Developed Cyclops video tracking software for Max, for use in performer/dancer tracking and in interactive installations. Cyclops tracks performers or users with a video camera and can control MIDI, audio, video and robotics. Commercially released in February 2002. Max Software (1994-present) Developed and released as freeware numerous interactive music software plugins (objects) for Max, an interactive multimedia authoring application, which are in wide use by the international Max users community. Collection includes objects for sound file playback, MIDI sequence conducting, speech synthesis, speech recognition and artificial life simulation. Marx System (1998-99) Programmed the “Marx System” software for Richard Teitelbaum's works for solo pianist and two Yamaha Disklaviers (MIDI player pianos). Software allows performer to play one Disklavier, which is processed using numerous transformative and generative algorithms to play the second Disklavier. Interactive Virtual Musicians Project (1996-97) Co-created software for the Interactive Virtual Musicians project at the NYU Center for Advanced Technology. Software controls an animated sax player, which “listens” to a live jazz piano accompaniment and improvises along, modifying his performance and body language based on analyzed attributes of the accompaniment. Dark Wind System (1994) Programmed system for Richard Boulanger's piece “The Dark Wind” for Radio Baton (electronic conducting surface) and bass clarinet. System receives input from Radio Baton, foot pedals and the bass clarinet and allows the Radio Baton performer to control effects processing; trigger prerecorded sounds; record and control algorithmic playback of audio samples of the bass clarinet and control improvisational music generators. Networked Multimedia Environments Botanica Virtual (1995-96) Created networked audio software for NYU CAT “Spirits of the Bayou”, a real-time animated artificially intelligent virtual reality installation for SIGGRAPH '96. Software controls environmental sound and effects based on user's location in the world; plays speech-synthesized character voice responses; and interfaces with computer voice recognition to recognize responses spoken by the user. Aria (1995-96) Created networked audio software for University of San Paolo “Aria” installation for SIGGRAPH '96. In “Aria”, a user, utilizing an electronic baton, conducts an artificially-intelligent animated opera singer, controlling tempo, volume and timbre of the opera singer and accompanying orchestra. Software interprets data from a magnetic sensor in a baton; generates conducting information; controls MIDI score playback; controls vocal synthesis; and sends performance information to the animation system. A Flock of Words (1995) A multimedia piece by Robert Rowe (composer) and Doris Vila (visual artist) for chamber ensemble with interactive computer music, video, animation, lighting effects and holograms. Ensemble's performance is tracked by computer, with analysis data used to generate synthesized accompaniment and control multimedia environment. Created software to control two streams of video playback and generate animation of words using an artificial life flocking algorithm. Designed and built servo motor controllers for use in holographic lighting effects. Public Art and Performance Flaming Simon (Madagascar Institute, 2001) Created this version of the popular 80’s electronic game Simon. A participant stands in a ring surrounded by four buttons and four propane jets and must follow the pattern of blasts. Premiered at Madagascar Institute, October 2001. Pyrophone/Drive-By Arting (Public street event, Madagascar Institute, 2001) Created electronics and composed musical sequences for MIDI Pyrophone, a propane flame-driven organ created by the Madagascar Institute. Pyrophone premiered at the DUMBO Arts Festival 2001, in a “Drive-By Arting” event. Lost Vegas (Public party event, Madagascar Institute, 2001) Created and co-created installations for this high-stakes, low-brow simulation of a Las Vegas nightclub, including automated lighting and sound effects, video slot machine, video tracking installation, “Spinning Rat Pack”and electroluminescent blinking cowboy sign. Running of the Bulls (Public street event, Madagascar Institute, 2001) Co-created large metal computer-controlled blood-spitting fire-breathing bull, reminiscent of a 3D Lasceaux cave drawing. Boing, Sproing, Bonk, Clonk (ACME Corporation, 1999) Created large-scale interactive game for Burning Man '99. Participants activated various pods, triggering cartoon effects and attempting to guess the secret code, unleashing a firestorm of pyrotechnics, enhanced by giant reflective mylar panels. Inflammatory Gestures (ACME Corporation/Madagascar Institute,1999) Created and performed in duet for DJ and MIDI Glove, controlling cartoon sound effects, lighting, kitchen appliances and pyrotechnics. Burning Man (1997-2002) Organized and created large-scale public art projects for the annual Burning Man festival in Nevada. Co-organized the Burning Man New York Region in 1997 and served as Regional Contact until 1999. Skills Electrical Engineering: digital- and microprocessor-based circuit design, sensor technology Programming: C, C++, Java, BASIC, assembly (for numerous processors), Macintosh, CodeWarrior/PowerPlant, Unix/Linux, Max/MSP Specialties: Art and multimedia application design and programming, real-time systems, systems architecture, user interface design Publications "Two Highly Integrated Real-Time Music and Graphics Performance Systems" Robert Rowe, Eric Singer; ICMC '97, Thessaloniki, Greece "A Flock of Words: Real Time Animation and Video Controlled by Algorithmic Music Analysis" Robert Rowe, Doris Vila, Eric Singer; SIGGRAPH '96, New Orleans "Real-time Responsive Synthetic Dancers and Musicians" Eric Singer, Clilly Castiglia, Sabrina Liao, Ken Perlin; SIGGRAPH '96, New Orleans "Improv: Interactive Improvisational Animation and Music" Eric Singer, Clilly Castiglia, Sabrina Liao, Ken Perlin, Athomas Goldberg; ISEA '96, Rotterdam, The Netherlands "Sonic Banana: A Novel Bend-Sensor-Based MIDI Controller" Eric Singer; New Interfaces for Musical Expression 2003, Montreal "LEMUR GuitarBot" Eric Singer, David Bianciardi, Kevin Larke; New Interfaces for Musical Expression 2003, Montreal