Cycle 2
Posted: May 7, 2026 Filed under: Uncategorized Leave a comment »Themes
- Chaos
- Collaboration
- Cowardice
Resources
- TouchDesigner
- MacBook Pro (M1)
- Mac Studio
- PC
- MoLab Network
- StreamDiffusion Operator
- Guitar
- Drums
- Sticks
- Cameras
- Orbbec Femto
I made several improvements to the system between Cycles 1 and 2. I first increased the size of the Orbbec feed to give it more prominence on the front screen. I also solved the issue with the fluid system failing to change colors in response to the audio.
I also added new components, primarily a StreamDiffusion model, which required an extra PC to be carted in.
My original idea for cycle 2 was to do a live performance. In the weeks leading up to it, it became clear that I was too far out of practice to give a decent performance. I practiced a bit and tried to get back up to speed. While I hadn’t played in a year or two, I was playing pretty consistently for decades prior to that. Even when I would take an extended break from music I can generally get back up to speed pretty quickly… Of course I’m never actually doing this against a deadline and time is a flat circle, so who knows how long it actually takes. So I brought in the instruments.
I was especially interested in what I might be able to accomplish with the electronic drums, since they are capable of sending midi signals out to a computer.
Score
The score for Cycle 2 was all out on the floor. A guitar here, a drum set there… sticks in the middle to let you drum on anything you wanted (please not the bare floor, Michael would never forgive me). The framing was completely permissive – Do whatever you want. Go Play. All stations were open for business. The AI PC sat conspicuously on the floor, but did not get much attention aside from Alex, who knows how to work the system. The interface was intimidating and I suspect that nobody wanted to mess anything up.
I decided to abandon all hopes of doing a performance in cycle 2. I didn’t expect it would go particularly well given my current state of play (I’m not a great musical performer on my best days), and I like to do slow reveals. If I rushed forward with a lackluster performance, it would really take the wind out of my Cycle 3. Instead I thought we’d do a jam along. A sort of musical playground (that would come back to haunt me). David Bowie playing in the background with corresponding visuals to showcase the new AI component. I hoped to derive value from this in several ways.
Valuation
Cycle 2 was chaotic, more chaotic than any other immersive media project I’ve done. It was not beautiful. It didn’t sound good. But it was fun. The energy was high and the excitement was palpable.
Performance
The system drew comparisons to petting zoos, sensory rooms, musical playgrounds, exploratoriums, and mothers who want a moment of peace. People were curious to learn what everything did and how you could.
It made me more comfortable with the prospect of a performance for Cycle 3. But it also reinforced expectations that would make Cycle 3 more difficult to execute the way I had envisioned it.
I missed a core piece of feedback from Cycle 2 – “The placement of the drumsticks in the center of the rug made it feel like I have to do something with these”