interim_descriptor

Solidarity

2011-02-11T14:32:00.000-08:00

Credit: Felipe Trueba/European Pressphoto Agency

Shpongletron Promo Video

2011-01-16T11:43:00.000-08:00

Shpongletron NYE

2011-01-02T22:00:00.000-08:00

Photos & video of dvj & shpongetron in action, from the Dec 30th/31st shows:

Video filmed from the audience.

Shpongletron

2010-12-29T02:56:00.000-08:00

My friend Zebbler is Shpongle's VJ for their 2011 tour, and will be using dvj to drive the visuals & lights.

dvj now supports projection mapping

The giant structure Zebbler constructed, under normal lighting conditions

I can't wait to see this in motion!

Updates as they happen at shpongletron.blogspot.com

Glitchgiving Micro-Documentary

2009-12-11T01:00:00.000-08:00

Big up to Zebbler and Travis for this awesome video of Glitchgiving 2009:

...and of course Vinyl Blight for the absurdly catchy & glitchy soundtrack, Big Man Cut Down.

As soon as Joed releases his video for Big Man Cut Down, I'll post it here. Easily one of the best videos of the year!

Live at Glitchgiving, Boston

2009-12-04T01:33:00.000-08:00

Click this video to go to youtube, and see it in HD resolution:

For the first time, I had the opportunity to perform on an ultra-bright 3-projector 1920x480 display.

It took me a solid week to prepare 60 minutes of ultrawide video for that show!

More information (including audio + video) to follow in the coming days...

(Big up to the Glitchcrew!)

Broken Note - Let Em Hang

2009-08-13T00:20:00.000-07:00

I'm (very) excited to share with you the first video I've been commissioned to create:

(IMPORTANT: Play in fullscreen mode)

This is the cumulation of my experiments with algorithmic music videos, generated by AI. Only ~5% of the mixing decisions were made by a human.

Ever since I discovered Broken Note via DJ Intoner, I've been enamored with their sound. Any time I spin Dubstep, Broken Note's tracks are more often than not the climaxes I build up to. Needless to say, I was breathless when they asked me to make a video for them. Fortunately, I had the good sense to nod. Emphatically.

I've made all the source code used to create this video available under the GPLv3, 'cause that's how we do things around here.

For a full write-up of this video (including a link to the source code), please see its Vimeo page.

Note: The version you're viewing is only 30 frames per second, and 720x480... The version Broken Note and I will use for live shows is in a 1920x480 ultrawide 3-projector format, and at 60 frames per second. 60 fps is intense.

Solidarity

2009-06-23T21:38:00.000-07:00

DJing Saturday w/ VJ Luna, Vocalist for The Orb

2009-06-12T01:08:00.000-07:00

California Modern Gallery @ 1035 Market St.

Doors open at 8pm.

VJ Luna will be doing an audio+video+vocal performance, and I'll be DJing the rest of the night.

Expect ~~idm, dark ambient, and deathstep~~ the unexpected.

Intoner vs Ahnst Anders & Toninstitut - Sleepless (Deprivation)

2009-06-12T00:57:00.000-07:00

Sleepless (Deprivation) by Intoner vs Ahnst Anders & Toninstitut

I'm way impressed, Intoner.

VJing for Broken Note This Friday & Saturday

2009-06-03T23:38:00.000-07:00

Do

Not

Miss

This

For info on Saturday's show with 16-bit(!!!):

http://www.myspace.com/fullmeltrecordings

Playing Circuitry this Monday

2009-05-31T22:01:00.000-07:00

Party starts at 9pm at The Ivy Room in the East Bay.

I'll be playing a full-on audio/video set, with some new material.

Bringing out my 1521z's, too, so the sound will be large and clear.

Also playing:

Eustachin
Vankmen
DJ Aneurysm
Anodyne industries

Dilate your pupils for an enhanced visual trip.

Death Guild Audio Posted

2009-05-14T01:22:00.000-07:00

interim_descriptor - live at death guild, san francisco (2009.05.11)

There's nothing like playing music for so many of my friends. You guys made my night!

Tracklist:

iTAL tEK - Red Sky
Marching Dynamics - Confederate (Elementals' Soul Fire Remix) (Edit)
interim_descriptor - dissolved light (scorn vs massive attack)
Plaid - Where
LSG - Rotation
5F-X - VROOM 41 42 4F 58 45
Future Sound of London - We Have Explosive
Tonikom - Salvo Infinitum
TC - Where's My Money (Caspa Remix)
Riskotheque - Platonia
Riskotheque - Thequenique
Milanese - Double Face
Aaron Spectre - Reptile Dub (Wonder vs Nine Inch Nails)
Vex'd - Smart Bomb
Vex'd - Pop Pop VIP
Milanese - So Malleable
Meat Beat Manifesto - Is Teenage America In The Mode Of Thinking Fast (Eight Frozen Modules Remix)
King Cannibal - Flower Of Flesh And Blood
Skream - Rutten
Intex System - Titan
Milanese - Mr Ion
Somatic Responses - Deadstep
Meat Beat Manifesto - Hellfire
Bong-Ra - The Rush (Long Time Coming) (Drop The Lime Remix)
Vex'd - Thunder
Broken Note - War In The Making
King Cannibal - Badman Near Dark (Stormfield Remix)
interim_descriptor - running without (scorn vs future sound of london)
Meat Beat Manifesto - Transmission
Geeneus - Star Buck
Plaid - Extork
Re_agent - Creeping Up On You (Famine Remix)
Distance - Koncrete
Massive Attack - Teardrop (vs Autechre - Second Bad Vilbel)
interim_descriptor - roads punisher (pinch vs portishead)
Nine Inch Nails - The Perfect Drug (Plug Remix)
I Gor - Unsettled Stepper
Massive Attack - Risingson
Collide - Wings of Steel (The Sound of Glass Remix)
Telefon Tel Aviv - What It Is Without The Hand That Wields It

Death's Eve

2009-05-11T03:18:00.000-07:00

After months of preparation, I'm finally playing at Death Guild this Monday night.

My set starts at midnight, and goes until the DNA Lounge closes (2:30am).

I just finished listening to the recording of my most recent practice session. It turned out really well. If you're in the bay area, attendance is encouraged. I think you just might enjoy what's in store.

Retroactively Untitled idm Mix

2009-04-25T21:22:00.000-07:00

Recorded in March 2008, using dvj.

retroactively untitled idm mix by interim_descriptor

Tracklist:

Solvent - A Panel of Experts (Remix)
000 - Sleep Paralysis
Aphex Twin - Cliffs (Wisp Rework)
Tom Burbank - Gnats
Daedelus - Dumbfound (edIT Remix)
Bit_Meddler - Dermetfak
000 - 3 Points
edIT - Laungry
Lacunae - Eight Zero One
000 - Colour Ballet
Lacunae - Stars Burn Out
Venetian Snares - Li2CO3
Scrap.edx + Liar's Rosebush - Transplanted
Aphex Twin - Z-Twig (Wisp Rework)
Jega - Doric
Venetian Snares - Cancel
Orbital - Transient
Telefon Tel Aviv - What It Is Without The Hand That Wields It

Playing @ SF Ubuntu Release Party Tonight

2009-04-23T09:56:00.000-07:00

Details:

http://modernhacker.com/jaunty/

Edit: Exillon's also playing there!

Beat Research Video Posted

2009-02-14T04:49:00.001-08:00

Major Caveat: This video assumes it will be displayed in a dark environment, on an ultra-bright projector, so it can assault your fully dilated pupils. Viewing it on your computer monitor, in a lit room, at 30 frames per second, will be pretty much like listening to dubstep on laptop speakers. The best way to experience this, as intended, is to see it live.

Those limitations not withstanding, the preferred method to view this is to right-click + save the highest quality video of my full set.

You may also stream it on Vimeo, in which case fullscreen is highly recommended.

Part 1: Glitch-pop + Dubstep

Part 2: Deathstep

Part 3: idm

Part 4: Breakcore + Finale + Outro

Lastly, I've posted the audio for streaming, via Soundcloud:

Tracklist + Credits:
http://interimdescriptor.blogspot.com/2009/01/beat-research-tracklist.html

Source Code:
http://code.google.com/p/dvj

dj intoner - a mild taste of disdain

2009-02-10T18:17:00.000-08:00

You need this very dark, very chill ambient / idm / dubstep mix:

dj intoner - a mild taste of disdain by Intoner

Tracklist & mp3: intoner.org/downloads

Intoner's blog + RSS feed: intoner.livejournal.com

What I Am, Without

2009-02-01T15:43:00.000-08:00

I'm no good at this, but I have to mention the sense of loss I feel, with Telefon Tel Aviv's Charles Cooper passing away this week.

He was an amazing musician. I can't listen to "What It Is Without The Hand That Wields It" without getting shivers. Listen for yourself:

It's the only track I've ever felt the need to comment on, on last.fm:

http://www.last.fm/music/Telefon+Tel+Aviv/_/What+It+Is+Without+the+Hand+That+Wields+It

Seeing him play it live at Yuri's night is something I'll never ever forget. Charles' music will outlive us all.

Sympathy to his friends and family.

That wasn't the only loss of this type I learned of this week, but that sadness isn't a subject for this blog.

dvj Installation Documented

2009-01-26T01:56:00.000-08:00

This wiki page takes you through each command necessary to install and run dvj:
http://code.google.com/p/dvj/wiki/Installation

Next up in the documentation dept: How to actually use it!

HOWTO: Burning A Gapless Audio CD With A Data Track, In Linux

2009-01-24T17:43:00.000-08:00

I had a pretty miserable time getting this to work.

Many of the popular CD burning applications, like k3b, advertise being able to burn so-called CD-Extra CDs, but none of them actually work. Some forget the data track. Others forget the gapless part.

Here's how you do it:

1) Convert your audio files to CD-quality .wavs

2) Make a tracklist.toc file
If your wavs happen to be named 01.wav and 02.wav, then your tracklist.toc would look like this:

// tracklist.toc
CD_ROM_XA

TRACK AUDIO
COPY
AUDIOFILE "01.wav" 0

TRACK AUDIO
COPY
AUDIOFILE "02.wav" 0

3) Burn the gapless audio tracks in multisession mode
cdrdao write --multi -n tracklist.toc

4) Make a datatrack.iso of your data
If you have one file, dvj.tar.gz, then, with the half-burned CD still in the shut drive, the proper command is:
mkisofs -J -r -V "dvj source code" -C `cdrecord -msinfo` -o datatrack.iso dvj.tar.gz

5) Burn datatrack.iso after the audio, and close the CD
cdrecord -v -eject release.iso

dvj Google Group Created

2009-01-24T17:36:00.000-08:00

Anyone who wants to use dvj, or be involved in development, is welcome to join the mailing list on Google Groups:

http://groups.google.com/group/dvj-dev

Expect it to be very very low traffic, as I can currently count the number of users and developers on one hand, without resorting to any binary tricks.

Beat Research Audio Posted

2009-01-24T17:16:00.001-08:00

The audio recording of my set is now available.

Right-click + save either:
* One big mp3
* A zip of ogg files, suitable for burning to a multi-track CD

I posted the tracklist earlier.

Certain sections only make sense with video, such as a fake blue screen of death interlude... But whatever.

I might post a video in a few weeks, but it's just as likely I'll hold off on making that publicly available for many months.

dvj Source Code Released

2009-01-24T17:02:00.000-08:00

This release is suitable only for code hackers.

I'll announce when things are 100% bullet-proof for users. That's my primary goal, and the reason for open sourcing the software.

If you want to check out the GPLv3 code, go here:
http://code.google.com/p/dvj/source/checkout

This is the project's site:
http://code.google.com/p/dvj/

On Ubuntu, you'll need these packages:

apt-get install subversion ctags libsdl1.2-dev g++ libfftw3-dev libavcodec-dev libavformat-dev libswscale-dev libsdl-image1.2-dev libsdl-net1.2-dev lame jackd libjack-dev

You'll also need to compile + install:
http://www.unison.com/opensource/sdl_audioin-0.3-rc1-ums-0.2.zip

Currently, there's some trickery required to get this working flawlessly,
including setting up proper ~/.jackrcd and ~/.asoundrc files.... More details on that later.

Don't hesitate to email me with questions or success stories.

Beat Research Tracklist

2009-01-21T20:46:00.001-08:00

Here's what I played in my 65-minute set at Beat Research:


01      Met_Biddler - Missy Elliot + Dance Graf + Hella Good = Awesome Song (Video: interim_descriptor vs David Meyers vs Alex Rutterford vs Francis Lawrence)
02      16bit - Toxic
03      Kidnappa - Rukus
04      Kidnappa - Champion Dub
05      Riskotheque - Platonia
06      Riskotheque - Thequenique
07      Riskotheque - Android
08      Meat Beat Manifesto - Less (Video: interim_descriptor vs Ben Stokes)
09      Aaron Spectre - Reptile Dub
10      Vex'd - Smart Bomb
11      Broken Note - Zealot
12      Broken Note - Crux (Video: interim_descriptor vs VJ Mission)
13      Re-Agent - Creeping Up On You (Famine Remix)
14      interim_descriptor - Poison Is The Mindkiller (Audio: interim_descriptor vs Prodigy vs Adam Freeland) (Video: interim_descriptor vs Hackers vs Rez)
15      Tom Burbank - Gnats
16      Daedelus - Dumbfound (EdIT Remix)
17      Bit_Meddler - Dermetfak
18      000 - 3 Points
19      Lacunae - Eight Zero One
20      interim_descriptor - Snarepusher (Audio: Squarepusher vs Venetian Snares vs Eraserhead) (Video: Bit_Meddler vs Chris Cunningham vs Bob Jaroc vs David O'Reilly)
21      Telefon Tel Aviv - What It Is Without The Hand That Wields It
22      Collide - The Lunatics Have Taken Over (Video: Bob Jaroc)

(Video by interim_descriptor except where noted. Many VJ loops courtesy of Motion Loops.)

Releasing dvj's Source Code

2009-01-21T15:05:00.000-08:00

Perhaps the most important part of my Beat Research show was neither the audio nor the video, but instead the software.

For a decade, I've been working on a DJ + VJ program called "dvj". In short, it gives the user a pair of video-linked turntables: Scratching with a MIDI controller scratches both the audio and video. This is the only program I use at my shows, and I'm quite happy with it.

On Jan 19th, at Beat Research, I released dvj's source code for the first time, under the terms of the GPLv3. By the end of the month, I'll upload the source to dvj's Google Code page:

http://code.google.com/p/dvj/

It's been tested on like three different linux machines, so the audience for this code is currently developers, not users. All my subsequent development efforts will be to get this program to the point where anyone can use it easily.

Beat Research Aftermath

2009-01-21T13:32:00.000-08:00

I had an incredible time playing at Beat Research in Boston, on Monday.

It was so awesome to actually meet Flack and Wayne, and perform at such a legendary night, and for so many of my friends who live there.

In the coming days, I'll be posting more information about the set, like a tracklist, and documentation for my software's source code, which I handed out as CDRs embedded in floppy disks.

I also recorded my set's audio, and intend to make a DVD, once I sit down to reconstruct the video. I'm considering posting the result to vimeo, or youtube, but maybe it would be better to do that quite a bit later, so the videos in my performances are fresh to each new audience...? Hmm...

Regardless, send an email to interim dot descriptor at gmail dot com, if you were at the show, and you want a copy of the audio or video.

hello world

2008-01-02T08:13:00.000-08:00

This post is a merely a test.