Tokyo-based DJ Daito Manabe has devised a unique use for a turntable: he hooked it up to a multiple-PowerBook rig so you can scratch 34 tracks of sound or sit back in a vibrating chaise longue. I asked Daito how this works, and responded in an email that reads a bit like a poetic riddle:
Chair for the silence consists of two elements.
The first one is a chair that can provide 32 vibrations,
the second is music of 34 tracks for touch and hearing.
People can experience this by sitting in the chair and dropping the phonograph needle.We can recognize pursuing sensual peculiarity, commonality and interaction
between sounds and vibration by this chaise longue.The vibrations from vibrators are from 5hz to 120hz,
and sounds from headphone are from 5hz to 80hz.
34 tracks (2ch * 14) sound files are controlled by a signal from Ms.Pinky.
It means people can scratch 34 tracks by one record.
More specs and images after the jump, if that still doesn’t make sense . . .
The secret to this magic is Ms. Pinky, a control record for scratching that can be used with custom software. (An object for use in the Max/MSP modular environment is included with the package.) Now, if you can figure out exactly what’s going on from these diagrams, you’re ahead of me. But it’s a fascinating way of listening to records — er, 34-track audio — er, sitting. Daito has a long resume of other projects involving avant-garde DJing and live visuals.
Related:
More turntable art installations using Ms. Pinky
Ms. Pinky Pets and Friends with links to other art and performance using the system [Ms. Pinky]
