Sound and Movement Workshop at the University of Stavanger


Published on 2019-06-01 by Kenneth Flak

Back to Tech Research


Table of Contents

In November 2019 we will teach a workshop in movement and sound at University of Stavanger, Norway. The students will get the chance to create a live soundscore for their own dance, using cell phones and computers.

In this workshop we will deal with the integration of sound and movement, using the open-source programming language SuperCollider and movement sensors to generate sound.

Necessary materials

You will need a laptop, a smartphone and headphones. Before the workshop starts you should install some software: SuperCollider and Audacity on your computer, and TouchOSC on your phone. We will set up everything together on the first day of the workshop, so no need to worry if you have problems during the installation procedure.

Installing SuperCollider

You will find the download links on the SuperCollider homepage.

Mac users should click on this link. If you are asked to open it, click yes. This will create a folder called SuperCollider in your Downloads folder. Move this folder with all its content into your Applications folder. Open the SuperCollider folder and click on the SuperCollider icon. If you get a message saying that the program can't be opened because of a problem, you need to move the SuperCollider folder to the trash, and try with an older version of SuperCollider instead. In this case you will not be able to open SuperCollider immediately when you left-click on it the first time after moving it to your Applications folder. Instead, you should either right-click or hold down the Ctrl key on your keyboard while left-clicking on it. The computer will then ask you if you want to open the application. Confirm this. Next time you open SuperCollider you will not be asked about this.

Windows users should click on this link. You will be asked if you want to save the file. Click yes. Once the file has been downloaded, click on it. You will be asked if you want to run it. Click Run. This will launch a program that takes care of the installation for you. Agree to everything the program asks you to.

Installing Audacity

Audacity is a free and open source editor for sound files. You will use this in the workshop to record your own sounds, clean them up and cut them into manageable pieces.

Mac users should follow the instructions on this page to install the program. When you click on this link you will be taken to the downloads page. Click on Audacity macOS DMG to start the download. Confirm that you want to open with DiskImage Utility when asked. After the download is finished, drag the Audacity icon to the Applications icon.

Windows users should click on Audacity 2.3.2 installer. Launch the downloaded .exe file and follow the instructions.

Installing TouchOSC

To get data from your mobile phone to the computer we will use an app called TouchOSC. Visit this link if you have an iPhone, or this link if you have an Android phone (basically any smartphone that is not an iPhone...). This will take you to App Store (iPhone) or Play Store (Android), where you will have to purchase the software.