Qube Assemblage for Art in Motion, Montréal
Intermedia and Audio, Multi-Channel Sound, Fine Arts
The Turbulence Sound Matrix - a completely new listening experience.
The TSM uses digital recordings of the wind (WACM) in the form of continuous cascading wave patterns to amplify and diffuse any sound source
through the powerful 64 channels of the TSM's unique speaker array. This adaptation creates a vivid, highly articulated, and totally immersive sonic
environment for the listener.
Turbulence Sound Matrix (2008)
Announced May 27, Linz, Austria.
Honorary Mention in Digital Musics,
Prix Ars Electronica 2009
Steve Heimbecker posing in the centre of his Turbulence Sound Matrix just moments before the doors open at the Elektra 9 Festival evening concerts.
photo: Camil Scoteanu, Conception Lévy - Elektra - 2008.
During one of four evenings at the Elektra 9 Festival at Usine C, Montreal, a crowd gathers and listens to Signe, a 64 channel surround sound composition of an unlimited duration,
created by Steve Heimbecker for the Turbulence Sound Matrix. The TSM was presented here in a 360 degree circular installation format (rather than concert format).
photo: Camil Scoteanu, Conception Lévy - Elektra - 2008.
The Turbulence Sound Matrix at Elektra 9 (2008), in the Usine C building, Montréal, presented in a 360 degree circular installation format. photo: Steve Heimbecker
video: The Turbulence Sound Matrix, Elektra Festival, Montreal, 2008
What
is the Turbulence Sound Matrix?Announced May 27, Linz, Austria.
Honorary Mention in Digital Musics,
Prix Ars Electronica 2009
Steve Heimbecker posing in the centre of his Turbulence Sound Matrix just moments before the doors open at the Elektra 9 Festival evening concerts.
photo: Camil Scoteanu, Conception Lévy - Elektra - 2008.
During one of four evenings at the Elektra 9 Festival at Usine C, Montreal, a crowd gathers and listens to Signe, a 64 channel surround sound composition of an unlimited duration,
created by Steve Heimbecker for the Turbulence Sound Matrix. The TSM was presented here in a 360 degree circular installation format (rather than concert format).
photo: Camil Scoteanu, Conception Lévy - Elektra - 2008.
The Turbulence Sound Matrix at Elektra 9 (2008), in the Usine C building, Montréal, presented in a 360 degree circular installation format. photo: Steve Heimbecker
video: The Turbulence Sound Matrix, Elektra Festival, Montreal, 2008
The Turbulence
Sound Matrix or TSM is a truly versatile and powerful 3200 watt RMS, 64
channel sound diffusion system which utilizes the real time wave
pattern of the wind digitally recorded by Heimbecker’s 64 channel wind
sensor network, the Wind Array Cascade Machine (2003). The TSM
uses 8 custom made, slightly concaved, free standing speaker columns
that stand nearly 11 feet tall, 36 inches wide, and 42 inches
deep. Each speaker column carries vertically, 8 discrete channels
of sound through custom built speaker cabinets using 6.5 inch, 4 ohm,
high power, full frequency coaxial speakers. Mounted at the base
of each of the 8 speaker columns is a single Phoenix Gold / Rodin Audio, 12 channel ( 4 channels unused)
power amplifier the PG-MX1230. These amplifiers are connected
to the Mac G5 and Motu digital audio hardware with 8 - 100 foot Digiflex 8 channel audio snakes from SF Marketing Inc. and the Ebtech LLS-8
line leveller system supplied by EFKAY
Music Instruments Ltd. The length of the Digiflex cables allows
great flexibility to adjust the installation diameter of the TSM.
The digital hardware of the TSM begins with a Mac G5 (2.3 dual with 8 gig of ram), using the Moto PCI 24 i/o system with a total of 72 i/o. The diffusion software operates with a 128 kbps minimum buffer size. Other sound production sources such as a second multi-channel DAW, or a live audio mixing console, can be implemented for both concert and interactive sound installation scenarios. The recorded wind data of the WACM, using Max MSP software, is the interface platform for the implementation of the layered sound diffusion matrix. This wind data is integrated in the diffusion software, controlling the range of the sound pressure levels dynamically at each speaker. This means that any sound input into the TSM system will be diffused through the 64 immersive channels of the TSM by the silent wave patterns of the wind, creating an example of what Heimbecker calls “wind space architecture”.
In 2003, Steve Heimbecker began the construction of a 64 channel sound generation and diffusion system that uses the data produced by his Wind Array Cascade Machine (2003) or WACM. WACM is a 64 channel sensor network that captures, streams or records in amplitude dynamics, the wave patterns and movement of the wind across a horizontal surface. This system was inspired by the wave patterns of the wind seen in fields of tall grass or grain as the wind blows across them, and exists for Heimbecker as a metaphor for the vibrational sound / sine wave.
The TSM 64 channel speaker matrix is also unique other respects. It is reasonably portable, it is entirely artist owned and operated, it’s software is custom made, and unlike many multi channel sound diffusion systems, the TSM can spatialize sound horizontally and vertically, meaning it moves sound in all directions as naturally as the wind.
In the summer of 2006, to critical review during the sound diffusion installation Montréal Sound Matter at Fonderie Darling, Montréal, one quarter or 16 speakers of the TSM system, in an octaphonic arrangement (in 8 ohm dual mode), were used as the multi channel sound diffusion system.
WACM data has previously been used in other new media installations Heimbecker has created prior to TSM. POD (2003) won an Honorary Mention at Prix Ars Electronica 2005, Linz, Austria, and PARAVENT (2006) was featured at the international exhibition, WAVES: Everything Flows, produced by the RIXC in Riga, Latvia.
For the 2008 world premiere of the TSM at Elektra, Montréal, and for installation presentations requiring continuous play for hours or weeks, the composition Signe 2008 was created by Heimbecker. Signe is created with 3 distinct layers of sound (wind generated sine waves, a 1946 Royal Quiet Deluxe typewriter, a grand piano), all augmented by the flowing wave patterns of the wind. Signe fully engages the sound potential of the Turbulence Sound Matrix, creating an audio art composition that is in constant motion, morphing itself through time and space at very high resolution, riding the waves of the air and the wind. Signe completely immerses us, creating a mesmerizing and completely hypnotic and immersive fabric of sound.
On the occassion of the world premiere of the TSM and Signe at the Elecktra Festival #9 (2008), Montreal, québécois journalist Patrick White wrote: L’Usine C accueillera aussi le dernier projet de Steve Heimbecker. Turbulence Sound Matrix (TSM) est un système de diffusion sonore à 64 canaux / 3200 watts à la fois très puissant, polyvalent et visuellement impressionnant. TSM est présenté en Première mondiale à Elektra cette année et diffusera pour l’occasion, en grande première également, la pièce sonore signe, une composition spécialement crée pour ce système multi-canaux. Le résultat est une installation proposant une immersion sonique, totale et hypnotique.
• The Turbulence Sound Matrix and the compositon Signe were conceived, designed, and created by Steve Heimbecker. Max MSP Programming: Etienne Grenier & Simon Laroche.
• The TSM was produced with the assistance of the Media Art Sections of: Le Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec, The Canada Council for the Arts, La fondation Daniel Langlois, Videographe - Le Parc (residency), and the Qube Assemblage for Art in Motion.
This diagram shows the installation floor plan of the Turbulence Sound Matrix (view from above), in 360 degree circular installation format.
At the Qube Assemblage speaker
factory. On the right, speaker boxes await painting and assembly.
In the centre the speaker
cabinets are painted, and on the right,
the crew (Laure, Steve, and Xavier) dance to celebrate the completion of the painting work.
Steve Heimbecker in May 2008, framed by two speaker columns of the TSM. photo: Camil Scoteanu, Conception Lévy - Elektra - 2008.
On the left, Steve Heimbecker in his studio in January 2007 with a speaker assembly for the Turbulence Sound Matrix. photo: Dave Sidaway, the Montreal Gazette. On the right,
Steve Heimbecker at La Chambre Blanche, Quebec City in 1995, as artist in residence (Spin Cycle, 1995 - Enormouslessness of Cloud Machines CD - 1998). This photo shows
Heimbecker standing in front of an octaphonic speaker system that he designed and built, using 6" inch, 4 ohm, high powered coaxial speakers (this system is still being used in
his studio after 15 years of national and regional concert tours and installations). The sound quality and durability of this speaker design is the basis for speaker design of
the Turbulence Sound Matrix (2008).
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The digital hardware of the TSM begins with a Mac G5 (2.3 dual with 8 gig of ram), using the Moto PCI 24 i/o system with a total of 72 i/o. The diffusion software operates with a 128 kbps minimum buffer size. Other sound production sources such as a second multi-channel DAW, or a live audio mixing console, can be implemented for both concert and interactive sound installation scenarios. The recorded wind data of the WACM, using Max MSP software, is the interface platform for the implementation of the layered sound diffusion matrix. This wind data is integrated in the diffusion software, controlling the range of the sound pressure levels dynamically at each speaker. This means that any sound input into the TSM system will be diffused through the 64 immersive channels of the TSM by the silent wave patterns of the wind, creating an example of what Heimbecker calls “wind space architecture”.
In 2003, Steve Heimbecker began the construction of a 64 channel sound generation and diffusion system that uses the data produced by his Wind Array Cascade Machine (2003) or WACM. WACM is a 64 channel sensor network that captures, streams or records in amplitude dynamics, the wave patterns and movement of the wind across a horizontal surface. This system was inspired by the wave patterns of the wind seen in fields of tall grass or grain as the wind blows across them, and exists for Heimbecker as a metaphor for the vibrational sound / sine wave.
The TSM 64 channel speaker matrix is also unique other respects. It is reasonably portable, it is entirely artist owned and operated, it’s software is custom made, and unlike many multi channel sound diffusion systems, the TSM can spatialize sound horizontally and vertically, meaning it moves sound in all directions as naturally as the wind.
In the summer of 2006, to critical review during the sound diffusion installation Montréal Sound Matter at Fonderie Darling, Montréal, one quarter or 16 speakers of the TSM system, in an octaphonic arrangement (in 8 ohm dual mode), were used as the multi channel sound diffusion system.
WACM data has previously been used in other new media installations Heimbecker has created prior to TSM. POD (2003) won an Honorary Mention at Prix Ars Electronica 2005, Linz, Austria, and PARAVENT (2006) was featured at the international exhibition, WAVES: Everything Flows, produced by the RIXC in Riga, Latvia.
For the 2008 world premiere of the TSM at Elektra, Montréal, and for installation presentations requiring continuous play for hours or weeks, the composition Signe 2008 was created by Heimbecker. Signe is created with 3 distinct layers of sound (wind generated sine waves, a 1946 Royal Quiet Deluxe typewriter, a grand piano), all augmented by the flowing wave patterns of the wind. Signe fully engages the sound potential of the Turbulence Sound Matrix, creating an audio art composition that is in constant motion, morphing itself through time and space at very high resolution, riding the waves of the air and the wind. Signe completely immerses us, creating a mesmerizing and completely hypnotic and immersive fabric of sound.
On the occassion of the world premiere of the TSM and Signe at the Elecktra Festival #9 (2008), Montreal, québécois journalist Patrick White wrote: L’Usine C accueillera aussi le dernier projet de Steve Heimbecker. Turbulence Sound Matrix (TSM) est un système de diffusion sonore à 64 canaux / 3200 watts à la fois très puissant, polyvalent et visuellement impressionnant. TSM est présenté en Première mondiale à Elektra cette année et diffusera pour l’occasion, en grande première également, la pièce sonore signe, une composition spécialement crée pour ce système multi-canaux. Le résultat est une installation proposant une immersion sonique, totale et hypnotique.
• The Turbulence Sound Matrix and the compositon Signe were conceived, designed, and created by Steve Heimbecker. Max MSP Programming: Etienne Grenier & Simon Laroche.
• The TSM was produced with the assistance of the Media Art Sections of: Le Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec, The Canada Council for the Arts, La fondation Daniel Langlois, Videographe - Le Parc (residency), and the Qube Assemblage for Art in Motion.
The Turbulence Sound Matrix at Scotia
Bank Nuit Blanche festival, Toronto, October 2008, curated by New
Adventures in Sound Art. On the left visitors listen and expereince
the TSM
and the compostion Signe, and on the right a line up begins at the entrance to enter the TSM: Signe 12 hour installation presentation.
video: The Turbulence Sound Matrix, Nuit Blanche Festival, Toronto, 2008
and the compostion Signe, and on the right a line up begins at the entrance to enter the TSM: Signe 12 hour installation presentation.
video: The Turbulence Sound Matrix, Nuit Blanche Festival, Toronto, 2008
This diagram shows the installation floor plan of the Turbulence Sound Matrix (view from above), in 360 degree circular installation format.
Production photos of the
Turbulence Sound Matrix at Qube Assemblage studio in 2007 and 2008.
A rear view detail photo series from (right to left - top, mid, bottom) from the Qube Assemblage studio, Montreal, showing the aluminium frame, speakers and multi channel amplifier
of the first completed TSM speaker column.
A rear view detail photo series from (right to left - top, mid, bottom) from the Qube Assemblage studio, Montreal, showing the aluminium frame, speakers and multi channel amplifier
of the first completed TSM speaker column.
On the left, a view of
the Qube Assemblage studio with the
TSM installed (April, 2008). Max MSP specialists Etienne Grenier
and Simon Laroche work in the back ground. On the right,
Steve Heimbecker, with the help of Jim Kennedy, raise a speaker column after it was assembled horizontally on the floor.
Steve Heimbecker, with the help of Jim Kennedy, raise a speaker column after it was assembled horizontally on the floor.
the crew (Laure, Steve, and Xavier) dance to celebrate the completion of the painting work.
Steve Heimbecker in May 2008, framed by two speaker columns of the TSM. photo: Camil Scoteanu, Conception Lévy - Elektra - 2008.
On the left, Steve Heimbecker in his studio in January 2007 with a speaker assembly for the Turbulence Sound Matrix. photo: Dave Sidaway, the Montreal Gazette. On the right,
Steve Heimbecker at La Chambre Blanche, Quebec City in 1995, as artist in residence (Spin Cycle, 1995 - Enormouslessness of Cloud Machines CD - 1998). This photo shows
Heimbecker standing in front of an octaphonic speaker system that he designed and built, using 6" inch, 4 ohm, high powered coaxial speakers (this system is still being used in
his studio after 15 years of national and regional concert tours and installations). The sound quality and durability of this speaker design is the basis for speaker design of
the Turbulence Sound Matrix (2008).
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