Exploring multi-touch instruments with MPE and MIDI 2.0

Abstract

This thesis explores multi-touch instruments with MIDI Polyphonic Expression (MPE) and MIDI 2.0 from a performer’s perspective. It discusses mapping strategies between a multi-touch controller and a synthesizer sound engine and provides insights into which synthesizer parameters are more suitable to control. It discusses an iterative prototyping approach to designing an expressive multi-touch instrument with MPE using a multi-dimensional controller connected to a synthesizer sound engine designed in Pure Data. Finally, it looks into the new MIDI 2.0 protocol, providing reflections on how this can benefit expressive control of an instrument in music performances compared to using MPE.