Dimi-H was a prototype musical instrument based on a three-dimensional tonal space concept by my late friend Erkki Kurenniemi. The system consisted of two cameras connected to a computer and a 3D display. The input of the two cameras was triangulated to obtain a three dimensional coordinate.
Erkki originally proposed the creation of the instrument for the NoiseCity event of 2005 in Helsinki, for which I created an initial prototype by attaching two webcams to a laptop. The basis for the prototype was Erkki’s 2004 paper “Chords, scales and divisor lattices”. I completed the prototype only 7 hours before the event, but it worked reasonably well. Erkki and I played the instrument live, although I must admit I was too worried about the prototype’s reliability to fully enjoy the NoiseCity experience!
In 2006 I had an opportunity to create a more ‘production-ready’ version of the instrument for the Finnish Institute in Paris. This version used two PAL cameras mounted to a Pentium 4 computer. Due to low-light conditions a few adjustments were made to the presentation, such as spotlights to highlight the instrument’s tonal mapping space. The instrument was available to the public between the 9th of March and 28th of April 2006 as a part of the exhibition “Une histoire saccadée”.
A final version of Dimi-H was set up for the Kiasma Museum of Contemporary Art in Helsinki for its Erkki Kurenniemi exhibition in 2013-2014. The stereo camera setup was replaced with an IR depth sensor (Kinect) which both simplified the system calibration and improved low light performance. The software and UX remained generally the same as in the 2006 Paris version.
The Dimi-H Story in Pictures – Clickable Gallery
Erkki Kurenniemi and I at the NoiseCity event in 2005, getting ready to play the Dimi-H prototype (photographer credit unknown)
Erkki picking up note clusters with a red glove, and me picking up virtual lattice points with a red drumstick (photographer credit unknown)
Packing the Dimi-H hardware for the trip from London to Paris for the Finnish Institute system of 2006
The 2006 Paris system's cameras were regular off-the-shelf coaxial PAL cameras, but this was a big upgrade from the inexpensive NoiseCity 2005 webcams.
Setting up Dimi-H at the Finnish institute in 2006. Wiring power for the cameras, and confirming the hardware works.
The 2006 Paris installation is more or less complete - cameras set up and operational, projector configured for the screen, and system calibrated.
The dark exhibition hall had an intimate ambience.
If the system was idle for a while, an instruction (prenez le gant - pick up the glove!) was displayed.
Fast forwarding to 2013, a final version of Dimi-H was set up at the Kiasma Museum of Contemporary Art in Helsinki.
In this version the two PAL cameras were replaced with a depth sensor (Microsoft Kinect, visible near the ceiling above) for improved low light performance.
Description of the Dimi-H exhibit at Kiasma in 2013 in Finnish, Swedish and English
Picking some virtual lattice point notes with my hand at the exhibition opening ceremony.
References
- “Chords, scales and divisor lattices” (Erkki Kurenniemi, December 2nd 2004)
- NoiseCity Helsinki (January 15th 2005)
- “Une histoire saccadée” (Institut Finlandais, Paris, March 9th – April 28th 2006)
- Erkki Kurenniemi (English Wikipedia article)