Over the sea

This piece needs a MIDI pedal on stage to trigger the scenes. During the premiere it was the violonist but it can be triggered by whoever wants/can. The pedal triggers scenes in a Ableton Live master session that plays audio files. Live also sends MIDI internally to the Max application that acts as an effect processor. In tech booth, a BCF2000 controls both Max and Live applications. Other MIDI controller could work to.

Speaker set-up

Max and Live applications have 6 audio outputs following a 6 speaker ring setup (1/2 : front stereo, 3/4 side stereo, 5/6 back stereo).

DAC/ADC assignations :

• ADC1: Violon
• ADC2: Alto
• ADC3: Cello
• ADC4: Accordéon Left
• ADC5: Accordéon Right
• DAC1: HP1 Face Left
• DAC2: HP2 Face Right
• DAC3: HP3 Salle Left
• DAC4: HP4 Salle Right
• DAC5: HP5 arrière Left
• DAC6: HP6 arrière Right

Midi setup

One player on stage triggers Live scenes using a midi pedal. The midi pedal is going into a BCF2000 back to the regie. The BCF2000 is plugged to both main and spare thanks to a booster (Use out B in S3 mode). In return, the main computer is plugged into midi in of BCF2000. Live controls Max through internal midi mapping.

Software installation

1. To run the piece, you will need to download these softwares :
   - Live 12.3.5 or upper
   - Max 9.0 or upper
   - Fireface 800 driver
2. Then, download the performance patch, open dmg file "2026_OverTheSea_performance" and copy it's content locally on your computer.
3. Launch Max 9, go to Options > Audio Status... and set the following settings :
       - Input/Output Device : Fireface 800
       - Sampling Rate : 44100
       - I/O Vector size : 256
       - Signal Vector Size : 128
       - Overdrive : On
       - Scheduler in Audio Interrupt Off
4. Remove file preferences in Options > File Preferences...
5. Quit Max and launch "2026_OverTheSea.maxproj". No warning or error message should be listed. The project should looks like this :

1. Launch "2026_Chizy_PROD_performance.V1.als" Live Project. It should look like this :

1. Go to Live audio settings :

• set output device to Fireface 800
• set sampling rate to 44100

1. Go to Live MIDI settings :

• activate BCF2000 or your MIDI controller as MIDI In (make sure Remote box is ticked)
• activate "to Max 1" as a MIDI output (make sure Track box is ticked)

Now make sure the return tracks outputs audio on the good speakers (1/2 : front stereo, 3/4 : side stereo, 5/6 : back stereo) and "temps réel midi" track outputs MIDI to max 1 :

1. Set up your BCF2000 or other MIDI controller to control output volumes
   - in Ableton, you need to MIDI map the volume levels of the three return tracks A B and C using MIDI mapping feature. You also need to MIDI map the "Next scene" and "Play scene" master controls to the MIDI pedal.
   
   - in Max, you need to MAP the Master fader in DSP subpatcher. You can do so by using MIDI mapping feature or use your own method.
   
2. Don't forget the score ;-)

System calibration and tests

Classical multichannel calibration. The six points of diffusion should allow spat for a perfect circle.

Patch presentation

The max patch consists in 3 main windows:

• Main window : 2026_OverTheSea. Here you can access to every important window, stop the show, check the conductor and CPU load.

• DSP window : see input/output levels, see matrix routings and see spatialisation effects

• Events window : check what event is currently running

Initialization routine

1. In Max, click init in main patch window
2. In Ableton, test the pedal and make sure it triggers the scenes
3. In Max, verify that the scenes are also getting triggered by checking the event window
4. When done, init both Live and Max
5. Check the volume faders
6. Here you go !

Performance notes

Try to obtain a good sonic fusion (mix) between accordion and strings with electronics.
Be careful of first effect (spectral delay) which has to be muted when too loud.
Adjust realtime and sound files levels.
Check the score to be sure that no pedals are skipped.

For any question:

Please ask beller@ircam.fr