F not F v1

Rebekah Wilson, 2019

Info and media

F not F v1 is the first experiment in exploring whether machines can facilitate the experience of being together while at a distance.

A machine-learning model was trained on a series of simple piano phrases. As two pianists, performing from different locations and connected via a high-quality low-latency audio connection over the internet, played the phrases the model detected what phrase was being played. If the phrases matched, a pre-composed sample was triggered. During the course of the performance as synchronisation grew in frequency, the pianists increasingly experienced the notion of playing together, even though they could not always hear each other distinctly.

Performance recording

Composed and performed by Reinier van Houdt and the composer, for the Orpheus conference Simulation and Computer Experimentation in Music and Sound Art, March 22-23rd 2019 in Ghent, Belgium.