| dc.description.abstract | This thesis presents a novel tool, RoboCapo; an augmentation device for the guitar, a digitally controlled actuated capo mechanism that explores the emergence of new complex and meaningful modes of musical interaction. The device enables the musician to incorporate new techniques of guitar playing, freeing up cognitive bandwidth and promoting human and technological capabilities that enables gestures that may be rarely used, prominently the little finger in the musical endeavour. The concept design and prototype are presented, along with an exploration into its potential applications as a semi-controlled and a fully automated device. The mechanical and electronic latency, and the force applied by the capo which affects the sustain of the vibration of the string are evaluated. Artistically, a set of composed excerpts with the use of the proposed device are presented in the form of video and audio recordings. The RoboCapo in itself is not meant to produce sound via string manipulation, but is seen as a tertiary finger that evokes intimate control of the sound which can be compared as a human augmentation that aids in fretting the strings. Lastly, the thesis opens a discussion on the emergent behaviours exhibiting sound producing elements and expands on other unexpected facets that have been observed in the making. | |
