Pollyanna Project: A Harmonious Fusion of Creativity and Technical Innovation

Introduction:

In the world of interactive cabaret, the Pollyanna project, funded by Creative Informatics, presented a thrilling challenge. Our mission was to enable pre-recorded cabaret performances to dynamically respond to live audiences in a gallery setting. This venture was made possible through a creative collaboration between Icky Arts CIC, Louis McHugh of Bliind Desiign, and our team at Black Goblin. Together, we united creativity, technical expertise, and innovation to craft a comprehensive solution.

The Cast:

Let’s introduce the key players:

Icky Arts CIC: Pioneers in creative technology and multidisciplinary art, Icky Arts CIC took center stage in conceiving and orchestrating the project.

Louis McHugh, Bliind Desiign: Louis McHugh, spearheading Bliind Desiign, is the challenge respondent for this project, having been granted funding to support Icky Arts CIC by developing this project, Louis commissioned Black Goblin to help with the audio analysis aspect, while designing and creating the main system that uses our technology to create responsive experiences.

Black Goblin: Our team assumed a central role in developing a critical project component – the audio analysis module. This module, seamlessly integrated into Louis’s comprehensive system, became the bridge that allowed for the programming of trigger changes in video, elevating the entire cabaret experience.

The Technical Choreography:

Crucial to the Pollyanna project was the development of a system capable of real-time audio analysis, measuring both audience energy and pitch. These measurements were programmed as triggers for visual and other audio elements. We at Black Goblin took on this challenge with two key modules:

Act 1: The Energy Meter: This module expertly processed audio input, removing unwanted floor noise and background music while measuring loudness in LUFS and true peak values. In live settings, it captured the audience’s energy, providing data to control audio-visual elements within Louis McHugh’s system, thus enhancing the audience’s experience.

Act 2: The Pitch Detection Module: This module paved the way for pitch measurements by filtering out external noise and focusing solely on the human voice spectrum. This was essential for capturing audience feedback, adding a vital interactive element to live events.

Technical Challenges and Solutions:

Our journey was marked by challenges:

Music Background Rejection: Initially, we explored innovative methods for the music background rejection module, including the integration of pretrained models into prototyping platforms like MAX MSP. However, this approach proved resource-intensive and less efficient in practice. To overcome this, we opted for a hybrid approach, blending machine learning analysis with a custom filter. This hybrid approach was not only highly effective but also efficient, yielding the desired results.

Custom MAX MSP Features: To tailor the system to the unique requirements of the Pollyanna project, we introduced several custom features within MAX MSP. One notable addition was the dynamic input system, allowing users to seamlessly adjust the number of microphones in use, offering project-specific flexibility. We also implemented various features to optimize the user experience, enhancing the system’s functionality and ease of use.

The Grand Performance:

With Icky Arts CIC, Louis McHugh from Bliind Desiign, and Black Goblin working in unison, the project realized its vision. The outcome was an innovative audio analysis system that transformed cabaret performances into interactive masterpieces. Pollyanna not only met but surpassed its objectives, breathing new life into the cabaret world and opening doors to innovative possibilities in interactive art.

In Conclusion:

The Pollyanna Project showcased that the fusion of creative vision and technical expertise can create an artistic and technical masterpiece. It celebrated the leadership and innovation contributed by Icky Arts CIC, Louis McHugh from Bliind Desiign, and our team at Black Goblin. Together, we orchestrated a harmonious collaboration that elevated the cabaret experience to uncharted heights.