Expressive potential
Encyclopedia
Expressive potential is the degree to which a given music control interface
(input device
) enables a musician to control musical expression
. An interface with low expressive potential enables control over a narrow range of musical expression, no matter how virtuosic
its player, whereas an interface with high expressive potential enables control over a wide range of musical expression. Expressive potential is independent of how that potential was, is, or will be realized in any given composition or performance. This independence allows the expressive potential of new musical instruments & interfaces to be compared and contrasted objectively with traditional musical instruments.
The concept of expressive potential is closely related to the concept of affordance
, i.e. all "action possibilities" latent in the environment, objectively measurable and independent of the individual's ability to recognize (or realize) them.
One possible metric for expressive potential is the number of degrees of freedom
provided by the interface. The more degrees of freedom, the more independent expressive variables a musician can control independently during performance.
The development of new interfaces to control musical expression is an active research area, supporting an annual conference, New Interfaces for Musical Expression.
MIDI controller
MIDI controller is used in two senses.*In one sense, a controller is hardware or software which generates and transmits MIDI data to MIDI-enabled devices....
(input device
Input device
In computing, an input device is any peripheral used to provide data and control signals to an information processing system such as a computer or other information appliance...
) enables a musician to control musical expression
Musical expression
Musical expression is the art of playing music with communication. The elements of music that comprise expression include dynamic indications, forte or piano, phrasing, differing qualities of touch and articulation, color, intensity, energy and excitement all at the service of the composer's...
. An interface with low expressive potential enables control over a narrow range of musical expression, no matter how virtuosic
Virtuoso
A virtuoso is an individual who possesses outstanding technical ability in the fine arts, at singing or playing a musical instrument. The plural form is either virtuosi or the Anglicisation, virtuosos, and the feminine form sometimes used is virtuosa...
its player, whereas an interface with high expressive potential enables control over a wide range of musical expression. Expressive potential is independent of how that potential was, is, or will be realized in any given composition or performance. This independence allows the expressive potential of new musical instruments & interfaces to be compared and contrasted objectively with traditional musical instruments.
The concept of expressive potential is closely related to the concept of affordance
Affordance
An affordance is a quality of an object, or an environment, which allows an individual to perform an action. For example, a knob affords twisting, and perhaps pushing, while a cord affords pulling...
, i.e. all "action possibilities" latent in the environment, objectively measurable and independent of the individual's ability to recognize (or realize) them.
One possible metric for expressive potential is the number of degrees of freedom
Degrees of freedom (physics and chemistry)
A degree of freedom is an independent physical parameter, often called a dimension, in the formal description of the state of a physical system...
provided by the interface. The more degrees of freedom, the more independent expressive variables a musician can control independently during performance.
The development of new interfaces to control musical expression is an active research area, supporting an annual conference, New Interfaces for Musical Expression.