Miburi
Encyclopedia
The Miburi is a 'wearable musical instrument' which was released commercially by the Yamaha Corporation’s Tokyo-based experimental division in 1994.
It conforms to what Todd Winkler refers to as the ‘body sensor’ group of controllers (the other are spatial sensors, acoustic models and ‘new instruments’).
The Miburi system consists of a vest with embedded capacitive displacement sensor
s, two hand-grips, and shoe inserts with pressure sensors, and a belt-worn signal distribution unit joined by a cable to a small synthesizer
/MIDI converter. A wireless version, conforming to Japanese wireless
frequency regulations was available within Japan only.
The Miburi's belt unit, “MBU-20”, processes data from the sensors into MIDI pitch and velocity information. The unit can be programmed to interpret the data using three ‘trigger’ modes: ‘Cross-point’ mode; ‘Stop’ mode and ‘All’ a combination of both modes. ‘Cross-point’ mode measures the speed of the transducer’s flexion asit traverses its zero point (when the flex sensor is straight). The six ‘flex’ sensors send 12 notes – this is because they measure inward and outward movement of each joint as separate notes. ‘Stop’ mode sends note and maximum velocity values at the conclusion of a gesture. ‘All’ interprets sensor data in both modes simultaneously.
The mapping of each sensor is highly programmable. Each sensor can be mapped on the synthesizer unit, “MSU-20”, to any MIDI note, interpreted in any of the three modes outlined above according to 48 different response modes. The response modes (preset by Yamaha) define the manner in which the sensor’s output is graphed to velocity. All the above definitions are components of a single Map ‘Preset’, there are 32 programmable preset positions available.
The need to ‘tether’ the Miburi to its synthesizer unit is also clearly a drawback for movement detection and a restriction for the dancer. However, the Miburi has the robust design, and very predictable sensor output that might be expected from one of the principal electronic musical instrument
manufacturers.
The Miburi may be combined with more sophisticated sound sources and software-based interactive mapping such as MAX/msp. Extensions of its basic functions include control of video , lighting , utilization as a component of a “multimedia orchestra” and “to help children engage their whole bodies while interacting with computers”.
Categorisation and functions of the Miburi
The Miburi can be characterized as an “inside-in” system according to Axel Mulder’s three categories of motion sensing systems:- inside-in - sensor(s) and source(s) that are both on the body;
- inside-out - on-body sensors that sense artificial external sources;
- outside-in - external sensors that sense artificial sources on the body
It conforms to what Todd Winkler refers to as the ‘body sensor’ group of controllers (the other are spatial sensors, acoustic models and ‘new instruments’).
The Miburi system consists of a vest with embedded capacitive displacement sensor
Capacitive displacement sensor
Capacitive displacement sensors “are non-contact devices capable of high-resolution measurement of the position and/or change of position of any conductive target”. They are also able to measure the thickness or density of non-conductive materials...
s, two hand-grips, and shoe inserts with pressure sensors, and a belt-worn signal distribution unit joined by a cable to a small synthesizer
Synthesizer
A synthesizer is an electronic instrument capable of producing sounds by generating electrical signals of different frequencies. These electrical signals are played through a loudspeaker or set of headphones...
/MIDI converter. A wireless version, conforming to Japanese wireless
Wireless
Wireless telecommunications is the transfer of information between two or more points that are not physically connected. Distances can be short, such as a few meters for television remote control, or as far as thousands or even millions of kilometers for deep-space radio communications...
frequency regulations was available within Japan only.
The Miburi's belt unit, “MBU-20”, processes data from the sensors into MIDI pitch and velocity information. The unit can be programmed to interpret the data using three ‘trigger’ modes: ‘Cross-point’ mode; ‘Stop’ mode and ‘All’ a combination of both modes. ‘Cross-point’ mode measures the speed of the transducer’s flexion asit traverses its zero point (when the flex sensor is straight). The six ‘flex’ sensors send 12 notes – this is because they measure inward and outward movement of each joint as separate notes. ‘Stop’ mode sends note and maximum velocity values at the conclusion of a gesture. ‘All’ interprets sensor data in both modes simultaneously.
The mapping of each sensor is highly programmable. Each sensor can be mapped on the synthesizer unit, “MSU-20”, to any MIDI note, interpreted in any of the three modes outlined above according to 48 different response modes. The response modes (preset by Yamaha) define the manner in which the sensor’s output is graphed to velocity. All the above definitions are components of a single Map ‘Preset’, there are 32 programmable preset positions available.
Evaluation of the Miburi
These features make the Miburi extremely effective as a computing input device. However the Miburi’s synthesizer unit is limited in its possibilities as a sound source and more importantly is only able to process gestures in a direct one-to-one relationship to the sounds they produce.The need to ‘tether’ the Miburi to its synthesizer unit is also clearly a drawback for movement detection and a restriction for the dancer. However, the Miburi has the robust design, and very predictable sensor output that might be expected from one of the principal electronic musical instrument
Electronic musical instrument
An electronic musical instrument is a musical instrument that produces its sounds using electronics. Such an instrument sounds by outputting an electrical audio signal that ultimately drives a loudspeaker....
manufacturers.
The Miburi may be combined with more sophisticated sound sources and software-based interactive mapping such as MAX/msp. Extensions of its basic functions include control of video , lighting , utilization as a component of a “multimedia orchestra” and “to help children engage their whole bodies while interacting with computers”.
Composers of music for the Miburi
- Saburo Hirano "Ping Bang" (1995) for solo MIBURI - Uses the Miburi as a Multimedia controller
- Hiroshi Chu Okubo professional miburist
- Hitomi KanekoHitomi KanekoMs. Hitomi Kaneko is a Japanese classical music composer.- Background :Born in Japan in 1965, Ms. Kaneko graduated from the composition class at Toho Gakuen School of Music in 1988, and completed postgraduate studies in 1994. She went to study in France with a French Government scholarship in...
"捩じれた時 II Le Temps Tordu II" (for Miburi and Three Dancers)(1997) - Lindsay VickeryLindsay VickeryLindsay Vickery is an Australian composer and performer.-Early life and education:Lindsay Vickery was born in Perth. He studied composition with John Exton and Roger Smalley at the University of Western Australia...
"your sky is filled with billboards of the sky" (2002) for solo MIBURI - Uses the Miburi as a Multimedia controller - Susumu HirasawaSusumu Hirasawais a Japanese electropop artist and composer.In 1972, he enrolled at . From 1972 to 1978, he performed in his first band Mandrake, a progressive rock group influenced by King Crimson and Yes. In 1979 he formed a New Wave synth-rock & techno-pop band called P-Model, along with two former members of...