Taking music innovation and the art of DJ-ing to a new level, Berklee College of Music staged an Orbit controller (numark.com/product/orbit) competition for students enrolled in the master’s program in music technology innovation (MTI) at its Valencia campus. Meeting the challenge to come up with the coolest application for Numark’s Orbit wireless DJ MIDI controller, the winning trio, named the Rule of Threes, (featuring William Clark ,U.S; Timothy Shull U.S.; and Hugo Caicedo Ecuador) performed at the MIT EmTech conference (http://es.technologyreview.com/emtech/espana/en/) in Valencia this month.
“The response to the Orbit competition was amazing, demonstrating the aptitude and hunger for innovation and technology—combined with creativity—of our students on the first-ever MTI master program,” said Stephen Webber, MTI program director. “In the first round we had several students working solo, one Orbit duet, one Orbit trio, and even an Orbit chamber ensemble of nine players. Controlling music and video within Max MSP, Ableton Live*1, and other programs, they were able to further extend the possibilities and originality of what could be achieved.”
The final took place on the impressive scoring stage at the Valencia campus and was judged not surprisingly using technology—over Skype—to include Christopher Roman, senior product manager from Rhode Island-based Orbit controller manufacturer Numark and Webber.
“We were impressed by the variety of both audio and visual performances and the applications that the Berklee master’s students were able to achieve with Orbit,” said Christopher Roman of Numark. “The deciding factor in choosing the winner, however, was the incorporation of video and circus arts by the Rule of Threes into their very original performance, taking advantage of Orbit‘s motion sensors and freedom of wireless MIDI.”
The Rule of Threes formed part of the line-up featured at Emtech Espana 2013 and presented and performed in the Teatro Martin i Soler to the technology gurus, scientists, and young entrepreneurs attending the event.
Alongside Webber, the Berklee College of Music Scratch Ambassadors also performed at the Emtech event. Incarnations of this group—featuring Berklee master’s students and accomplished musicians from around the world who come together to mash up their cultures and talents to produce groundbreaking music—have toured China, Europe, the U.S., and Central America. For this performance, they also incorporated Akai Professional EWI, Numark TTX, and iDJ Pro products.
Berklee College of Music launched its new master’s program in music technology innovation in September 2013. This intensive one-year program is designed to offer musicians and composers an unparalleled opportunity to explore new artistic directions using innovations in music, technology, and application of technology to music to prepare them to succeed in the music world of today. There are currently 20 students from various countries, including Australia, Italy, U.K., Jamaica, and the U.S., attending the inaugural program in Valencia this year.