PLASTIKMAN LIVE 2010: SYNK IPHONE INTERACTION

Conceptualized by Richie Hawtin and developed with RJ Fischer and Bryan McDade (Minus), SYNK is the official companion iPhone/iPod Touch application of the 2010 Plastikman Live worldwide tour. SYNK users will participate in an experiment in audience-performer interaction aiming to blur the lines of perception and participation.

“It has always fascinated me how sound, lighting, visuals and human interactivity define and deepen a concert experience. By focusing on my own unique Plastikman sound I hope to find new freedom and explore the extremes of where these elements converge, challenging our senses, stimulating our memories, and creating an experience of physical and mental intensity that can be only Plastikman.” – Richie Hawtin, January 2010

Live performance interaction components include:

LOGIKAL
Based upon earlier "Lodgikal Nonsense" and "Vokx" voice tracks, this state invites the audience to re-organize the word samples using a user interface of 20 touch buttons. In this state the centre of performance control is moved from the stage and into the audience.

KAMERA
This state is accessible throughout the show and gives users a live video stream of an internal perspective of the performance.

SYNKOTIK
This state explores the synkronicity of realtime-generated percussion patterns and their visual counterparts, integrating the stage LED wall and the built in displays on each SYNK activated iPhone/iPod Touch.

KONSOLE
This state is active during the entire show with realtime performance information. At specific moments an extended Konsole state becomes activated, allowing further insight into the realtime programming of the performance’s drum and percussive elements, while also providing visual feedback of musical and effect parameters. A simplified remote Konsole is available to all SYNK users worldwide and will be activated during all Plastikman Live performances.
Participants should connect to the Plastikman Wi-Fi network at each peformance and will be notified of the activation of the different states by their iPhone/iPod Touch at specific moments during the show.

The SYNK experience will not be limited to viewers of the live show. In between the performances the SYNK application will be in sleeper mode and function as a Plastikman atmospheric location shifter. By using visualizations inspired by Derivative, combined with the iPhone’s built-in microphone and accelerometer, users are immersed in a Plastikman environment. For best results, please use headphones.

SYNK is available now in the iTunes App Store here. Compatible with iPhone or iPod touch. Requires iPhone OS 3.0 or later.

A short teaser video of the first Plastikman Live technical rehearsal in Mannheim is available to view here.

Also check out www.plastikman.com for photos and videos of the rehearsal and Time Warp performance, more information about the visuals contest with Derivative, the iPhone/iPod Touch SYNK application, and continuing updates of the tour schedule.

Richie Hawtin presents Plastikman Live at Pukkelpop on Friday, August 20.