The Gordon Conference 2010 held at Waterville Valley Resort, New Hampshire was the first of its kind to encompass Crystal Engineering.

Author Allan S Myerson led the discussion on Crystallisation Fundamental, while other topics covered in the conference included: The Design of Organic Strategies, Process Chemistry and Scale up (Pharmaceuticals), Polymorphism and Crystal Structure prediction, and Organic Reactions in the Solid State to name just a few.

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This thing is good for over 170mph and 0-60mph in 2.3 seconds with a power output of 152.9 hp!!

Anyways, I decided to take some snaps with the D80, enjoy.

Now, originally my idea was to learn how to create an iPhone app.  Probably like a lot of other designers out there.  Initially I stumbled across something called Titanium.  This is an app in which you can use web languages to create your app across several platforms including Android.  You will still need access to a Mac with the iPhone SDK installed.

This is where I initially ran in to a problem.  I can use Macs and I don’t mind  them.  However I prefer my x64 W7 Ultimate machine.  So, I initially started to run OSX Snow Leopard virtually.  I simply grabbed an image from TPB and ran it in VMWare Player 7.  This works fine.

Now I have actually had some time to come to start learning how to make an app I’ve decided, why don’t I just learn Objective-C straight out?

Again this is not so straight forward on Windows but it IS possible.  Here’s how.

I found that the iPhone development is based on a subset of the Mac Cocoa framework. OSX came from NeXTStep. Cocoa is mostly NeXTStep libraries.

Getting Started

1. 1) Download and install GNUStep System and Core for windows.
2. 2) Learn & write some objective-c code using some of the NS libraries
3. 3) Compile using gcc (comes with GNUStep). I use ant, my build file is attached – fiddle with it to work in your environment
4. 4) You may also have to have CygWin installed. I’m not actualy sure which pieces are making this all work yet, so give that a try (install the base package, plus gcc, gdb, and whatever else you like)

Jason Grey

An Introduction to Objective-C

In truth, there is actually only one syntax addition to the language — the syntax for sending a message to an object:

  [anObject doSomethingWith: anotherObject];

This statement simply sends the message doSomethingWith: to anObject, with an argument of anotherObject. An Objective-C message call can be used anywhere a C statement can be used, such as in a conditional statement or within another Objective-C message. On compilers that support it, Objective-C messages can be mixed in C++ code, allowing the programmer to pick and choose the best aspects of either language.

In addition, there are some keywords that have been added to allow for the definition and implementation of classes, such as the definition for the class of which anObject is a member:

@interface MyClass : NSObject
{
  int aVariable;
  id  subObject;
}

+ alloc;
+ defaultObject;

- init;
- (int) doSomethingWith: (id)anotherObject;

@end

Here, @interface tells the compiler we are defining an interface for the class named MyClass, which is a subclass of the class NSObject. NSObject is the root class used by GNUstep (The traditional Objective-C root class Object, is not used at all in GNUstep, although it is available). The root class is not a subclass of any other class. Although it is not required that a class descend from a root class like NSObject, this hierarchy is so firmly ingrained in the language, that it is rare to see classes that are a root class by themselves. The root class contains some of the most basic and often used functionality, which gives you the advantage of knowing that all your classes will responds to these basic messages. Out of the 300 or so classes in the GNUstep core library, only two are root classes.

The curly brackets after the class definition enclose the data that is encapsulated in the class. These variables are called instance variables, because they are variables that belong to an instance of a class.

The rest of the interface defines the methods implemented by the class. A method is a description of a message a class responds to. A ‘+‘ indicates a class method. Class methods are often called factory methods, because typically a factory method is used to create or manufacture instances of the class. The most popular class method isalloc, which allocates space for an instance of the class (but does not initialize the class — that is usually reserved for the instance method init). A ‘-‘ indicates an instance method. For example, the doSomethingWith: method defined above takes one argument, the object anotherObject, and returns an integer. Class messages can only be sent to a class. Instance messages can only be sent to an instance of a class.

GNUStep

James Lashmar – Showreel 2010 from James Lashmar on Vimeo.

Boy 8 Bit @ Essential Mix (BBC Radio 1) 15.05.2010
This is Boy 8 Bit’s debut Essential Mix, and he’s done a cracking job of it. His mix features tracks from the likes of Ali Love, Mele, Leftfield, Yousef and Florence and The Machine.
01. Boy 8-Bit — The Blood Tide [White]
02. Aleem — Get Loose Dub [NIA]
03. Eli Escobar — Glass House [Plant Music]
04. Patrick Turner — Planets Align [Inversus Records]
05. DJ Sprinkles — Grandcentral Pt 1 (MCDE Remix Dub) [Endless Flight]
06. Ali Love — Love Harder (Jokers of The scene Unreleased Remix) [White]
07. Gui Boratto — The Glam [Kompakt]
08. Kolombo — Acai [Boxer Recordings]
09. Liz Cirelli — Ultraviolet [LouLou]
10. Kaiser Souzai — Altocumulus Floccus (Piemont Remix) [Yellow Tail]
11. Visti & Meyland — All Night Long (Trentemoller Remix) [Eskimo]
12. Justin Martin — Get Low [Dirty Bird]
13. Diamond K — Damn Track [White]
14. Boy 8-Bit — Tropical Heat [White]
15. Mele — Bombay (Nadastrom Remix) [Mixpak]
16. DJ Will Roc — Twilight Zone [Unruly]
17. Zombie Disco Squad — The Duke Sound [Made To Play]
18. Footsteps — Worker [White]
19. Detroit Grand Pubahs — Sandwedges (Unknown Mix) [White]
20. Ron Hardy — Sensation (Obi Blanche Remix) [White]
21. Carte Blanche — Black Billionaires [Ed Banger]
22. Alan Fitzpatrick — Green Light [Tokio]
23. Boy 8-Bit — Yard Birds [Turbo]
24. Boy 8-Bit — The Keep [This is Music]
25. Boy 8-Bit — Baltic Pine (Roy Apron Dub) [White]
26. Ink & Needle — Thirteen [Tattoo]
27. Bookashade Vs Mandy — Donut (Boy 8-Bit Remix) [Living the Dream]
28. Boy 8-Bit — An Impending Sense Of Doom [White]
29. MMM — Nous Sommes [MMM]
30. Pig & Dan — Terminate [Cocoon]
31. Leftfield — Phat Planet (Dave Clarke Remix) [Hard Hands]
32. Thomas Schumacher — Red Purple [Spiel-zeug Schallplatten]
33. Joe and Will Ask? — The Rusty Pig [Gulp]
34. Florence and The Machine — Drumming Song (Boy 8-Bit remix) [White]
35. Yousef — Come Home [Cocoon]
36. Josh One — Contemplation (King Britt Remix — Mat Playford Edit) [Social Problem]
37. Rodriguez Jr. — Pandora [Leena Music]

Download! > http://bit.ly/dveLB0

For the past few weeks in Process & Production we have been focussing on developing the code to light and 8×8 led matrix as well as actually breadboarding it. As this project moves further I have realised an idea that I think is really nice. The idea is to take regular network traffic on a local machine and output it to the matrix in a form of graphic equaliser or EQ, most commonly associated with sound.

I like this because I think that it will make quite a dynamic and interesting visualisation and also because it will fool people into thinking that it is monitoring sound.

To be able to do this I have been looking at the Carnivore library for Processing.

Below is a couple of examples of what the carnivore library can do.

A visual representation of network data

Download and run PC : Mac

A more advanced representation with colour and linkage

Download and run PC : Mac

Concept Video

A new idea

After posting a concept video of an LED Matrix outlining an idea to display upload and download traffic from a localhost to LEDs in the form of a graphic EQ, I have since had a change of idea.

My new idea is still sticking with network data but something a little more complicated.  I am going to take 10 ip address’s at a time (i’m still unsure on how i’m going to get these ip’s) and display the 4 blocks from each ip address, ie. 129.44.33.20  in lines accross the LED matrix and have them ‘roll’ from the top of the matrix to the bottom.  When all 10 ip’s have been displayed, the program will catch the last ip address and display it using numbers on the matrix instead.

I am going to call this project IP-2-LED

Development

So it’s time to start building something. I will inevitably be remaking this once the prototype is finished.

Here’s some initial development.

This is a video of a laser cutting my Ai designed template out of 6mm clear perspex.  This is to be the container of the LEDs

These photos show the perspex with the LEDs glued, using a glue gun and also the prototype wiring using a breadboard.

This is a video of processing controlling the physical LED matrix using arrays. The animation is done frame by frame across the 8×8 pixel grid you can see on the screen.

New Display Box

You can also add social network accounts to outlook! > http://www.microsoft.com/office/2010/en/socialconnector/default.aspx

Here are some screenshots, click fs to go fullscreen.

For this project we have to animate an Illustration from a fellow call member who has just come back from Korea for three months!
Click the image for a higher res.

I’m using flash,after effects and max to animate this line drawing.

After doing a quick render of my work so far in Ae, I imported it to flash just to see how this would work and it works well! After colouring the Illustration I’ve done some more work in Ae. There is still a bit to do at this stage, just a few more effects and then place the 3D from max. Then once complete i’ll render and place in flash and animate over the top of the video. If I have time then I after the video I will see if i can get the flash movie to listen to several keys to turn different lights on or off.

This is my first draft after some work in Ae .

Idea

My idea for studio is to create a dynamic visualisation using Ae to show how music genres have evolved from how they were in 1990.

This relates to the brief as music genres are essentially taxonomic categorisations.

In creating this project I will need to discover all of the music generes from 1990 and how they have evolved, the select a track from that genre. My initial estimation of each track length is about 10 seconds. After collating all of these tracks into a sequence I will then work on a dynamic visualisation that reacts to the music beat. Hopefully as these different genres of music have different structures, they will effect the visual differently.

In addition to this I am going to attempt to use the artists face from the relevant track while it is playing within the visual.

Aphex Twin

Aphex Twin’s music is to me IDM. This is a classification known as Intelligent Dance Music. Although the what the video shows are not quite visuals for a track, it is still in my eyes genius. You can read more about how ‘Twin produced this effect in his music here Skip the video to 5:27 to see the face.

Music Map

Music Map Simplified

Genre background Info

Techno:

Techno was born in Detroit, Michigan. Known as the innovators of techno, the Belleville 4 aka Juan Atkins, Derrick May, Kevin Saunderson and Eddie Folwkes started creating techno music in the early 1980′s. Little did those guys know what impact and influence the music would have in the near future. Techno music has a BPM ( Beat per minute ) of anywhere from 130 BPM to 155 BPM. If you need a reference, the 70′s disco music was usually at 120 BPM. Techno is also created in a 4/4 time measurement which is 4 quarter beats in 1 measure. Techno is created by using electronic synthesizers, drum machines and sequencers or hardware. But nowadays anybody with a computer and a basic understanding of music can create any kind of electronic dance music with music creation software such as Reason or Native Instruments. Techno is usually heavy with the drums, especially the bass kick and high hats. Voice samples and snippets heavy with effects also are very popular in techno music. You might be saying to yourself, ” yeah, but it so repetitive!! “. That might be the case with most techno music but you have to remember that a techno track that is being used in a dj mix like it supposed to be, then the track only plays for 2-3 minutes. If the dj knows what he or she is doing, then a techno mix can be very exciting and intense at any volume. Here are some top artists for techno music;

Derrick May, Juan Atkins, Kevin Saunderson, Eddie Fowlkes, Richie Hawtin, Adam Beyer, The Advent, Dave Clarke & Carl Cox.

House:

House Music came out of Chicago in the early to mid 1980′s and was influenced by the disco music of the 70′s. The beat per minute for house is anywhere from 115 BPM to 135 BPM and has been created with real instruments such as a piano or a bass guitar. But the majority of house music is created using electronic hardware and of course, computer music software as I said earlier. House is also made with funky and soulful lyrics and basslines but voice samples and snippets are used from time to time to add another funky element to the music. There are also many sub-styles to house music but are too numerous to list and explain them all. Here is a list of popular artists in house music;

Frankie Knuckles, Jesse Saunders, Bad Boy Bill, Richard ” Humpty ” Vision, Chip-E, Mr Fingers, Jamie Principle, DJ Pierre, Adonis & Farley Jackmaster Funk.

Trance:

Frankfurt, Germany is the place believed to be the birthplace of trance music in the very early 1990′s. Trancemusic has a tempo of anywhere from 130 BPM to 160 BPM and is also in a 4/4 beat measure. Melodic synthesizer phrases are used quite often in trance as are numerous build ups and breakdowns of the track. Voice phrases and samples are placed throughout the music to enhance the track. Computer software and electronic hardware like synthesizers, sequencers and samplers are used in the creation of trance. So if you like your electronica with heavy analog synth lines and rolling snare build ups, then this is the genre for you. Here are some top artists for the trance genre;

Paul Oakenfold, Armand Van Buuren, Tiesto, Paul Van Dyke, BT, Ferry Corsten, George Acosta, Lange & Christopher Lawrence

Drum & Bass:

Also known as ” Jungle ” Drum & Bass emerged from the underground of the UK breakbeat scene in the early 1990′s. Drum & Bass is an offshoot of many styles and genres such as reggae, electro, hip hop and funk. The BPM is pretty fast, usually at anywhere from 150 BPM to 180 BPM. It is really more for listening like the IDM ( Intelligent dance music ) genre because of the speed and chaos of the drums and beat. The early form of Drum & Bass consisted of ragga vocals with broken beats and basslines and was known as ” Jungle ” in the UK underground scene. Later on in the 90′s, the genre’s name changed to Drum & Bassbut the djs were still known as ” junglists “. But in the late 1990′s, Drum & Bass broke out of the underground and became more mainstream. Nowadays, you hear Drum & Bass music everywhere you go including TV, movies and the radio. Drum & Bass is created from electronic music hardware and computer music software. One thing I always loved about Drum & Bass were the amazing and intense break downs that are incorporated into the track. Sometimes a MC will sing and rap along with a Drum & Bass dj set or live performance to add that extra ” oommfffff’ to the music. Don’t get me wrong, it is possible to dance to Drum & Bass music but I like to just stand there and listen and bob my head to the beat. Here are some top artists for the Drum & Bass genre;

Goldie, Aphrodite, Ed Rush & Optical, Konflict, A Guy Called Gerald, Shy FX, Adam F, Bad Company & LTJ Bukem

Source : link

Track Selection

D&B
Deep focus – cant find the words
http://www.junodownload.com/products/1475528-02.htm

Sub genres
———

Hardstep
VA – From The Inside Out
http://www.discogs.com/release/1196392

Jazzstep
VA – Shapeshifter – A Jazzstep Injection Into Drum & Bass
http://www.discogs.com/release/46396

Darkstep
Distance – My Demons
http://www.discogs.com/release/910147

Ragga Jungle
VA – Bloodclot Ragga Jungle Vol. 2
http://www.discogs.com/release/469433

—————

Techno
Pounding Grooves – Fine Audio DJ Mix Series Vol. 4
http://www.discogs.com/release/12927

Sub Genres
———

Acid
VA – GU Mixed:3 – Unmixed DJ Version
http://www.discogs.com/Various-GU-Mixed3-Unmixed-DJ-Version/release/1653330

Ghetto
DJ Assault – MrMuthaFukka
http://www.discogs.com/release/904317

Minimal
M.A.N.D.Y. – At The Controls
http://www.discogs.com/MANDY-At-The-Controls/master/70206

Schranz
Verve, The – Bittersweet (Schranz Mix)
http://www.discogs.com/release/1480485

—————

House
Dennis Ferrer – Hey Hey
http://www.discogs.com/Dennis-Ferrer-Hey-Hey/master/236765

Sub Genres
———

Deep
Don Carlos – The Cool Deep
http://www.traxsource.com/index.php?act=show&fc=tpage&cr=titles&cv=53244

Hard
Bloody Beetroots, The – Christmas Vendetta …Spares Of Romborama
http://www.discogs.com/Bloody-Beetroots-Christmas-Vendetta-Spares-Of-Romborama/release/2199152

Minimal
Trentemøller – Sycamore Feeling (Remixes)
http://www.discogs.com/release/2214999

Tribal
VA – Jubilee EP
https://www.beatport.com/en-US/html/content/release/detail/216059/jubilee_ep#app=a60a&a486-index=5

————-

Trance
Ayla – Ayla
http://www.discogs.com/Ayla-Ayla/master/89757

Sub Genres
———

Goa
Blue Planet Corporation – Cyclothymic / Crystal
http://www.discogs.com/Blue-Planet-Corporation-Cyclothymic-Crystal/master/20416

Acid
Cosmosis – Cosmology
http://www.discogs.com/Cosmosis-Cosmology/master/15057

Progressive
Susana Feat. Omnia & The Blizzard – Closer
http://www.discogs.com/Susana-3-Feat-Omnia-2-Blizzard-Closer/release/2259263

Uplifting
Above & Beyond – Tri-State
http://www.discogs.com/Above-Beyond-Tri-State/master/18736

Audio React

This is my second ever video that reacts to audio.  It uses keyframes and analyses both the bass and treble of the mp3.  The cyan line is the treble and the yellow line is the bass.  The background dots and dots at the bottom work on both.  Created using Particular which is linked to the keyframes.  My final visual will use Form along with Particular.  This video was an experiment to move Particular using audio as it does not support this natively like Form, making it more complicated to use.

To view the video in HD (recommended) follow the link underneath the video to view it at Vimeo.  This is one of the catches for using regular Vimeo, not being able to embed HD.

Shadow Dancer – Poke from James Lashmar on Vimeo.

Music Evolution

Music Evolution from James Lashmar on Vimeo.

So I went and bought two of his books.

Adrian Shaughnessy is a graphic designer and writer based in London. In 1989 he co-founded the design company Intro. Today he runs ShaughnessyWorks, a consultancy combining design and editorial direction. He is a founding partner in Unit Editions, a publishing company producing books on design and visual culture.

Shaughnessy has written and art directed numerous books on design including  How to be a Graphic Designer Without Losing Your Soul which has sold 70,000 copies to date. He latest book is Graphic Design: A User’s Manual.

He writes regularly for Eye and Creative Review, and has a monthly column in Design Week. He is an occasional contributor to avant-garde music magazine The Wire. From 2006 until 2009, Shaughnessy was editor of Varoom, a publication devoted to the critical appraisal of illustration. Shaughnessy has been interviewed frequently on television and radio. He lectures extensively around the world, and hosts a radio show called Graphic Design on the Radio on Resonance FM.

Contact Information:
adrian [at] shaughnessyworks.com
www.thisisrealart.com/

Now on to Stage 2.  So time for something to come from my work on the book.  My idea is simple, a nice, fresh, clean interface to showcase a design portfolio, created in flash of course.

So after the first stage of development this is what I have so far.  This is still quite rough at the minute with a lot more to come.  I’ll let you figure out how to use it.

This has been taken slightly further now resulting in what you can see below.  My intention is for it to run the fullsize of a browser acting as a showcase for designers work.  Unfortunately I have not yet got to the stage of loading the images to the canvas as I have been focussing more on the fluidity of the movement.  Next thing to come is a right click menu to enable a zoom gesture.  Unfortunately I’ve had to reduce the dimensions of the swf for display on my blog. Thiis is why the bitmap font on the buttons looks poor.