The original suit was based on a simple hardware-hack of a midi keyboard that allowed the keys to be triggered remotely. Metalic patches were woven from electrical flex found in a skip, and attached to an old blue boiler suit to create the remote switches. A quirk of keyboard wiring caused the players hands to do different things - this was retained as an interesting feature. For something so simple the suit was disproportionately popular!
The Mark II suits are two tabard-like garments constructed from black drill-cotton and Velcro with organza patches, and were intended as a test-rig for different patch configurations. They were used as a technical proof-of-concept for a two player game built around Soul Suit Hardware. In this case rather than recognising the difference between the left and right hands on one player (like the Mark I Suit) the computer makes the distinction between the hands of one player and the hands of the other. This allows each player to have their own musical 'character', and from this alot of interesting possibilities arise. The rig interfaces with a series of software games programmed within the Max/MSP enviroment by Nathaniel Slade. These were adversarial score-based games in which each played was 'clothed' in samples pertaining to a certain genera and then left to fight it out by, for example, picking up a sound and sticking it to the other players body.
The Mark III Suits combine the technical aspects of the Mark II Suits with the visual design elements needed in a Live Art or Theatrical setting. Designed by Aste Amundsen, the suits embody a steam-punk aesthetic, rather as if Jules Verne had designed a space suit. They are constructed in tan leather and organza with heavy brass press-studs, and are colour coded with one player in blue and the other player in red organza. The system is wireless - the players are connected to each other but not to the computer. An umbilical connection between the suits shields a data cable and locks into a body harness system inside each suit so that the players can pull against each other with force if need be. Expandable sections allow the suits to fit all sizes.
The Mark II suits are two tabard-like garments constructed from black drill-cotton and Velcro with organza patches, and were intended as a test-rig for different patch configurations. They were used as a technical proof-of-concept for a two player game built around Soul Suit Hardware. In this case rather than recognising the difference between the left and right hands on one player (like the Mark I Suit) the computer makes the distinction between the hands of one player and the hands of the other. This allows each player to have their own musical 'character', and from this alot of interesting possibilities arise. The rig interfaces with a series of software games programmed within the Max/MSP enviroment by Nathaniel Slade. These were adversarial score-based games in which each played was 'clothed' in samples pertaining to a certain genera and then left to fight it out by, for example, picking up a sound and sticking it to the other players body.
The Mark III Suits combine the technical aspects of the Mark II Suits with the visual design elements needed in a Live Art or Theatrical setting. Designed by Aste Amundsen, the suits embody a steam-punk aesthetic, rather as if Jules Verne had designed a space suit. They are constructed in tan leather and organza with heavy brass press-studs, and are colour coded with one player in blue and the other player in red organza. The system is wireless - the players are connected to each other but not to the computer. An umbilical connection between the suits shields a data cable and locks into a body harness system inside each suit so that the players can pull against each other with force if need be. Expandable sections allow the suits to fit all sizes.
