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Big Eyes Media, news release - 2000.11.11 Moebius II algorithmic music site official launch unveils new collaborative algorithmic web installation and artistic content Kaon Koo at Big Eyes Media is pleased to announce that after extensive development and exhaustive beta testing efforts since 2000.03, the original Moebius algorithmic music site is relaunched in its second iteration as Moebius II. As original Moebius visitors may recall, Moebius was retracted off line for nearly one year to undergo complete redesign. The resulting new site is arguably the world's first wholly Flash based site structure in advanced use with the Koan music system as well as the newly in-house developed Freedom Algorithmic Music Engine(FAME), focusing on showcases of new web installations, algorithmic compositions and in-depth content on past and present works from the algorithmic music community. Realized primarily through intense and extensive programming efforts from webmaster-programmer Kaon Koo, Moebius II's rich content has been in big part due to continued strong support from both new and existing algorithmic artists that may have been featured as part of the original Moebius site. Significant site space has been allocated to showcase their past and present works, as well as new audio-visual installations that pushes the use of algorithmic music in conjunction with other content formats in combined effect. Currently featured artists' works include:
Over Heard - All new original collaborative algorithmic web installation rendering audio under two available algorithmic music engines - FAME & SKME Moebius II is proud to unveil Over Heard as its site launch feature presentation. An audio-visual installation, and a world's first Flash + FAME or Koan audio-visual installation that is both visually and musically algorthmic. This installation aims to tell a diary in steady pace through the course of about one hour, immersing the viewer in a meditative, contemplative, ambient environment. The realization of Over Heard is a collaborative result of Mark Harrop (Leeds, UK), Kaon Koo (Vancouver, Canada) and Carlton Liu (Los Angeles, USA), each contributing uniquely identifiable and original components to this presentation, which is co-produced by Big Eyes Media. Newly developed FAME logic - realizing immediate universal audio accessibility The world debut of the newly developed Freedom Algorithmic Music Engine - FAME in Over Heard allows completely integrated implementation of real time algorithmic audio rendering under a wholly Flash based environment such as that used by Over Heard. True to its name, in one fell swoop, FAME frees the listeners by eliminating any of the necessary practical concerns of audio hardware and software configuration, cross platform compatibility issues, software installation and set up hassles that have complicated other algorithmic audio engine implementations. Since FAME merges seamlessly into the Flash environment which is integral to all major modern web browsers, audio accessibility of algorithmic audio web content that is implemented under FAME immediately gains full and complete compatibility with all multiple platforms under which Flash operates - Windows, Mac-OS, OS/2, Linux, Sun Solaris and SGI IRIX. FAME is an original logic development by Kaon Koo of Big Eyes Media, and is currently used exclusively for deployment of our in-house content. The availability of FAME for use with future projects at Big Eyes Media and Moebius II realizes an important primary goal of the original Moebius site - the showcase of algorithmic music in general across different algorithmic platforms, as opposed to singular focus on any one format. More significantly, FAME integration and compatibility with virtually any web page on the internet has already been solidly proven by the ubiquitous use of Flash based media and objects commonly embedded in web pages today. This allows for future potential of seamless, hassle free algorithmic audio implementation on web pages in the exact same manner as the use of Flash objects. New IN-DEPTH interviews and essays New essays from numerous established algorithmic composers who have participated in the recent collaborative Convergence I project, and artists from the Over Heard exhibit, can be found in Moebius II, sector 7. Accessing Moebius II Requirements
Linking to external links, features or requesting playback of on-site content will require an established connection to further transfer additional site contents for playback. Upon entry to the site after load completion, you must specify to Moebius II the currently installed audio hardware on board your system to continue entry into the site. Selecting the cookie save option for your audio hardware is recommended to prevent Moebius II from prompting for this information again during subsequent visits. If you have difficulty accessing Over Heard through Moebius II, try the direct entry URL to Over Heard, which has fewer browser envinronment requirements compared to Moebius II. Details in next section. Visit Moebius II here Accessing Over Heard Requirements
Enter into Moebius II, then into sector 5 - Visual Gallery and follow links to the exhibit. If you have the Koan music plug-in installed in your browser, you can receive Over Heard audio with a choice of either Koan or FAME. As of this writing, the Koan version of Citizen Zero - the original music for Over Heard, is compatible with Creative Labs Live! audio cards, or PC/Mac platforms that are compatible with the Koan Soft Synth engine only. Additional audio rendering platforms are to be added in the near future to increase accessibility of this installation. Visitors that would like to directly enter into Over Heard without first entering through Moebius II, or those that do not or cannot have the Koan music plug-in installed on their systems can still enjoy Over Heard by visiting through its direct entry URL. The FAME version of algorithmic audio will be automatically enabled through the direct entry URL. Visit Over Heard direct entry here Due to the use of FAME, Over Heard is 100% compatible with any system that is compatible with the Flash player plug-in, regardless of whether you have installed the Koan music plug-in in your browser, and regardless of whether you access Over Heard via Moebius II, or through Over Heard's direct entry URL. Over Heard pre-load As with Moebius II, the Over Heard installation uses full pre-load action. The volume of data transferred varies according to the audio rendering option used upon entry to the exhibit. The Koan audio based version of Over Heard pre-loads a total of about 700KB of Flash and Koan data before beginning playback. This translates to approximately 4 minutes of load time under a good 56K dial up connection. The FAME audio based version of Over Heard pre-loads a total of about 1.2MB of Flash and FAME data before beginning playback. This translates to approximately 7 minutes of load time under a good 56K dial up connection. No further connection to your ISP is required approximately 2-3 minutes after the start of Over Heard playback. To eliminate unnecessary load time delays, Moebius II automatically tracks exhibits already loaded, and leads the user directly into exhibit playback without retransferring from the web if the same exhibit is requested. Viewing conditions Viewing the exhibit under very low ambient lighting conditions, or even total darkness, is strongly recommended. Run time for the complete installation is approximately 60 minutes or longer. Further reading on Over Heard can be found in essays from its authors in Moebius II, sector 7. Apple Macintosh visitors Due to limitations of Microsoft's Internet Explorer browser for Macintosh, such as the lack of Active-X support, visitors with such browsers will be unable to access Moebius II properly and will be blocked from entry. Visitors that wish to access Moebius II on the Mac-OS platform must use a Netscape 4.X or later browser. Over Heard's direct entry viewing URL does not require Active-X support, and therefore is compatible with Internet Explorer browser for Macintosh. Discussion, comments and problem reports Open forum discussion for Moebius II can be found at the Moebius Music Club where completely open and frank discussions about algorithmic music can be voiced, regardless of whether it is based on FAME, Koan or Direct Music. The latest news and issues pertaining Moebius II as well as the Over Heard installation can be found in the message board section of the Moebius Music Club. The club is free to join, requiring only a free Yahoo user ID. You are encouraged to join and participate in forum discussions, as well as getting technical assistance with Moebius II and Over Heard if you have any difficulty. Please contact Big Eyes Media regarding any comments or problem feedback, particularly visitors who ares using operating systems other than Windows or Mac-OS. Much thanks to your interests and visits to Moebius II and Over Heard! We look forward to hearing from you. Sincerely, Kaon Koo, webmaster, Moebius II Page top |