Upcoming Pure Data Events
Next week is pd-LAunch II – an annual week-long Pure Data confluence. We have multiple events planned!
What is Pure Data (Pd)? It’s a visual programming language, intended primarily for audio, video, and graphic processing. It uses objects connected by patch cables to create functionality, and thus Pd programming is frequently referred to as “patching”.
Pure Data is a free open source software which runs on just about any computer (Windows, Mac, Linux, plus many others) and can be used by anyone, regardless of programming experience, to create crazy sounds, musical instruments, video playback, and even control physical computing devices.
Created by Miller Puckette, who teaches computer music at UCSD and is the open source cousin of Max/MSP. You can download it at http://puredata.info/
Saturday, May 12 at 8 PM – Handmade Music – not *exactly* a Pure Data event, but there will be Pure Data performances.
We’ve got quite a lineup:
- Jim Bumgardner’s chess music
- Rachel Koukal’s Kaossilele
- James McLaine – party favor ocarainas
- Altitude Sickness – Bumptop – http://www.jamburglar.org/about.html
- Joe Newlin – http://joenewlin.net/
- Gary Raymond – ELMO – http://www.audiomobiles.com/
- Timon Marmex – Rhythm Alpha Core
Open to the public, $5 recommended donation to CRASH Space
Sunday, May 13 from 12-5 PM – Patching Circle
Open and free to all (donations to support CRASHspace are encouraged) – come and bring your Pure Data, Max/MSP, or other noisy programming project to work on.
The pd-la Patching Circle is an informal gathering of anyone who is interested in patching languages (Pure Data, Max/MSP/Jitter, etc.). Beginners and experienced patchers welcome. Open to everyone – work on personal or professional projects, school work, or just patch quietly to yourself, in a room full of other people patching patches and helping other people patch.
Wednesday, May 16, 8-10 PM – Introduction To Pure Data
This is a free introduction to Pure Data for the absolute beginner.
And it’s FREE!
There are 15 seats – sign up in the store.
This class aims to get you over the “blank canvas” hump. Learn a basic set of objects to make an audio patch, and add some interface elements to make it controllable.
No experience or computer necessary. If you have a laptop, download Pd-extended from http://puredata.info/downloads/pd-extended – and install beforehand to patch along. We will be available to help install and troubleshoot before the class begins (starting at about 7 pm) if you want to arrive early.
In addition to the basics, you will receive some reference materials to help you continue learning. If you bring a 16 GB USB stick, we will have videos of Miller Puckette (creator of Pure Data), teaching a 20-class college level course on computer music based entirely on Pd. The videos are also available for download here.