ASIMO has its limits. ASIMO's engineers programmed the robot to mimic Charles Burke, the Detroit Symphony's education director, as he conducted the piece in front of a pianist about six months ago. But it can't respond to the musicians.
During the first rehearsal, the orchestra lost its place when ASIMO began to slow the tempo, something a human conductor would have sensed and corrected, said bassist Larry Hutchinson.
"It's not a communicative device. It simply is programmed to do a sense of gestures,"
Re: Honda robot conducts Detroit Symphony to warm response
"something a human conductor would have sensed and corrected"
So they forgot to program it to stop rehearsal, deliver a rant filled with scorn and abuse for the musicians, throw down its baton and storm out. Did the engineers know anything at all about conductors when they programmed this thing?
Re: Honda robot conducts Detroit Symphony to warm response
It's not unknown for an orchestra to go into autopilot mode when the conductor gets lost, leaving him to sort himself out when he can, but that obviously wouldn't work with poor Asimo - who wouldn't even be embarrassed.
Re: Honda robot conducts Detroit Symphony to warm response
well,just by looking at the photo of the robot in today's paper i can tell it has more charisma than quite a few 'live 'exponents of the wavy arms i've encountered.
Re: Honda robot conducts Detroit Symphony to warm response
I read that someone in the orchestra said it was like being conducted by a metronome. That's one to remember the next time someone comes on here and says you should practice with one.
Re: Honda robot conducts Detroit Symphony to warm response
Michael Gill writes: "I read that someone in the orchestra said it was like being conducted by a metronome. That's one to remember the next time someone comes on here and says you should practice with one."
~~~
No one ever suggested you take metronomes along to sessions and gigs; the usefulness in a metronome is for practice only. The usefulness is having something to measure your sense of rhythm with. For example: you can find out if you have a tendency to rush or slow down the tempo. Also, learning to match the tempo of a metronome helps you to acquire tempo control.
Honda robot conducts Detroit Symphony to warm response
Honda robot conducts Detroit Symphony to warm response
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080514/ap_en_mu/robot_conductor1st_ld_writethru
[...]
ASIMO has its limits. ASIMO's engineers programmed the robot to mimic Charles Burke, the Detroit Symphony's education director, as he conducted the piece in front of a pianist about six months ago. But it can't respond to the musicians.
During the first rehearsal, the orchestra lost its place when ASIMO began to slow the tempo, something a human conductor would have sensed and corrected, said bassist Larry Hutchinson.
"It's not a communicative device. It simply is programmed to do a sense of gestures,"
[...]
(Well, before someone else does it...)
(Insert bodhran player joke here?)
# Posted on May 15th 2008 by SWFL Fiddler
Re: Honda robot conducts Detroit Symphony to warm response
". . .it can't respond to the musicians. . . It simply is programmed to do a sense [SIC] of gestures. . ." about says it all, I suppose (grin. . .).
Yuck!
At least I'm glad that the symphony got some $$$ out of the deal. They're a wonderful, dedicated bunch of musicians that are sadly underfunded.
I'm sure that the Segway crowd are gloating because the "...orchestra lost its place ".
Notice that Yo-Yo chose not to "get involved".
# Posted on May 15th 2008 by tomw
Re: Honda robot conducts Detroit Symphony to warm response
Actually, my earlier quoted description sounds a lot like some of the guitar "Heroes" around here.
Geez, I'm in a foul mood today. I'd best get my coat. . .
# Posted on May 15th 2008 by tomw
Re: Honda robot conducts Detroit Symphony to warm response
It's OK tomw, we grump because we care.
# Posted on May 15th 2008 by SWFL Fiddler
Re: Honda robot conducts Detroit Symphony to warm response
"something a human conductor would have sensed and corrected"
So they forgot to program it to stop rehearsal, deliver a rant filled with scorn and abuse for the musicians, throw down its baton and storm out. Did the engineers know anything at all about conductors when they programmed this thing?
# Posted on May 15th 2008 by Marklar
Re: Honda robot conducts Detroit Symphony to warm response
It's not unknown for an orchestra to go into autopilot mode when the conductor gets lost, leaving him to sort himself out when he can, but that obviously wouldn't work with poor Asimo - who wouldn't even be embarrassed.
# Posted on May 15th 2008 by lazyhound
Re: Honda robot conducts Detroit Symphony to warm response
Screetch, they should've talked to those guys who played under Toscanini.
# Posted on May 15th 2008 by lazyhound
Re: Honda robot conducts Detroit Symphony to warm response
well,just by looking at the photo of the robot in today's paper i can tell it has more charisma than quite a few 'live 'exponents of the wavy arms i've encountered.
# Posted on May 15th 2008 by biggus dave
Re: Honda robot conducts Detroit Symphony to warm response
"During the first rehearsal, the orchestra lost its place when ASIMO began to slow the tempo"
An orchestra that actually followed a conductor................ Pull the other one!
# Posted on May 16th 2008 by Gran Cassa
Re: Honda robot conducts Detroit Symphony to warm response
I read that someone in the orchestra said it was like being conducted by a metronome. That's one to remember the next time someone comes on here and says you should practice with one.
# Posted on May 16th 2008 by llig leahcim
Re: Honda robot conducts Detroit Symphony to warm response
metronomes are not designed to be played with. The are for setting tempo
# Posted on May 16th 2008 by llig leahcim
Re: Honda robot conducts Detroit Symphony to warm response
Michael Gill writes: "I read that someone in the orchestra said it was like being conducted by a metronome. That's one to remember the next time someone comes on here and says you should practice with one."
~~~
No one ever suggested you take metronomes along to sessions and gigs; the usefulness in a metronome is for practice only. The usefulness is having something to measure your sense of rhythm with. For example: you can find out if you have a tendency to rush or slow down the tempo. Also, learning to match the tempo of a metronome helps you to acquire tempo control.
# Posted on May 17th 2008 by Phantom Button