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The Unusual Fusion of Tech and Music in Jason Snell’s Project
The innovative intersection of music and technology realizes itself in a pioneering project conceived by the software developer turned artist, Jason Snell. His inventive creation utilizes real-time biometric data, modifying it using the Muse EEG headband into captivating musical episodes, which he names bio-responsive performance art.
The Muse Headset: Turning Biometrics into Music
After a span of six years and several software versions, Jason has managed to use the Muse headset to transform biometric data into MIDI, the digital core of contemporary music. This data operates devices ranging from drum machines, synthesizers, and effects pedals, piloting them through ambient soundbaths, techno beats, and orchestral compositions.
“Regularly, I utilize this software system for art performances, shaping the sound and the visuals or lighting with my real-time biometrics,” Snell noted.
In 2009, Snell developed an AI system capable of creating music surpassing his own musical proficiency. By 2017, he changed direction from algorithms and movement to focus on brainwaves, discovering the potential of the Muse headband. Within 36 hours of acquiring his headband, Snell engineered a prototype that used a clear mental state to initiate a synthesizer note.
Turning Brainwaves into Music
The evolution of Snell’s project includes the creation of techniques to control looping stems with his muscular tension and alpha relaxation, and forming mixes using various focus areas. When the pandemic struck in 2020, he experimented with heartbeat rate application, exploring its influence on the rhythm of a techno rendition.
“During my 2019 telekinetic techno tour, I underwent extreme alterations in my mental state, entirely without substances,” Snell remembered. The zenith of these experiences was a transcendent mental state where his brain, responding to its creative production, propelled him into a heightened state of consciousness.
The Impact on Education and Therapeutic Application
Apart from the artistic implications, Jason sees potential educational applications for his musical neurofeedback system. He conducted a trial program in an Iowa middle school that allowed pupils to audibly experience and comprehend their brainwaves.
Furthermore, Snell anticipates therapeutic advantages from using his system. Initial research showed encouraging results among children with disabilities, and Snell has joined forces with a gaming firm to delve into neurofeedback opportunities for veterans suffering from PTSD.
The Future of Brains and Beats
Seeking further progress for the project with the backing of grant funding, the research aims to study the shared attributes of sound and movement across cultures, leading to meditative or fleeting states. Jason is also crafting a web-based therapeutic prototype of his software and is set to partner with the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s education department in upcoming projects.
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