Researcher
The relationship between human and machine interested Daniel from an early age, where books like E.T.A. Hoffmann's Automate already described it with fascination and fear. During his studies at the Bern University of the Arts he developed live electronics for acoustic and electronics instruments with microphones, speakers and software such as Max MSP or Ableton Live.
Photo: HKB Musik, Beat Müller
Extended playing techniques for synthesizers
Daniel’s main focus is currently the development of extended techniques for electronic keyboard instruments. The extended techniques of traditional acoustic instruments were already established in the mid-20th century. Nowadays it’s completely normal to use a cello or prepared piano as a percussion instrument, but you can’t find these extended playing possibilities in the young tradition of electronic instruments. Equipped with contact microphones and Max MSP programmes the synthesizer finally gets some acoustic characteristics and extended playing possibilities. As in the case of the cello, with this project it’s now for example possible to use the body of a synthesizer as sound source.
In the meantime, the project has already been further developed and will be presented soon.
Live electronics for acoustic instruments
Daniel's bachelor thesis was the development and composition of a live-electronic piece for flute and bass clarinet. The idea was to liberate the musicians from the live electronics engineer and let them control their live electronics themselves with a pedal. This gives the musicians an extension of their instrument and thus another parameter to interpret.