This is the explanation for my long time absence throughout the past months…in case you’re asking about the lack of music, sound and projects. Well, I have been working with KRAFTWERK on an app that features an interactive 24hrs music generator - a truly exciting project that kept me busy the last 2 years. The app just went live tonight and I am certainly a little bit proud I can now share this with the community.
It’s a novel system that creates music and sound based on realtime data depending on your location that are continuously feeded into the app, meaning the KLING KLANG MACHINE No1 can’t be compared with other generative music apps which mostly utilize pre-programmed algorithms. There are some nice ways to manipulate sound and store personal preferences. The original concept will be more and more implemented in future updates and releases.
July 08 2011: V 1.0.1.0 is available
Aug 04 2011: working on V 2.0.0.1

12 Comments so far
Leave a comment
Awesome! Utterly awesome!
Where does the realtime data that is fed into the app originate?
The realtime data is just the time resp. the time zone. It is dynamically used to alter the played sequence.
Comment by stuart. 03.11.11 @ 4:40 pmWhat about an Android version? Any chance soon?
Please hang on and follow the news!
Comment by Dirk 03.11.11 @ 9:27 pmInteressant. :) The interface-grid looks quite straight-forward like a bunch of other flash applications I’ve seen over the past few years, that means easy to use even for “amateur musicians”. Would be interesting to see the whole thing in action and listen to some examples, especially for us non-iPod users. :)
Michael, there will be a machine video available shortly.
Comment by Michael Briel 03.12.11 @ 2:09 amI wonder if it would be possible to have GPS data as one of the parameters that influences the auto-generation. I was just thinking how cool it would be to have a link between the physical and sonic journeys, so that, for example, descending an alpine road or a change of direction in a plane would cause a shift, either gradual or dramatic. Interested to see how this app develops anyway.
Comment by Ric 03.12.11 @ 5:44 pmI had assumed that the app used the handset’s data (GPS, accelerometer, etc.) and also periodically downloaded new data/parameters from a server somewhere in the cloud.
Is this not the case?
Thanks!
Stuart,
“We play the machines and the machines play us.”
Consequently, the Kling Klang Machine No 1 follows this concept.
Hey Norman - amazing work! Can you tell us anything moreabout your involvement with Kraftwerk? I know they’re private people, but we’re all very curious.
I knooow but it was really exactly like I have ever imagined to work with 4 robots. Definitely the most exciting project I have worked on so far.
Comment by staggboy 03.16.11 @ 11:43 amI was hoping to speak with you (either over email or on the phone) about this app to find out a bit more about how it works for Wired.co.uk. Can you help?
Comment by Olivia Solon 03.21.11 @ 5:47 pmNow there are two apps that make me wish I had an i-Piece instead of a ‘droid: This, and the just-released Yamaha’s TNR-i, the sw version of the Tenori-On. Not in North America yet, though. (But there is a new Tenori-On firmware…)
Comment by Kent 06.20.11 @ 11:11 pmI hope version 2.0 would be able to work with switched off display on iPhone? Now, when I switch the display off, KKM stops to play. When are you going to release the version 2.0?
Comment by Mirek 01.16.12 @ 5:14 pmI have V2.02 and it is broken. No sound whatsoever. Is there an update in the works? This is most disheartening. I downloaded it a month ago, and have been hoping for a quick fix, since others have posted that their copies aren’t working either. Emailing Jesta Digital (listed in the app info) didn’t get any response. Who is responsible for support for this app?
Comment by Ian Sights 08.19.12 @ 9:47 pmTo all who experience sound issues - it’s an iOS problem - not an app problem. You solve it like this:
1. Open the “Settings” menu of your device and click on “General”.
2. Check settings for the side switch! If it’s set on “lock”, then set it on “no sound”.
3. Start the app again and use the side switch (turn it on).
Now it should work.
Comment by admin 08.21.12 @ 1:52 pm

