On the Description of Mapping Structures
Tellef Kvifte · Journal of New Music Research · 2008
The aim of this paper is to discuss concepts that are useful to describe mappings, the relation between the input and output of musical instruments, in some more detail than is usual in the literature. The design of suitable mappings is of major importance when new instruments – hardware or software – are constructed, and there is a need for more concepts that may be used to describe, discuss and think about mappings. With examples from acoustic instruments, notions of value and set selectors are developed to specify properties of complex mappings. Further specifications are possible through suggested vocabulary for the description of set structures. Also, it is argued that a concept of input control system where several control actions are seen as a unit, is better suited to describe mappings across different instruments than studies of single control actions and single couplings in isolation.