Lîla is a computer music instrument currently implemented in Pure Data version 0-55-2 and above. The word “lîla” is an old Sanskrit word signifying divine play, the play of destruction and creation, or the play of presence in the moment. The computer music instrument Lîla is built based on simple analog processes (e.g., loop, delay, ring modulation, and feedback) whose parameters are controlled precisely by a performative action or through messages. Lîla samples and transforms the acoustic material played in real-time based on the actions of the Lîla player; the acoustic performer can improvise more material on this newly created sound. This becomes a continual and circular process, and through the use of delays and feedback, the resuting sound can become complex quickly. The precise real-time control of the parameters allows the Lîla improvisor to participate in both micro and macro level of musical formations. Thus, the computer not only can act as agent of form in macro structure of time (such as it is in music involving tape music) and lead the acoustic performer, but also provides a musical context in which a human improvisor, using the computer as an instrument, can accompany and respond to the acoustic material. Thus, the acoustic performer can have the same form of musical freedom which he or she enjoys in a traditional setting in an augmented expressive language.
Network extensions have been added to Lîla so that its performer could control multiple instances of the program over the network, while Lîla compensates for the actions of the performer based on the intrinsic network delays. I am interested in exploration of the play with space over the network, in the same way that I am able to play with delay in a single location, to turn the physical distance into an ephemeral yet malleable artistic parameter.
Currently Lîla is only available for Mac OS X. One can download the application or clone the git repository.
To get a zip/tar file of the latest verion of Lila go to the Gitlab page http://gitlab.com/Yadegari/Lila and click the blue ”Code” button; then click on the compressed formt download (such “zip” or “tar”)
git clone git@gitlab.com:Yadegari/Lila.git
Be sure to have a version of Pure Data above 0.55-2 on your system, and open the Lila directory
(which may be Lila-master if you download the zip file), and open Lila.pd. Lila is a rather
large system and can take betweenb 15 to 40 seconds to boot based on the speed of your
computer.
Due to increased security measures on latest versions of Mac OS you may get the message that
(“vbap.pd_darwin” Not Opened) and (“space3d∼.d_fat” Not Opened) In such cases for each not opened
externals do the following:
To have a functioning mentrome and clock sync capabilities with Ableton and built-in ambisonics capabilities you need to install the following externals:
to install the above externals go to “Help− > Find External” in Pd and then search and install the object listed above.
Please note that you will need the “ceammc” want to be able to listen to binaural rendition of ambisonics renderings you will also need to install the “ceammc” libray. Please note that the “ceammc” is rather large libray and it can add to the startup time of Lila.