Vase by Yuval Seeberger

➡️ This presentation is part of IRCAM Forum Workshops Paris / Enghien-les-Bains March 2026

System Architecture and Sonic Organization

Vase is a motorized music-box controlled by a MAX/MSP patch, emitting a semi-algorithmic composition for MAX/MSP, RAVE models, and perforated paper scores. Approximately 12-minute loop; consists of a wooden resonance box, aluminum cage, Arduino board, Piezo pickup, magnetic rail-coil pickup, 12v motor, and a punched paper strip.

Vase employs algorithmic techniques, as it balances formal organization with an unpredictable musical progression. Due to the irregular correlation between the computer and the music-box, each loop-cycle deviates slightly from what was supposed to be its identical repetition, resulting in subtle variations. With the aim of creating sonic layering, four primary elements were selected for the overall configuration: an acoustic-mechanical music-box; an analog motor; sound processing and synthesis in Max/MSP; and RAVE real-time neural audio synthesis models (isis.ts from IRCAM Team and mbox2.ts self trained baesed on MIDI Music-box database). These elements form a fixed "ensemble of performers," each introducing distinct sonic characteristics into the linear-spatial composition.

Photo: Hannah Franke, Vase

Max/MSP patch for Vase

Further applications of Vase

For live performance with Vase, a custom MAX/MSP patch was made to enable real-time control of the music-box via a MIDI controller. The interface allows continuous control over motor speed, live mixing of the system's sonic components,
and a dynamic manipulation of algorithmic parameters.

Live controll patch for the music-box 

Credits:
RAVE (Real-Time Audio Variational Autoencoder) — developed by the ACIDS team, IRCAM, Paris.