In Bb 2.0

In Bb 2.0 is one of the coolest youtube projects I’ve seen lately (well, not including yooouuutuuube).

When I first saw this, I thought it was an API that autotuned performances of solo musicians. But In Bb 2.0 is even radder than that. Conceived by Darren Solomon from Science for Girls, the site pools 12 youtube videos of people playing different instruments in the key of Bb. The viewer/listener can choose which videos to run and also mix the videos on the fly using each video’s youtube volume slider.

But wait, there’s more. The site is open to submissions. All you do is upload a video to youtube and send Darren a link. If you want to submit, Darren advises that “(s)imple, floating textures work best, with no tempo or groove. Leave lots of silence between phrases.”

Not a problem.

For gear geeks, on the left that’s an Omnichord OM27 and on the right a Qchord. And yes, these are some of the cheesiest instruments know to humankind. But I love them. And anyone who knows their Omnichord / Qchord lore should be kind of wowed by the fact this is the original Suzuki 1981 model in concert with Suzuki’s 21st century progeny. It’s the ultimate cheese-beast pairing!

So who knows if this video will make it onto the big board over at In Bb 2.0. I hope that they find the plaintive tintinnabulation of my cheesy beasts pleasing to the project.

Now go check out yooouuutuuube. May I suggest Alice?