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Frequently-Asked
Questions (FAQ)
About
the Experiment
What is the reViSiT Experiment?
What
is reViSiT?
What is the experiment
seeking to find?
How
does the experiment work? What data will be collected?
What
about privacy? Will any of my personal data or music
be upload?
What do I have to do?
Why should I volunteer? Do I get anything
in return?
When will it start? How long will it run?
How do I join?
What happens if I change my mind? Can I
leave the experiment?
I've forgotten my activation code for reViSiT
Pro. What can I do?
Other Information
What is "flow"?
Why study reViSiT? What does tracking
have to do with "flow"?
What's new in reViSiT Professional Edition,
compared to previous releases?
How else can I get reViSiT Professional
Edition?
 |
 |
If you have a question that is not answered here, please email us or post a question on the forum.
External
Links
What is the reViSiT Experiment?
The reViSiT experiment is a scientific user study looking at creativity, flow and skill in computer music software. It is being conducted by researchers at the University of Cambridge's Computer Laboratory (Rainbow Group) and Faculty of Music (Centre for Music & Science), using the reViSiT Pro VSTi plugin to look at computer music interaction "in the wild".
Built on the concepts of sampling and soundtracking, reViSiT is an award-winning composition tool that integrates rapid and precise sound and MIDI control into an existing music-making process, regardless of genre. To help users work faster, reViSiT exploits the added control afforded by the computer keyboard, combining it with a simple, yet highly expressive and efficient, text-based musical notation. For more information and sound demos, see the reViSiT website and forum.
What is the experiment seeking to find?
The experiment aims to uncover how musicians learn and use music software, so that designers can improve the design of such programs in the future. Our research is based on the theory that creative flow is enabled by specific skills; and that music software, in order to aid the user in being creative, must explicitly support the development of such skills and offer a "fluid" user experience. Our aim is to observe such processes "in the wild", by studying how people use and master reViSiT.
How does the experiment work? What data will be collected?
Anyone who wishes to take part registers online and downloads a free copy of reViSiT Professional. As the program is used, it will collect information about the user's interaction, which is periodically (and anonymously) sent back to the Computer Laboratory, in Cambridge. Back at the lab, we combine everyone's data and look for trends that show how the program is supporting learning and skilled use. Examples of what we look for might include the speed of interaction, preference for particular modes of interaction (e.g. mouse or keyboard) or the time spent using particular parts or features of the program - all of which can tell us how well the user is being supported.
What about privacy? Will any of my personal data or music be uploaded?
No. reViSiT will not upload your music or any data that can be used to identify you - we are only interested in how users interact with the program. As such, all measurements are collected and transmitted anonymously. When you register, you will receive an email containing an activation code. This code not only unlocks the software, but also acts as an anonymous ID that we can use to track how the behaviour of users change over time, without using personal data (such as name, email address, etc.).
Nothing - just be creative! The program will collect the measurements automatically, as you interact with it. Where the Internet is accessible, reViSiT will automatically post the measurements back to our lab, in Cambridge. If no Internet connection is found, reViSiT will offer to create a package that you can run from another computer, which will upload the measurements.
Why should I volunteer? Will I get anything in return?
Yes. When you join the experiment, you'll receive a fully-licensed copy of reViSiT Professional to use in your music, which extends upon the award-winning freeware version, with advanced features such as surround sound, flexible audio busses and the long-awaited MIDI-controlled playback.
In the bigger picture, the experiment will help music software designers build better interfaces in the future; so, not only is this simply an opportunity for you to contribute to that effort, but a chance for you to ensure future designs in some way take note of the way you use your computer.
When will it start? How long will it run?
The experiment launched on the 1st of December 2008, and will run for at least a year, so as to observe how user behaviour changes with time and experience.
To sign up, simply fill out the form. Aside from your email address, which is required to receive the activation code, no other identifying information is required. During the process you will be asked to agree to an "informed consent clause", which is required of every experiment conducted at the University of Cambridge that involves external volunteers, and simply states that you are happy you have been told what is involved in the experiment and how your data will be used.
What happens if I change my mind? Can I leave the experiment?
Yes. You can opt-out of the experiment at any time. However, the code for the experiment is an integral part of the current version of reViSiT Professional, which will continue to relay data if used. Don't worry - if you wish to carry on using reViSiT, send us your activation code (by email), and we will eliminate your subsequent data from our analysis.
I've forgotten my activation code for reViSiT Pro. What can I do?
If, for any reason, you should lose the email containing the activation details for reViSiT, you can use this page to have them resent to your email address.
Flow is a concept in modern psychology, developed by Mihály Csíkszentmihályi, that describes the mental state someone enters into when they are "fully immersed in" and "energised by" what they are doing. A flow experience is characterized by various factors, such as: concentration and focus, direct and immediate feedback, distorted sense of time, sense of control, loss of self-consciousness, and/or a balance of skill and challenge. The experience is similar to being "in the groove", and has often been linked to music performance and creativity. Our research investigates this phenomenon in the context of computer music, and explores how creative software can support or impede such experiences.
Why study reViSiT? What does tracking have to do with "flow"?
Basically; when you combine a rewarding yet challenging activity with the right tools, the potential for "flow" arises. Based on theory and observations of similar software, our preliminary research suggests that soundtracking software may facilitate "flow experiences". Reports from users of tracker programs, such as reViSiT, describe faster workrates, more impulsive and immersive interaction, and even a distorted sense of time. Additional studies of psychological, cognitive, physical and physiological processes suggest that tracker interfaces may allow many levels of interaction and skill development, allowing the user to effectively develop and balance both skill and challenge. Add it all up, and the components of "flow" emerge. Our experiment hopes to use reViSiT to take a closer look at what's actually going on.
What's new in reViSiT Professional Edition, compared to previous releases?
Aside from being commercial software, the Professional Edition of reViSiT extends the free Standard Edition with a number of major features. More information is available here, but the core innovations include:
Surround
Sound
reViSiT Pro is the first tracker with dedicated support for surround sound
(Quad, 5.1), allowing surround panning (directly from the pattern), discrete
fixed point sources (with support for Centre and LFE channels), panning in
two dimensions and 360° panoramic panning. Together with new instrument
envelopes and effect commands to support depth and theta (rotation) spatialisation,
this feature literally adds another dimension to your music.
Flexible
Audio Busses
reViSiT Pro is not tied to a single audio output anymore. With an innovative
audio routing mechanism; individual channels, samples or instruments can be
sent to any of 16 audio busses - each of which can be mono, stereo, quad or
5.1. To deliver each bus back to the host, reViSiT Pro comes with the helper
plug-in, reBUS - simply load it up on one of the host's tracks
or channels and pick a reViSiT bus to listen in on, and the audio is piped
through automatically. The feature provides total flexibility in how you mix
your tracks - making it an easy task to apply host effects or processing to
a specific channel, sample or instrument in your reViSiT song. A new pattern
effects (S0x) even allows you to switch a channel's bus assignment as the song
plays back.
MIDI-Controlled
Playback
reViSiT Pro replaces the basic tracker "order list" with the option
to trigger patterns with MIDI notes, where different pitches trigger different
patterns according to a user-defined mapping. This not only allows you to "play
around" with your song live, using a MIDI instrument, but also means you
can do all your arranging - be it tracked, sequenced and recorded music - in
the host; by inserting notes in a MIDI track, this feature allows you to edit
your tracker song in the same way you'd edit the MIDI track itself - move the
MIDI note, and the associated tracker pattern will innevitably move with it;
move a block of notes (e.g. in the Arrange Window) and the pattern sequence
moves too.
How
else can I get reViSiT Professional Edition?
For now, the Professional Edition will be exclusively available to people who sign
up for the experiment. When the experiment is complete, no more free licenses
will be issued. Instead, the software will become available to purchase online.
The cost of the software has not yet been confirmed, but will compete with
similar tracker and VSTi offerings. A public release date has not yet been
set; but, in line with the running of the experiment, will
fall somewhere in H2 2011. Further details will be announced closer to the
time.