Visualizing Music with Video Game Technologies

Abstract Jonathan Weinel examines the use of video game engines for purposes other than gaming: specifically, how the software can be used for the purposes of visualizing music in scenarios such as audiovisual installations and concerts. The chapter outlines the early history of music visualization and music visualization’s relationship to multimodal perception and synesthesia, and then shows how video game engines can be used for the visualization of music in pedagogical contexts far removed from game development education. Weinel identifies a new paradigm emerging where older means of visualizing music are reinvigorated with the interactive possibilities and mechanics offered by video game engines.