Moritz Wesp, Eric Haupt, Victor Gelling

oscheat is a work-in-progress multi-user interface based on OSC. Its purpose is to simplifyand formalise shared, real-time control of musical parameters across an ensemble. Instead of separating instruments by performer, oscheat functions as a collective parameter space in which all participants can change each other’s instrument sound generation, spatialization, tonal systems or rhythmic structures.
For the workshop, a predefined set of addressable instruments has been prepared for each instance of oscheat. They are structured into three functional sections reflecting core Musical building blocks: synthesizers for melodic and harmonic material, sequencers for rhythmic organization, and samplers for vocal and sound-based material. Additional functionality includes real-time MIDI recording and looping, pitch mapping with support for alternative tunings, spatialization, and global macro controls for large-scale structural manipulation.
Following a short system introduction, participants engage in practical structured improvisation exercises exploring the capabilities of oscheat. In these scenarios, they explore how shared control affects thematic development, synchronicity, polyphony, and formal coherence in a networked music performance. The workshop examines how shared control reshapes authorship, musical responsibility, and aesthetic decision-making within an ensemble, and which new possible music making strategies are emerging from such a system.

Requirements:
No prior knowledge required; useful but not required is having some experience with playing improvised music and with sound synthesis;
attendees can bring their own laptop to install a demo version of oscheat for local testing.
The demo version is available here:
https://eu.mydrive.ch/shares/92983/1eea159b79250c34ae04b15859dedbe2/browse/