1.2m X 1.2m aluminium frame with a grid of focused infrared beams intersecting at the right angles. Every beam or every intersection individually programmable by means of supplied software utility. Playing is accomlished by moving hands or any other part of the body within the frame of the instrument.
Communication protocol: MIDI or/and USB.
Bert Schiettecatte
AudioCubes are a modular live performance instrument that let you shape sound, create music and perform live through hands-on interaction with wireless intelligent objects.
AudioCubes offer new ways to interact with your existing audio software, beyond what is possible with classic knob boxes and trigger pads. They can be used for simple filter sweeps as well as infinitely complex setups in which the musical information they generate will depend on how the objects interact with each other and with their user.
Multiple users’ AudioCubes talk to each other wirelessly without complicated setup. High-speed, high-resolution, better-than-MIDI sensor technology makes sure even the most subtle performance gestures are captured.
Rui Pereira
TuISt (Transformable uber Interface for Stardom) is an emotionally driven interface taking on our inner desires and fantasies of instantaneously becoming superstars (and momentarily living under the skin of our idols) and on our instinctive imitation of the musical performers gestures as expressions of sounds. Tuist is a multi-instrument interface based on a single object with minimal gesture input surfaces and various modes of use through different positioning and orientation towards the user’s body. Multi-track gesture recording and playback/loop features also enable for multi-arrangement and composition by allowing the user to record and interact with his own performances in time. Its objective was the development of an intuitive and playful interface for novices, capable of providing explorayory interactions in an enjoyable experience inspired by our significant mimicking gestures of ‘real’ musicians and our private ambitions of creating music.
The monome is an interface sharing many similarities with the Tenori-On. It consist of a reconfigurable grid of backlit keypads which connects to a computer. Interaction between the keys and lights is determined by the application running on the computer. There is no hard-wired functionality.
The monome is made available in limited edition releases. There are currently three sizes — two fifty six (16×16), one twenty eight (16×8), and sixty four (8×8).
tehn with two fifty six from tehn on Vimeo.
Peter Davies: inventor, melodic table concept, hardware design
Jim Wills: software, electronics, mechanical solutions, menu system
Sonome is a keyboard whose keys are arranged in a honeycomb lattice with a symmetrical note arrangement, the Melodic Table, where each axis of the grid produces a sequence following a specific musical interval and chords are formed by specific cluster shapes. Enables identical fingering patterns for all 12 keys. Produced in the form of a 5.3 octave 192 note fully polyphonic MIDI controller with the whole range accessible either of both hands.
The Overtone Violin is an entirely custom built, radically augmented musical instrument that preserves the traditions of violin technique while adding a whole new set of possibilities for the musician.
Ben Neill: designer
Terry Pierce: brass fabricator
James Lo: electronic fabrication
Frank Balde/Jorgen Brinkman: Junxion design/construction
The mutantrumpet is a hybrid electro-acoustic instrument with three bells, two sets of valves, and a trombone slide. The sound is converted via a pickup in the mouthpiece to MIDI information by a pitch to MIDI converter. The instrument has eight momentary MIDI controllers in the form of switches and 8 continuous controllers in the form of potentiometers, joysticks and a fader. These controllers are powered by the Steim Junxion board mounted on the body of the mutantrumpet. The dynamics of the acoustically played instrument are also used for MIDI control.
The T-Stick was developed and built in the IDMIL by Joseph Malloch, in collaboration with composer D. Andrew Stewart and performers Fernando Rocha and Xenia Pestova. The physical input device can sense where and how much of its surface is touched by the performer, as well as tilting, shaking, squeezing and twisting gestures. Unlike most digital musical instruments, the T-Sticks exist as a family, with soprano, alto, tenor, and bass members.
The T-Stick is intended to be an “expert” musical interface: engaging to new users, allowing virtuosic playing, and “worth practicing” in that practice time results in increased skill. The T-Stick has been performed and demonstrated many times in Canada, Brazil, Italy, and the USA.
Anne La Berge is interested in extending the acoustic flute via various hardware and software in both composed and improvised settings.
Anne La Berge writes —
“I consider the acoustic flute as an integrated part of my controllers. For non acoustic input I use commercial controller pedals and switches connected to a STEIM USB box. I am also building a set of controllers for ensemble players using the arduino which include simple knobs and switches.
I use the amplified acoustic flute as an input device which can have any number of control functions. I also use up to 4 continuous controller pedals and up to 8 switch pedals connected to the STEIM USB box to input controller information into max which is then distributed to various software and hardware. I am also building an Arduino interface which will have continuous controller knobs and small switches for members of a 5 piece band. These elementary controllers will give them limited input into other hardware and software used by the band.”
Transitory States is a Max/MSP patch incorporating graphics tablet and conventional USB controller for realtime manipulation of sound (improvisation) and dissassembled acousmatic sounds (pre-composed materials).
Short demonstration video.