Modular musical objects towards embodied control of digital music

Abstract

We present an ensemble of tangible objects and software modules designed for musical interaction and performance. The tangible interfaces form an ensemble of connected objects communicating wirelessly. A central concept is to let users determine the final musical function of the objects, favoring customization, assembling, repurposing. This might imply assembling the wireless interfaces with existing everyday objects or musical instruments. Moreover, gesture analysis and recognition modules allow the users to define their own action/motion for the control of sound parameters. Various sound engines and interaction scenarios were built and experimented. Some examples that were developed in a music pedagogy context are described.