Final Project Proposal #
A generative music installation that adapts its sound based on the presence (and positioning) of people in a space.
The presence of people in the space is recognized using the IR matrix sensor. Pixels / sectors in the matrix represent certain parameters of the generative synth. When the presence of a person is detected in a pixel / sector, the parameter changes (somehow, still up in the air!).
I think having the presence of people be what controls the instrument is interesting because playing an instrument is often seen as something you actively do. I hope that it would invite viewers to stay in the space for longer and create a social atmosphere where people collaboratively explore the different sounds the instrument can produce.
If time permits, I would also like to explore visualizing the output of the instrument using an LED matrix.
Concepts to Explore #
- No / less screens
- Controlled randomness / generativity
- Novel ways to interact with music
- Meditative / hypnotic experiences
Components #
- Microcontroller to process input and output
- IR module to detect the presence of people
- LED strips to create a “matrix” to visualize the sounds
Depending on how capable the Teensy is at generative music (I imagine not very), I may need a separate computer running VCVRack to take midi input from the Teensy and change a generative synth patch.