Algorithmic Drum Machine with Light Dependent Timbre Control

Nikhil Bullock, Charalampos Saitis, and Anna Xambó

Proceedings of the International Conference on New Interfaces for Musical Expression

Abstract

Both the digital audio workstation (DAW) timeline and the traditional drum machine interface encourage the production of music structured around repetitive, fixed-length rhythmic patterns. To our knowledge, the production of complex, irregular rhythms is mostly out of reach when drumming virtuosity is unavailable. We present a hardware DIY drum machine instrument that uses algorithmic sequencing that can generate evolving, unpredictable rhythms that are still rooted within dance music and other rhythm-based aesthetics. The drum machine also contains light sensors that facilitate real-time timbre control, with the aim of creating an instrument that offers an engaging and enjoyable interface that helps, from the perspective of the performer, make the drum machine feel more like an instrument. We reflect on what we have learnt through building this prototype, particularly the trade-off between algorithmic complexity and immediate control and how timbre compares with direct control of rhythm as the primary real-time interaction in a percussion instrument.

Citation

Nikhil Bullock, Charalampos Saitis, and Anna Xambó. 2026. Algorithmic Drum Machine with Light Dependent Timbre Control. Proceedings of the International Conference on New Interfaces for Musical Expression. DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.20784486 [PDF]

BibTeX Entry

@inproceedings{nime2026_160,
 abstract = {Both the digital audio workstation (DAW) timeline and the traditional drum machine interface encourage the production of music structured around repetitive, fixed-length rhythmic patterns. To our knowledge, the production of complex, irregular rhythms is mostly out of reach when drumming virtuosity is unavailable. We present a hardware DIY drum machine instrument that uses algorithmic sequencing that can generate evolving, unpredictable rhythms that are still rooted within dance music and other rhythm-based aesthetics. The drum machine also contains light sensors that facilitate real-time timbre control, with the aim of creating an instrument that offers an engaging and enjoyable interface that helps, from the perspective of the performer, make the drum machine feel more like an instrument.  We reflect on what we have learnt through building this prototype, particularly the trade-off between algorithmic complexity and immediate control and how timbre compares with direct control of rhythm as the primary real-time interaction in a percussion instrument.},
 address = {London, United Kingdom},
 articleno = {160},
 author = {Nikhil Bullock and Charalampos Saitis and Anna Xambó},
 booktitle = {Proceedings of the International Conference on New Interfaces for Musical Expression},
 doi = {10.5281/zenodo.20784486},
 editor = {Benedict Gaster and João Tragtenberg and Anna Xambó and Tom Mitchell},
 issn = {2220-4806},
 month = {June},
 note = {},
 numpages = {4},
 pages = {1287--1290},
 presentation-video = {https://youtu.be/DHygMdwllcE},
 title = {Algorithmic Drum Machine with Light Dependent Timbre Control},
 track = {paper},
 url = {http://nime.org/proceedings/2026/nime2026_160.pdf},
 year = {2026}
}