A New Keyboard-Based, Sensor-Augmented Instrument For Live Performance

Red Wierenga

Proceedings of the International Conference on New Interfaces for Musical Expression

Abstract

In an attempt to utilize the expert pianist's technique and spare bandwidth, a new keyboard-based instrument augmented by sensors suggested by the examination of existing acoustic instruments is introduced. The complete instrument includes a keyboard, various pedals and knee levers, several bowing controllers, and breath and embouchure sensors connected to an Arduino microcontroller that sends sensor data to a laptop running Max/MSP, where custom software maps the data to synthesis algorithms. The audio is output to a digital amplifier powering a transducer mounted on a resonator box to which several of the sensors are attached. Careful sensor selection and mapping help to facilitate performance mode.

Citation

Red Wierenga. 2012. A New Keyboard-Based, Sensor-Augmented Instrument For Live Performance. Proceedings of the International Conference on New Interfaces for Musical Expression. DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.1178451

BibTeX Entry

@inproceedings{Wierenga2012,
 abstract = {In an attempt to utilize the expert pianist's technique and spare bandwidth, a new keyboard-based instrument augmented by sensors suggested by the examination of existing acoustic instruments is introduced. The complete instrument includes a keyboard, various pedals and knee levers, several bowing controllers, and breath and embouchure sensors connected to an Arduino microcontroller that sends sensor data to a laptop running Max/MSP, where custom software maps the data to synthesis algorithms. The audio is output to a digital amplifier powering a transducer mounted on a resonator box to which several of the sensors are attached. Careful sensor selection and mapping help to facilitate performance mode.},
 address = {Ann Arbor, Michigan},
 author = {Red Wierenga},
 booktitle = {Proceedings of the International Conference on New Interfaces for Musical Expression},
 doi = {10.5281/zenodo.1178451},
 issn = {2220-4806},
 keywords = {Gesture, controllers, Digital Musical Instrument, keyboard},
 publisher = {University of Michigan},
 title = {A New Keyboard-Based, Sensor-Augmented Instrument For Live Performance},
 url = {http://www.nime.org/proceedings/2012/nime2012_211.pdf},
 year = {2012}
}