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}
}