event
Synthux Hackathon 2024

2x4 on the Floor

Intuitive percussive instrument, for playful experimentation of natural rhythm.
Arduino
Ableton
Pressure sensor
Piezo microphone
prompt

Coaches & collaborators

Jason Freeman
institute
Center for Concrete and Abstract Machines
The 2x4 on the Floor is a percussive instrument that highlights the natural, innate rhythms within the user. The entire 2x4 reacts to every touch from the user, allowing them to be creative with how they produce their groove. Where you strike the board will affect the timbre of sound. Additional sensors produce different effects. Depending on the position of your hands, you can modify or toggle a delay effect. For shredding, a button is provided that toggles an overdrive. The sensors also serve a sonic purpose, as interactive with them also produces sounds that is picked up by the board
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the tech

How does it work?

The 2x4 is connected to a sensitive piezo microphone that picks up every vibration touching the instrument. A slide potentiometer is attached to change the delay. Buttons are attached to the Arduino, which toggle the delay and the overdrive effect. The serial data is sent from the Arduino into Python, where the data is parsed and sent to Ableton. The signal from the piezo is also being processed in Python to send out MIDI messages to a bitcrushing effect. The louder the signal is, the more crushed your output sound would be.
Open source code
Click here to grab this project's code
Arduino
Development board
Ableton
Music production program
Pressure sensor
A pressure sensor can sense when it is pressed. it can be used to create custom buttons and more
Piezo microphone
About the instrument
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