music sequencer has balls of steel

January 13th, 2008 post a comment (7) stumble it! digg it! by: technabob

Here’s an interesting new tangible interface design for a music sequencer. Rather than using an array of buttons or a 2-dimensional control screen on a computer, this one generates rhythmic patterns using ball bearings.

BeatBearing by Peter Bennett

Sequences are composed by placing the metal orbs in a grid of receptor cups which represent the different rhythm tracks (kick, snare, hi-hat and cowbell) along the vertical axis, and beats along the horizontal.

The BeatBearing sequencer interface was designed by Peter Bennett, a researcher studying for his Doctorate at the Sonic Arts Research Center in Belfast. Peter’s thesis studies have been focused on new interaction techniques for digital musical instruments.

It’s an elegant interface solution for music sequencing, but I’d be afraid I’d lose half the ball bearings by the second night of the tour. Peter gets extra credit for including a cowbell track, since I’ve got a fever… and the only prescription is more cowbell.

January 13th, 2008 post a comment (7) stumble it! digg it! by: technabob

tags:

bearing, interface, metal, music, sequencer, tangible

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7 comments post a comment

1. bottlepets.jp - ボトル&hellip | January 13th, 2008 at 10:00 am
2. Gus | January 14th, 2008 at 2:20 pm

I love it when technology becomes beautiful.
3. xlarge | January 16th, 2008 at 7:35 am

The last cowbell doesn’t trigger in the last sequence when cowbell present.

You can see the “tracking” light go out aswell…
It’s a cool concept but i prefer buttons with leds any day.
4. Michaelangelo | January 22nd, 2008 at 5:14 pm

I really want one of these.
5. The Wombats | May 7th, 2008 at 12:00 am

Nice design. Worthy stuff thought.
6. pop lover | August 1st, 2008 at 10:46 am

Very interesting
I’m adding in RSS reader
7. Rob | August 28th, 2008 at 10:20 am

that is pretty kool! i want one:D