Daniel and I first got together as we were both interested in taking the accessible instrument pathway (the only ones in the class). I think we were both drawn to the idea of creating a physical object, something tactile for an assignment as we hadn’t done this before in the more abstract and intangible leaning sound art course.
We both settled on the idea of a sampler box that triggers sound using sensors. And that we would laser cut a plywood body. The concept behind it being an easy to use standalone soundscape composition device for people unfamiliar to sound arts to use to enter an otherwise quite niche and inaccessible field. The idea of making sound with movement was also important to us as a performance object not just a tool for learning.
It is for anyone to use, for all ages and musical experience but particularly those with learning difficulties, difficulty with movement, people unable to use their hands etc.
We decided on 3 sound categories: ambience, field recordings and noise to be triggered by each ultrasonic sensor with the velocity (how close your hand/foot/any other limb or object) controlling the volume. The fourth sensor would possess an effect perhaps a filter or reverb with the velocity controlling intensity or scope.