dodecaudion gesture based electronic music dodecaudion gesture based electronic music
sep 09, 2011

dodecaudion gesture based electronic music

‘dodecaudion’ gestural audiovisual controller by polish designers pangenerator

polish design studio pangenerator has created a gesture-based audiovisual controller called ‘dodecaudion’. ‘one of the key ideas,‘ the designers explain, ‘was to explore a new interface that stands as an alternative to traditional controllers (like knobs and buttons) that simply don’t provide much room for performers’ gestural expression.‘

instead, the performer’s spatial relationship to each of ten faces on ‘dodecaudion’ determines in realtime the instrument’s sound, as infrared distance sensors embedded within the device’s skeleton read the performer’s hand position as input, adjusting the tone and frequency of the sounds accordingly. the exterior of ‘dodecaudion’ is composed of laser-cut aluminum faces and Y-joints printed on a 3D printer (via the additive, fused deposition modeling technique).

the opensource project makes use of arduino, bluetooth, processing, and open sound control protocol. pangenerator plans to sell ‘dodecaudion’ under their company hedoco, beginning in a few months.

demo performance of ‘dodecaudion’


prototype testing

‘dodecaudion’, full frontal view

detail view into interior of ‘dodecaudion’, which features infrared input sensors

view of skeleton components: laser-cut aluminum faces and FDM-printed joints

designboom has received this project from our ‘DIY submissions‘ feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication.

Jakub Koźniewski
sep 09, 2011

  • The Theremin, invented in 1920 and popular with everyone from Lenin to Led Zeppelin, uses a similar system where body movement determines pitch and volume. Full story on Wikipedia.

    stina says:
    Sep 09, 2011

  • Stina! The Theremin is an instrument (so it generates a sound that is entirely its own) when The Dodecaudion is a controller!

    jack says:
    Sep 09, 2011

  • certanly more listenable than theremin

    rok says:
    Sep 09, 2011

  • The Moog theremin can be used as a midi-controller.

    stina says:
    Sep 09, 2011

  • This could be Guitar Hero for the rave generation.

    gong says:
    Sep 09, 2011

  • Beautyfull element for an instalation..

    brodba says:
    Sep 10, 2011

  • ..I’m thinking: ‘narcissists’.

    coccosoids says:
    Sep 12, 2011

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