Bubble - An Audio-Visual Interactive Instrument
The "Bubble" project is an exploration into unconventional sound and music computing. The objective was to design a deliberately inefficient and "useless" musical instrument, challenging traditional norms to create a playful and unconventional user experience. The instrument was developed using TouchDesigner and interfaced with a MIDI keyboard.
keywords: Sound Interaction Design, TouchDesigner, Prototyping
Concept:
Inspired by the act of blowing soap bubbles, the instrument generates visual and auditory feedback based on user input. When keys are pressed on the MIDI keyboard, bubbles appear on the screen, growing larger with slower key presses. However, the sound associated with each key press is delayed, only playing when the corresponding bubble bursts on the screen. This introduces an element of unpredictability and challenges the musician’s control, adding a playful frustration to the experience.
Technical Framework:
Software: TouchDesigner and Surge VST plugin.
MIDI Input: Captures key presses from a 12-key MIDI keyboard, with input values determining the size and delay of bubble bursts.
Audio-Visual Integration: The size of the bubbles is linked to the intensity of key presses, and the bursting of bubbles triggers the delayed sound output.
Sound Design: The sound, inspired by the airy and light quality of a harp, was modified to create a distinct 'plop' upon the bubble bursting.