Looking Outwards 04

Graham Murtha

Section A

In the project entitled “Material Sequencer” by Mo H. Zareei, mechanical processes and rhythm are synthesized to create a sort of exposed metronome. Many people own metronomes, but no one considers the complexity of the functions working inside the little box. This project provides a visual for users, as they are able to experience the mechanisms required to make consistent or dynamic rhythms. While watching demos of the machine in action, I noticed that the variability of the system took up the majority of the working parts. The metronome has a dip switch that, when pressed, alternates between 8 different rhythmic patterns, as well as a dial for tempo. The circuit board tranfers both of these inputs from the user and transfers them to a Teensy 3.2 board, which interprets the 8 patterns as on/off functions. In this vein, the machine conspicuously displays how programming plays a large role in a machine as simple as a metronome. The project also has a heavy emphasis on materiality- connecting raw materials that have been musically utilized for centuries with the new era of mechanism and programming.

Material Sequencer – Physical materiality of sound