Final Project – Kinecontrol Modular Music

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The Team:

Maggie Burke – Fabrication, LightBlue programming, performer

Daniel Hua – Android programmer extraordinaire, camera man

The Project:

The Kinecontrol is a modular music device intended for use in dance and other live performance. The performer wears an Android phone in a standard mic belt used for theatre, and between one and four bands containing a LightBlue Bean around their wrists and ankles. The Kinecontrol uses the accelerometer and gyroscope built into the phone, and the accelerometer built in to the LightBlue Bean to control music in MAX/MSP. Unlike similar music control systems for dance the Kinecontrol is entirely wireless, can be scaled for a larger or smaller number of controllers, and uses devices performance companies either already own, or can easily obtain for under $35.

The Tech:

The Kinecontrol wrist and ankle bands each contain a LightBlue Bean that communicates its accelerometer data to the Android phone worn around the waist. The Android phone then communicates strings of data from its own and the Bluetooth accessory accelerometers to the computer running MAX/MSP over Open Sound Control (OSC) wireless protocol. Daniel Hua created the custom app that runs on the Android phone to manage accelerometer data.

Kinecontrol Video

Original Concept Sketch

Right Wristband

Left Wristband

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Wristbands also fit ankles

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Wristband outside with LightBlue Bean

 

Kinecontrol Photos

Wristband inside with LightBlue Bean

 

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Mic Belt holding Android phone

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Screenshot 2014-12-08 14.51.45

Proof of concept – Android phone data to MAX/MSP

Screenshot 2014-12-10 22.43.42

Final MAX/MSP Program