Sounding Boxes: Motion to Vibration

What are Sounding Boxes?

This is a new development in a series of electroacoustic instruments we produce, called "Sounding Boxes". For more information about the Sounding Box designs, check our original release over here. This new version was produced in collaboration with Intel.

How does this project work?

This new prototype allows people to control magnetic fields through motion, inducing vibration in metal and organic materials to collectively make music. As people move and create new gestures, the information is transmitted wirelessly to the instruments themselves, which react to make different sounds.

The project is still in development, but you can see a video below of some people experimenting at the MakerFaire Bay Area.

The Sounding Box sculptures are a series of resonating electroacoustic instruments. The vibrations heard are a result of variations in magnetic fields on the instruments, which cause metal strings to produce sound. This video shows a new prototype we’ve created in collaboration with Intel. As participants move, information from their motion is transmitted through Bluetooth the receiving Intel electronics in the instrument, controlling the magnetics and sound.

Credits

Design and Fabrication Support: Nabi Salomon and Patrick Delorey

Assembly Assistance: Hellyn Teng and Gabriel Andrade