Tangible Media Group

Audiopad
is a composition and performance instrument for electronic music which tracks
the positions of objects on a tabletop surface and converts their motion into
music. One can pull sounds from a giant set of samples, juxtapose archived recordings
against warm synthetic melodies, cut between drum loops to create new beats, and
apply digital processing all at the same time on the same table. Audiopad not
only allows for spontaneous reinterpretation of musical compositions, but also
creates a visual and tactile dialogue
between itself, the performer, and the audience. Audiopad has a matrix of antenna
elements which track the positions of electronically tagged objects on a tabletop
surface. Software translates the position information into music and graphical
feedback on the tabletop. Each object represents either a musical track or a microphone.

Please email James Patten at jpatten@media.mit.edu
if you have questions about Audiopad.