Head is buzzing with ideas today…

I got a 2nd good night of sleep in a row and woke up with a head full of ideas:

Pattern

It started with an idea for a new pattern for the matrix. A simple series of stipes, each filled with a different gradient, each gradient with unique starting color, rate of change across the gradient, and different rates of color movement across the gradient. Was easier to code than describe. It started to “work” when I added black separators between the stripes. The image does not do it justice. Easy name for this one: Stripes.

Polysynth.

Then, I started thinking about the time of flight sensor based “theremin / synth” that I had been working on a few months ago. Today’s thoughts shifted away from making a playable instrument to making an interactive art piece. The concept: multiple input “stations” each with 2 TOF sensors presented as a stylish box connected via a cable to a central station. Each station allowing the observer control over the volume and note of one “voice” of an arpeggiated polysynth. All using a common tempo as provided by a baseline and drum track. All with a common root chord and chord progression. All of the inputs being reflected visually via a central collection of vertical LED tubes filled with crushed or cubed glass. These would be much like my kryptonite lamps). The resulting music would be played via powered speakers. Might add recording capabilities as that would be very cool to capture the group music. Might be able to pipe the audio over to one or more of the reactive Matrix panels as well or the octopus light show or many of such. I am so in love with this. I am sure it will morph from here but it should be a fun piece.

Sand Clock

While sketching parts for the sand table, I had an idea that I could make a clock out of it. Draw in the hour and minute hands and then spend the balance of the minute erasing the face of the clock via an expanding spiral. With some tweaking on the pace of erase, it should be able to show the time continuously.