spazkron control
The spazkron control is a gestural, wearable performance instrument built around a hacked USB game controller and 2 piezo contact microphones, as well as a custom sound synthesis patch built in MaxMSP.
The most conspicuous aspect of the device is the pair of long wooden dowels that extend from the abdomen of the performer. These are attached to patches that contain the analog joystick elements from the game controller. The sticks function as long joysticks that protrude from the body. The 4 axes provide analog values that are mapped to various functions in the audio synthesis software.
The contact mics are embedded into felt wristbands that are worn by the performer. Sound is triggered by striking or scraping these contact mics against the sticks. The Max patch performs envelope following on the incoming signals. The resulting envelopes are used as parameters for various sound generation functions, in addition to volume control. This offers the performer a great deal of expressivity and subtlety.
In building this controller, I was interested in creating something that required a certain amount of physical engagement to make it function. I am primarily interested in performing complex, spazzy noise stuff, so I needed a controller that expressed that sort of physical movement. Because of the nature of the device and its relationship to the body, the performer must twitch, contort, and flail in order to really engage the full complexity of the system. I was specifically not interested in a controller that was polite, reserved, and cool. I wanted my device to force clumsiness and absurdity upon the situation, which is something that is often missing from experimental electronic music.
Jeff Kaiser has a brief blurb about a recent performance here