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Motus is a groundbreaking gestural performance system designed to provide musicians with a more expressive way of controlling effect parameters in music software. By using the Adafruit Circuit Playground Express, the project aimed to create an engaging and visually captivating experience for both the musician and the audience. The system allowed for a unique connection between the musician's movements and the resulting sound, with the added benefit of programmable LED feedback.
The primary goal of the Motus project was to design an alternative to traditional MIDI controllers, such as knobs and faders, for manipulating musical effects. The team aimed to develop a solution that felt more organic and engaging, with the musician's movements playing an integral part in the music-making process.
The Adafruit Circuit Playground Express served as the perfect development board for the project, offering an array of built-in sensors, including a gyroscope, as well as programmable LEDs. This combination of features allowed the team to create a versatile and visually appealing gestural control system.
The Motus system was developed in Max MSP, utilizing an effect bank controlled by a matrix that assigned various effects, such as Reverb, Delay, Distortion, and Filters, to the Pitch, Yaw, and Roll movements detected by the Adafruit Circuit Playground Express. The matrix user interface enabled users to assign and control parameters such as mix, decay, feedback, and frequency within the software.
One of the major challenges faced during the development of the Motus system was smoothing out the data received from the board and adjusting the float point data to create a musical and dynamic performance experience. The team successfully overcame this obstacle, resulting in a responsive and expressive gestural control system.
The Motus system has received positive feedback from friends and professors, who were impressed by its innovative approach to effect control and its captivating visual aspects. The project demonstrated the potential for gestural control systems to revolutionize the way musicians interact with their software, creating a more immersive and dynamic experience for both performers and audiences alike.
The Motus project showcases the power of innovative thinking in the realm of music technology. By combining the capabilities of the Adafruit Circuit Playground Express with the flexibility of Max MSP, the team was able to develop a unique and engaging gestural performance system that has the potential to reshape the way musicians create and perform their music.
