Hit the beat, a project by Lorenzo Bravi that uses a drum machine to play small physical objects placed on its platforms. Beans may sound different than buttons, which may sound different than seed pods, or bottle caps, or a coffee cup, or a tin can, or whatever you have around the house. From Creative Applications:
The setup includes a collection of box like objects with solenoid actuators built in, and each containing different granules. All boxes connect to the main unit with integrated Arduino module which acts as the translator of the midi message received. The MIDI message is sent with any MIDI app thanks to MIDI Configuration on Mac. Lorenzo used Little MIDI on the iPad to send the wireless message. MIDI instruments can be assigned to each box that eventually triggers a physical solenoid percussion in realtime. Users can build an orchestra-like set of items, creating an intuitive and interactive investigation of music and sound.
Originally made for a children’s workshop at Libreria Corraini 121 in Milan, Bravi is now exploring the variety of music and sound that can be made with it. In this video, you can see more of how the machine works:
In the archives: more drums, including this flying robot orchestra and the LEGO Bionicle Toa Mata Band.
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