Polytope

//Malleable Sound Manipulation Interface //

The Polytope is a sound manipulation device i developed during my master thesis in sound design at IRCAM / ESBAM.

This device is an experiment about the relations between the production/manipulation of the sound and new forms of tangibility allowed by the confrontation between physical object and digital interface.
The concept behind is to develop an interface (HMI) for musical and sound design use; a malleable object playing with the physical texture using soft materials and whose aim is to be able to draw a parallel between shaping / modulating the sound and modeling the material.

This tangible user interface (TUI) is intended as a form of musical instrument and thus brings together all the components that make it possible to characterize the instrument in the classical sense of the term.
I tried to create a set, like the waves Martenot, combining exciter resonator vibrator and playing interface.

This project is all about creating an instrument dissociating itself from the traditionals and neotraditionals modes of manipulation of the sound (keyboards, potentiometers, button) to allow new forms of manipulation of the sound. The stakes of this object are multiple.

On one hand, it can let the musician or sound designer to search and manipulate sound textures instinctively (because the interface is made mith machine learning technology -> wekinator, who permit to search sound and record ‘synestesic” macro between the hand gesture/feeling and the sound. and then morph beetween these macros.

But it can also be used by novices as a “game” instrument, in the playfull sense of the term, through a form of sonic stroll .

Finally, another possibility not quite explored yet is to use this object as a sensorial awakener for children reaching autism, by thinking how they could take place in the setting of Snoezelen rooms.

This instrument is design not to be only an “emitting” instrument, but to create physical feedback to build a closer relation beetween the user and it.E.G, there is some micro rumble motors inside who are controlled after an the sound générated buy the device has been analysed by psychoacoustical descriptors)

The design and implementation of this project was based on a "high / Low tech" approach ( create an object with a high technological potential but in DIY way.This thus become replicable by anyone who want to spend time on it because it only need relatively accessible tools and process to be done.

I had a transversal approach design this project to cumulate knowladge in differents fiels: i have done sensor development, materials research, circuit design, electronics, microcontroller programming, sound and audio programming, design and prototyping. various techniques such as: 3D prototyping, laser cutting, modeling, molding, welding and PCB creation.