The AudioCubes are an electronic musical instrument for professional musicians, and are developed by Percussa. The AudioCubes are smart light-emitting blocks that are able to detect each other's position, location, and sense distance.

Every AudioCube is identical, and has 4 sensors (one on each side), digital signal processors (DSP), a USB-rechargeable battery, and a translucent housing. They use their four onboard infrared sensors to detect each other's position, communicate and measure distances to objects nearby.

Several applications have been developed for the AudioCubes. Each software application is focused on a specific use:

Music composition:

Improvisor is an application for composing and for generative music – you can create MIDI patterns by creating networks of AudioCubes, and changing location and orientation for the cubes. It's a sequencer that works with your MIDI hardware and software synthesizers.

Modulor is an application developed specifically for the Percussa AudioCubes hardware. It lets you record, loop, process and assemble musical information, to quickly develop musical ideas. The software works with your existing MIDI keyboard and controllers, professional audio interface (CoreAudio or ASIO) and software virtual instruments (VSTs or AudioUnits).

Live performance:

MIDIBridge is a software application developed specifically for the Percussa AudioCubes hardware. It lets you use the AudioCubes with your existing MIDI compatible instruments or software for audio or visuals, such as Max/MSP, SuperCollider, Pure Data (PD), Reaktor, Resolume, Ableton Live, FL Studio, Propellerhead Reason, Cubase, Logic, EnergyXT2, … and many others.

Deckabridge is a software application developed specifically for the Percussa AudioCubes hardware. It lets you use the AudioCubes with Deckadance, well known professional DJ software from Image-Line, the company that created FL Studio.

Sound Design:

LoopShaper is a software application developed specifically for Percussa AudioCubes. It lets you use the AudioCubes with your existing VST instruments to create sounds and loops.

PluginWrapper is a VST/AudioUnit effect/instrument plugin developed specifically for the Percussa AudioCubes hardware. It lets you use the AudioCubes with your existing DAW software and plugins, such as Ableton Live, FL Studio, Cubase, Logic, EnergyXT2, … and many others, without having to deal with MIDI mapping. The PluginWrapper is a plugin capable of hosting other instrument or effect plugins.

Evolver is an application for sound design, composition and production – you can generate complex LFO signals (low frequency oscillator signals) which you can then send via MIDI as MIDI CC message (continuous control changes) to any hardware or software instrument or effect processor, to create constantly changing sounds and come up with fantastic soundscapes based on the location and orientation of the cubes. You can revamp your favourite old synths and effects and give them a new life using Evolver and discover sounds you thought never possible.

Creating interactive applications:

Flext external for max/msp, OSC server, C++ SDK. Build your own software, Max/MSP or Reaktor patches that work with the AudioCubes? You can take advantage of cube location, orientation and sensor distance information to create completely new ways of generating sound, music or visuals.

bert

October 2, 2012 @ 4:32 am

mark mosher did a review on audiocubes - check out his site at http://www.modulatethis.com/2010/01/review-percussa-audiocubes-ableton-live.html

<1>

 

Post Comment!

Your Name: (Required.)

Email Address: (Required, not published.)

Image verification: (required)

Message:

 

Posting Rules:
Please keep your comments relevant! Do not post requests for help, do not use for sales, do not post unless you have something interesting to say about this instrument, or we may delete your post.

I have read and understand the posting rules.