Percussa AudioCubes

Percussa Audiocubes

Percussa Audiocubes

Audio Cubes – more than a performance tool

What are audiocubes, what can you use them for and what technology is inside the audiocubes?

Bert Schiettecatte of Percussa:

“The audiocubes consist of 2 parts: hardware and software, and can be used for many different tasks depending on what software you use with the hardware. Professionals are using the cubes for algorithmic composition and generative music, but also for sound design and music education. And of course we have people who use the cubes in their live shows, to control effects or instruments, or to trigger loops or sounds. We also have installation artists who integrate the cubes in their own interactive sound installations.

Percussa Audiocubes

Percussa Audiocubes

The AudioCubes work on Mac and PC without drivers. They communicate over USB HID and transmit data at a rate of 1kHz, which means there is very little latency involved. Each cube is like a small computer, processing and generating infrared signals and sensing distance to your fingers and hands or other objects, as well as detecting other cubes nearby, including orientation. One cube stays connected to the PC or Mac while the other cubes can be wireless. To learn more about the electronics of audiocubes see Percussa – Audiocubes.

The data from the cubes is sent to the computer which can translate it into MIDI or OSC or use it to generate sound, music, visuals, … depending on the software you run. You can make your own software using our free development kit for Max/MSP, PD, C++, Supercollider, … or you can use our ready to use free applications, for composition (improvisor), sound design (evolvor), live Performance (midibridge), ….

Percussa Audiocubes

Percussa Audiocubes – Evolvoer Software (for Sound Design)

The cubes are charged over USB and have a built in battery which lasts about 4 hours. Each cube also has built in RGB LED lighting which can be mixed and controlled via USB (and via MIDI and OSC). The audiocubes are truly hot-pluggable, you can plug them in and out while software is running without having to reboot or restart software.”

If you want to connect your harware Synthesizer, this graphic might be of interest:

Percussa AudioCubes

Percussa AudioCubes – Controlling hardware synthesizers

Here are two video examples: Live Perfomance und Sound Design.

Learn more about what AudioCubes are at Percussa – Audiocubes.

Filed under 2012, General

Es muss Mitte der 70er Jahre gewesen sein, als ich das erste Mal “Switched on Bach” von Walter/Wendy Carlos gehört habe. Seitdem haben Elektronische Musik und Synthesizer nichts an Faszination und Vielfalt in ihren Ausdrucksmöglichkeiten für mich verloren. Der Haptik wegen und wohl auch bedingt durch meine Wurzeln, gebe ich nach wie vor Hardware den Vorzug, selbst wenn die Qualität so mancher Plug-Ins mittlerweile beeindruckend ist. Die Entwicklungen der letzten Jahre haben eine neue Generation an Klangschaffenden und Musikern hervorgebracht, die wie es scheint nun wiederum der Faszination der alten analogen Instrumente erliegen. Genau in diesem Spannungsfeld soll sich der Inhalt unseres Magazins wieder finden. ________________________________________________________ It must have been the middle of the 70′s when I first heard “Switched on Bach” by Walter/Wendy Carlos. Since then, electronic music and synthesizers have lost none of their fascination and variety in their means of expression for me. Because of the tangibility of it and probably also due to my roots, I still prefer hardware, even if the quality of some plug-ins is now impressive. The developments of recent years have spawned a new generation of sound professionals and musicians, who seem to again succumb to the fascination of old analog instruments. It is precisely in this area of tension that the content of our magazine can be found.