CREATIVE_TECHNOLOGY
Experimental Instruments // Hardware // Multimedia
Drum Motion
Designers: Martin Medrano, Lukas Williams
An experimental MIDI controller that utilizes an MPU-6050 gyroscope sensor mounted to a drumstick to capture the physical motion of a percussionist. This motion is processed through an Arduino Uno and converted into real-time MIDI CC data for dynamic control of audio parameters in Ableton Live.
Hardware Stack
- Sensor: MPU-6050 (ITG/MPU) / 6-axis Motion Tracking
- Interface: I2C Serial Data (SDA/SCL)
- Controller: Arduino Uno
- Housing: Custom 3D Printed Prototype
[ PROTOTYPE_DOCUMENTATION ]
Signal Mapping Architecture
The system maps gyroscope tilt (X/Y/Z axes) to MIDI CC values. The Interrupt Digital Output (INT) on Digital Pin 2 ensures precision timing for sensor-to-sound interaction, providing a near-zero latency response essential for live drumming.
Efficiency & Build
Built as a highly cost-effective prototype ($5.00 BOM total) using off-the-shelf sensors and custom 3D printed housings, demonstrating the potential for scalable gestural interfaces in percussion.