Accessible Music Technology
About Our Vision - why sensors?
Services we Offer
Music technology is often cited as a gateway into inclusive music making and it is evident that its capacity for pushing accessible music-making forwards is huge.
However, it is too often the case that the "accessible" music technology on the market is unfairly priced, poorly documented, and prone to compatibility issues when operating systems are updated, for example. This, in part, is due to the short-term nature of funding grants and PhD projects.
These factors create different barriers to access, making the implementation of these creative tools impossible to those without prior training in music technology, and those without the money to invest.
Additionally, whilst it is true that some accessible technology is very flexible, the person-centred potential for calibrating and positioning individual sensors is unparalleled. With DIY, stand-alone sensor instruments, facilitators are able to tune their devices to the individual, comfortable and familiar movements/stims presented by each participant, rather than implementing a "one-size-fits-all" setup.
Hence, it is our long-term goal to provide downloadable, opensource code and accessible setup guides to demystify this wonderful world of accessible technology and to remove these unnecessary barriers to access.
Short-term installations - This service is perfect for events, festivals, and schools. We offer this service as an alternative to "hands-on" workshops.
For projects like this, we set up our sensor instruments, and then ensure everything is running smoothly behind the scenes - moving sensors to suit participants' access needs where necessary.
This technology can remain in place for hours, or several days, allowing event-attendees and learners to interact with the setup intuitively. This approach is particularly effective for developing "cause and effect" relationships between movements and sound in a pressure-free environment.
Workshops - we offer accessible music technology workshops, utilising our setups for creative projects in various settings. For more information on workshops, click here.
Handmade sensor instruments - we make stand-alone instruments tailored to your interests and needs, providing setup guides and options to personalise your sensor instruments with various colour schemes and crotched cases, handmade by our head of merchandise, Olivia Pascoe.
DIY support and setup guides - if you'd prefer to make your own instruments, we offer support and setup guides/shopping lists, and downloadable code to copy/paste. We are particularly keen to adapt to peoples' budgets here, and our long-term goal is to make all of our setup guides and code opensource and freely available online.
Long-term installations - we design bespoke setups for specific settings, such as sensory rooms at SEND schools, intended to remain there indefinitely.
This service includes the making of the sensor-instruments, the initial setup of the space, and regular visits to maintain the technology and fix any issues/bugs. We also offer training for facilitators and teachers using the setup.
Please note: We will keep this website updated with tech developments and free code. Scroll down, and sign up to our mailing list to stay updated.
Click here for technical information about our gadgets.
Access Resources here!
If you're interested in building any of the instruments, and learning how to set them up, click the button below.
Please remember that this is all work in progress!
We are a very small team, and are doing our best to facilitate free, accessible music-making. Please contact us if you have any issues or requests, we'll get to you as soon as we can!
Motion Sensor Instrument
A wonderful Max4Live device that allows you to play music by rotating, shaking, and tilting the device!
Features include:
Adjustable sensitivity and calibration settings so you can "tune" the device to the specific movement of an individual.
An accelerometer "wand" for triggering sounds with shakes and sharp movements.
A fun and "stimmy" LED display which also functions as a button to trigger sounds.
The ability to map rotation/tilt gestures to parameters in Ableton.
The ability to play a scale with rotation/tilt gestures.
Total chromatic control over the pitches generated, and transposition settings.
Coming soon:
A Pure Data version for use with other DAWs.
Ableton-specific bug fixes and improved integration with the software.
Variation settings for GyroScale's rhythm.
Many more fun features.
Magical Drums
The knock sensor drums allow you to trigger sounds by hitting a drum, or another object of your choice.
The sensitivity can be adjusted and calibrated to suit the user's needs and preferences.
In the Max4Live version, sounds can be programmed to change depending on how hard you hit. This feature will be implemented in the Pure Data version soon, for use with free DAWs.
And More!!
The amazing Tom Culling is developing his designs and creating new additions to the experiences. His long-term goal is to provide accessible resources to allow anyone to build these instruments at home, regardless of their prior knowledge of music technology.
Follow along for more developments and free updates!
Both developing and using these sensors is a similar process to learning an instrument. It's tricky at first, but over time - as you learn the instrument - it'll improve alongside you!
central hob
centralhobrecords@gmail.com