A New Toy

When it comes to controlling all of the different parameters of audio equipment, external hardware or internal software, many find it difficult or tedious. In the past, these 'modulations' of the sound began with early developments of synthesizers. The user would have to turn knobs, move faders, and patch the signal from module to module of the synthesizer to create vast amounts of variations to the original sound.

Over the years, technology has rapidly advanced creating new and innovative ways to control sound. Professional sound effects are now at the touch of a button with keyboard synthesizers and their rack mount equivalents. Programming languages have provided the opportunity to program and sequence productions ranging from a solo instrumentalist to alien ambiances to full symphony orchestras. A human voice can be processed to sound like anything, it can even be controlled in real time with other instruments like a vocoder.

All of these exciting new technologies offer endless tools to create any sonic landscape your imagination leads you to. This process is a tedious one, in most cases. It still involves changing parameters on the external gear itself, by way of remote on a control surface or by feverishly clicking away on your mouse inside some software program or plug-in.

Many people use items like MIDI trigger banks, control surfaces, sequencer and synthesizers today to take advantage of developed programming languages to control sound, but a new toy has been discovered that functions in a way like nothing before it. Some of you probably have one in your house and don't even know it, a Nintendo Wii Remote. After some upgrading with accessories available at any video game store, the remote can be a refreshing new take on controlling sound.

The Bluetooth signal used to communicate with the Wii console is also able to communicate with other Bluetooth devies. These devices can then be taught to interpret the information using software compatible with any platform. There are programs for PC, Mac and other platforms for free or very little.

Here is a brief description of the Wiimote features and those of the upgrades.

The Wiimote is a squared-off white cylinder about the size of a clave or a
large hot dog, with 11 buttons and a dark area at one end that has something to
do with infrared light. Inside are an Analog Devices ADXL 330 3-axis 3G
accelerometer; a highly accurate, 2-axis infrared tracking system; a
cell-phone-style vibrator called a “rumble generator”; a tiny speaker; and a
Bluetooth transmitter and receiver. For another $20, you can almost double the
Wiimote's power by adding a Nunchuk, a pickle-shaped device that plugs into the
Wiimote with a cable and gives you a second ADXL 330, a two-dimensional
joystick, and a couple of more buttons.

The ADXL 330 (which, if purchased separately, would cost nearly twice as
much as the Wiimote) is a remarkable little chip. It senses motion in the x
(left to right), y (up and down), and z (forward and back) planes and generates
three different analog voltages in response. But its 3G (3 Gravities) rating
means that it is sensitive enough to respond to the earth's gravitational field,
even when it's not moving. So it not only measures acceleration, it can also
measure static position relative to the earth's pull — in other words, tilt. At
all times, therefore, the unit reports its rotational position in three
dimensions: what airplane pilots call pitch (vertical plane), yaw (horizontal
plane), and roll (twist).

Now imagine being able to control the pitch of something by simply raising or lowering your arm. You could move your arm left and right to increase or decrease the tempo, or twist your wrist to add more or less reverb. By mapping the controls of the Wiimote and it's upgrades to the controls of any parameter or command imaginable, the user can control sound in a new creative manner. Physical expression can be transformed into sound, body movements translated into any imaginable soundscape.

Plenty of support is also available to anyone interested within various Wii forums scattered around the Internet. Click the link below to watch a video of two people using the Wiimote as a controller. There isn't too much musicianship contained, but it is interesting nonetheless.

Quicktime is needed to view the video and it takes a second for the video to download after your click the link.

'Imaginary Dialogues' performed by Paul Lehrman and Phil Acimovic on 2 Wii remotes