AirPiano: touch free IR piano

posted Jun 27th 2008 5:20pm by
filed under: arduino hacks, misc hacks


We were excited to learn of [Omer Yosha]‘s AirPiano, but being the persnickety nerds we are, we think its more like a theremin than a piano. The device lets users play 24 different notes with a wave of the hand over the AirPiano. The “keys” are arranged in a matrix of three tiers with eight notes per tier; if the user sustains his or her hand over the AirPiano, the corresponding note is sustained.

It’s construction is relatively simple: an Arduino, several infrared sensors, and LEDs corresponding to the notes make up the device. It doesn’t have any built-in audio hardware at all, so it’s most basic use is as a MIDI controller. Still, it is essentially an unspecified input device, so it could theoretically be used for other purposes. For us, it’s fun to just watch the AirPiano in action.



6 Responses to AirPiano: touch free IR piano

  • josh says:

    “we” like juan

  • 36chambers says:

    Cool, seems a little laggy, would have liked to see a demo with other sounds with quicker attack/decay like drums.

    This really reminds me commercial product SOUNDBEAM
    http://youtube.com/watch?v=FtSt3Rnncrs&feature=related
    http://www.soundbeam.co.uk/

    Those things are super expensive, would be really awesome if the heads got together to reverse engineer this thing and bring us a similar cheap DIY solution.

  • Reminiscent of the anger stick.

  • Tarek says:

    Today was in germany smthin about the airpiano on [3sat] – and an interview with omer.
    there was also how to make ur own multitouch display so if you want to put smthing here, C-base e.v has open source software for multitouch

  • guy says:

    this video is no longer availiable.

  • Refael Yosha says:

    You will probably like to know that the airpiano is now offer on sale. For more information please refer to: http://www.airpiano.de, and find all information you need about this unique instrument.

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