Typically, when we think of a music sequencer, we envisage LEDs and boards covered in buttons. Of course, there are naturally other ways to build such a device. MesoTune takes a different tack entirely, relying on magnets and rotating mechanisms to get the job done.
MesoTune acts as a MIDI controller, and is designed to be hooked up to a computer or other MIDI synthesizer device. The heart of MesoTune is a set of eight magnet wheels, rotating together on a common shaft. The rotational speed of the shaft, dictated by the requested tempo in beats per minute, is controlled by an Arduino. Each magnet wheel has 16 slots into which the user can place a spherical magnet. Every time a magnet on the wheel passes a hall sensor, it sends a MIDI message to the attached computer which is then responsible for using this to synthesize the relevant sound.
There are other useful features, too. Each of the eight magnet wheels, or channels, gets its own fader, which can be used to control volume or other parameters. There’s also a handy tempo display, and a 16-button touchpad for triggering other events. These additions make it more practical to use in a compositional context, where it’s nice to have extra controls to make changes on the fly.
Made out of 3D printed parts and readily available off the shelf components, it’s a fun alternative sequencer design that we’re sure many makers could whip up in just a weekend. We’d love to see other remixes of the design – if you’ve got one, hit us up at the tipline. We’ve seen other great sequencer builds before, too. Video after the break.
So it can play a maximum of 8 notes at once (stacked) with patterns that repeat after 16 notes (in a line)? Help me understand.
It’s better thought of as a drum machine, not a synth sequencer.
Editing a pattern on the fly seems like a hassle. I think this is more of a novelty than a usable instrument.
Adding an ability to rotate and lock a disc up to 1/16 of a turn, or 0.0001 turns for those using binary, would allow for some syncopation.
This and auto-tune would comprise a complete “band” for a rapper.
Truth to be told, rapping (as distinct from hip hop as a genre) became common in pop music in the 90’s exactly because it didn’t require any skills in singing. This sort of light pop-rap is what basically anyone can do – and the producers and studio wizards do the rest.
Rapture – Blondie
You Burn Me Up I’m a Cigarette – Robert Fripp
(the original) Walk This Way – Aerosmith
Why are the comments here being so tightly policed?
“Woe to those who spit on the beat generation, the wind will blow it back.” ~ Bill Vaughan
What do you mean?