SOMATIC
Translate movement into meaningful sound.
- Engine
- Control-signal graph
- Working environment
- Format: desktop / OSC / MIDI
- Internal platform
- Connects the lab’s sensor instruments to audio engines. Each hardware configuration receives its own calibration profile.
Musical objective.
An editor for connections between sensors and musical parameters. It receives data from hardware interfaces over OSC or MIDI, performs calibration, and assigns control messages. Audio processing and power control for mechanisms remain in separate devices.
Capabilities.
- OSC and MIDI input
- Curves, smoothing, and dead zone
- Defined response to sensor data loss
Signal path.
Engineering trade-off.
Smoothing reduces jitter but adds lag. A single map cannot suit every sensor without recalibration.
From studio practice.
Works with control data; it does not carry audio or replace local protection controllers.
Different sensors initially gave rise to different small programs. SOMATIC brought together the recurring tasks: zeroing, setting the range, removing jitter, and saving the musical assignment. Unity here means a shared workflow, not identical settings for every hand and material.
How the method works
Device firmware reads the sensor and sends data over MIDI or OSC. SOMATIC applies calibration, a response curve, a dead zone, and rate limiting. Where the source provides timestamps, these help distinguish measurement time from arrival time; the accuracy of that comparison depends on clock synchronization. If the stream is lost, the parameter follows a configured curve back to its designated value.
One working approach.
Record a short range of actual movements, including the hand at rest.
Assign one parameter to one gesture and test smooth changes, holding, and return.
Disconnect the data stream and check how the musical system behaves.
What is saved with the project
The profile contains the sensor type, physical setup, raw data units, and assignment map. Audio filters, the spatial renderer, and actuator drivers remain separate components. Power limits operate on the device even if the connection to the computer is lost.