Beat Blocks - A Tangible Human User Interface for Live Performance and Composition

=BEAT BLOCKS= Created by Steinunn Arnardottir, Nick Bryan, and Hayden Bursk

IDEA/CONCEPT

Beat Blocks tries to break out of the mold of the standard 2-dimensional step-sequencer paradigm. Normally, a step sequncer works as a flat grid of two axes. The x-axis, broken up into columns, works with time stepping through discrete note values, usually 8th or 16th notes. The y-axis, broken up into rows, functions as either multiple voices, one per row, or as pitch increasing with height.

Utilizing the metaphor of playing with blocks, Beat Blocks combines all these possible functions into a single step sequencer by adding a third dimension - stacking blocks. The user still has the standard step sequencer grid to work with. However now, stacking blocks and adding height brings a new way of interacting. The x-axis functions as time. The y-axis functions as individual monophonic voices. The z-axis functions as pitch, amplitude, or as multiple sample selection.