SensZora – Make your surroundings audible
SensZora – Thanks to built-in sensors,
specific values via a specially developed
Software features, sounds and parameters for
Converted via audio editing
A course project by Fritz Krüger, Johannes Schlump, Paul Fleck and Benjamin Pohler, 3rd semester, 2020
Supervising lecturers: Prof. Dr Kyrill Fischer, Prof. Thorsten Greiner, Prof. Dr Jürgen Schwab
SensZora is a sensor-controlled sound generator that interacts with its surroundings. Its built-in sensors detect and record specific values, which are then converted into sounds and sound-processing parameters using specially developed software.
The idea for SensZora was conceived in October 2019. We – that is, Fritz Krüger, Johannes Schlump, Paul Fleck and Benjamin Pohler – met whilst studying the Sound, Music and Production BA at Darmstadt University of Applied Sciences. Together, we wanted to find a new, or rather a different, way of creating music, drawing inspiration from our surroundings.
Users are encouraged to break away from their usual workflow of writing music and generating sounds, and to draw inspiration from the sounds produced by SensZora. Instead of setting the same parameters over and over again in the DAW, values are adjusted using sensor readings.
SensZora has two modes: a composition mode and a MIDI mode. The composition mode features a ‘musical brain’ which uses the collected sensor readings to compose music for bass, pads, chord progressions and arpeggios. The sound design is influenced by sensor readings.
In MIDI mode, the musical brain is deactivated and the SensZora software (implemented in Max/MSP) receives notes from an external MIDI controller. The sound continues to be modulated by sensor readings. This means it functions as a fully-fledged synthesiser.
The housing, made of stainless steel, plexiglass and walnut burl veneer, contains all the sensors. Sensors for temperature, humidity, air pressure, magnetism, light (WRGB), gas and smoke, tilt, ultrasound, rotational movement and acceleration (gyroscope) are fitted. The data received via the sensors is read out via a Teensy and transmitted to the MAXmsp software.
In addition to the sensors, LEDs are fitted to provide visual feedback linked to various sensor readings. SensZora also stands out thanks to its modern design.
