One of the devices that I’ll be using in order to achieve connectivity with plants in my interactive installation will be Biotron. This tool has been created by the innovative instrument company Playtronica, and although it hasn’t been released yet, they have sent me one of them in a development stage for me to try and create content before it’s finally launched. Playtronica has come up with several instruments of this kind in recent years from which Playtron, and Touch Me have reached a lot of popularity among electronic musicians; these devices allow conductive materials like water, metal or fruits to be used as instruments, when connected via usb to a computer. Even the people’s own body can be used to perform different sequences of notes:
Biotron is Playtronica’s latest product and this time they have focused in the field of biomusic, customising their conductive instruments in order to be used mainly with plants. I will integrate Biotron in my interactive installation, and it’ll be used to control the audio through Pure Data as well as the visuals which will be displayed in the screens. The device is usually connected to the leaves or stems of the plant with alligator clips or patches, using its own conductivity to create a magnetic field which can be used as a theremin or tactile keyboard. This system will allow the audience to touch the plants in the installation and some sounds will respond accordingly; I’ve been doing some early research lately and you’ll be able to see a demonstration in this video:
I have also been updating my Pure Data patch a bit adding ADSR control to the sound and I’m starting to enjoy the sounds coming out from it. Biotron will help me to achieve interaction between the audience and my installation, and will also have a collaborative meaning with Playtronica. Please check their website for more information and I will also leave here an older video collaboration where I used two teacups to control my modular synth with the use of Touch Me.
https://www.youtube.com/@PlayTronica