Koka's Blinkwheel is an electromechanical sequencer. Check out Koka's work on www.koka.one #modernart #instrument #sculpture #engineering #woodworking #arduino #inspiration #musicproducer #beat #dawless
What a fascinating, interactive electronic instrument. The performer gets to create a light show and change the sequences of sounds by adding different LEDS into their sockets.
How does it work and where does the sound come from? Is it sequencing another instrument (or even a selection of instruments) via midi, or does it produce sounds itself? Could you do a video showing inside it and explaining it's working? Thanks
Based on the design, the LEDs are completing a circuit once the wire from the spinning arm contacts the LED. The LEDs are spaced based on the desired rhythmic possibilities, the motor speed is set to the "BPM" desired, and the outcome is essentially a trigger sequencer. The different color LEDs in this circumstance are indicating the different types of sound being played via either MIDI out or CV trigger out to another devices, likely a DAW via a sound card, but it is also possible that the outputs are going to Eurorack modules or any other trigger based sampler. Another interesting possibility is that, based on the resistance value of the LED, different "levels" of signal are possible and programmable, so you could use different LEDs with different resistance values to trigger different samples, or even send CV signals to control pitch. Fascinating project. Reminds me of a makeshift tape wheel made by an old friend as his final year project, where he had a similar concept except it used sections of audio tape to indicate different sequences. This is definitely much more elegant and capable!
