Internally Actuated Drums for Expressive Performance

David Rector, and Spencer Topel

Proceedings of the International Conference on New Interfaces for Musical Expression

Abstract

Actuated instruments is a growing area of activity for research and composition, yet there has been little focus on membrane-based instruments. This paper describes a novel design for an internally actuated drum based on the mechanical principles of a loudspeaker. Implementation is described in detail; in particular, two modes of actuation, a moving-coil electromagnet and a moving-magnet design, are described. We evaluate the drum using a synthesized frequency sweep, and find that the instrument has a broad frequency response and exhibits qualities of both a drum and speaker.

Citation

David Rector, and Spencer Topel. 2014. Internally Actuated Drums for Expressive Performance. Proceedings of the International Conference on New Interfaces for Musical Expression. DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.1178913 [PDF]

BibTeX Entry

@inproceedings{drector2014,
 abstract = {Actuated instruments is a growing area of activity for research and composition, yet there has been little focus on membrane-based instruments. This paper describes a novel design for an internally actuated drum based on the mechanical principles of a loudspeaker. Implementation is described in detail; in particular, two modes of actuation, a moving-coil electromagnet and a moving-magnet design, are described. We evaluate the drum using a synthesized frequency sweep, and find that the instrument has a broad frequency response and exhibits qualities of both a drum and speaker.},
 address = {London, United Kingdom},
 author = {David Rector and Spencer Topel},
 booktitle = {Proceedings of the International Conference on New Interfaces for Musical Expression},
 doi = {10.5281/zenodo.1178913},
 issn = {2220-4806},
 month = {June},
 pages = {395--398},
 publisher = {Goldsmiths, University of London},
 title = {Internally Actuated Drums for Expressive Performance},
 url = {http://www.nime.org/proceedings/2014/nime2014_559.pdf},
 year = {2014}
}