An ergonomic live performance tool for visual artists enabling gestural control of generative, audio-reactive music visualizations.
FORMulator is a hardware+software system for generating and performing with live audio-reactive music visualizations. Designed as a tool for visual artists working with live bands it enables its user to create and control generative visuals synced to music using the medium of a live audio signal as the medium for the canvas. The system includes an iPad mini dock that is ergonomically designed for performance, handheld and coupled with a sensor, enabling gestural control of its emergent visuals. By contrast to the most widely used hardware controllers, it facilitates intuitive gestural manipulation of generative rather than loop based elements. The goal of this thesis is to develop a stand alone system with a minimal interface that enables its user to get out from behind the laptop, slider, or knob and into a freely flowing music visualization performance.