Theseus

The Theseus platform is composed of four elements. The first is an electronic infrastructure is made up of eight printed circuit boards that can be selected and recombined to suit the demands of the module. Second, the platform employs a set of standard electronic and hardware components including acrylic sheets, patch cables, rotary potentiometers, and LEDs. Third, several software libraries are used to simplify the programming of each module’s functionality following its fabrication. Finally, to facilitate communication between modules and consumer music/visualization programs, a software interface allows users to route and map signals as they see fit.

There are three module types: generators, processors, and receivers. Generators produce a signal that can be sent to a processing module or connected directly to a receiver module. Signals are indicated by blinking or fading LEDs. Processing modules take existing signals, apply a mathematical operation to them, and output an altered signal. Receivers are the final destination in the signal’s path. This is where the received message will be translated into a digital protocol for interfacing with computer software. Given these three module types and the near infinite number of combinations, it becomes possible to craft unique and deliberate musical and visual compositions using Theseus.

The modular system presented in the accompanying photos demonstrates the extent to which personalization of electronic instruments becomes possible when barriers to entry are lowered. In this case, I focused primarily on designing modules that could not exist in an analog system, whether due to cost of production, esoteric functionality, or analog electrical limitations. As modules can be reprogrammed to serve any functional purpose, I chose to forego traditional labels in favor of a more playful and interpretive aesthetic in the graphic design.