Bricolage in a hybrid digital lutherie context

Abstract

Interaction design research typically differentiates processes involving hardware and software tools as being led by tinkering and play, versus engineering and conceptualisation. Increasingly however, embedded maker tools and platforms require hybridisation of these processes. In the domain of digital musical instrument (DMI) design, we were motivated to explore the tensions of such a hybrid process. We designed a workshop where groups of DMI designers were given the same partly-finished instrument consisting of four microphones exciting four vibrating string models. Their task was to refine this simple instrument to their liking for one hour using Pure Data software. All groups sought to use the microphone signals to control the instrument's behaviour in rich and complex ways, but found even apparently simple mappings difficult to realise within the time constraint. We describe the difficulties they encountered and discuss emergent issues with tinkering in and with software. We conclude with further questions and suggestions for designers and technologists regarding embedded DMI design processes and tools.