Todd Vanderlin Demonstrates AR Scratching

When the turntable paradigm finally bites the dust, you may find such concepts as Cambridge-based designer Todd Vanderlin’s new multidimensional controller take its place.

Using a vinyl record (it could really be anything however) tagged with an AR marker, Vanderlin “scratches” the track by manipulating the tag in front of a video camera. The relationship between the tag and the camera controls the music either in a two- or three-dimensions based on the placement.

Here’s what Vanderlin says about his project:

I was playing around with some AR markers the other day and came up with this idea. taking just a plain old vinyl record and attaching an AR marker to the label you can track the record in 3D space. The next question was, can you scratch the record? So by figuring out the velocity of the records rotation and applying it to the payback of the audio you can scratch. There is some digital noise that needs to bee worked out, but sounds pretty good. Its still really hard to scratch, it takes some practice but is super fun. The next step is to figure out some nice triggers for different modes. I like the idea of not needing a turntable but the actual spinning of the record helps with the scratching and playback. I made a couple modes, one where the record is paused and you can just scratch through the song. The other looks for zero velocity for x time and then continues on with the song. If there is velocity you then are scratching and the audio is affected. I think that this project has some legs can’t wait to play more.

More information on Todd Vanderlin.

Author: FutureMusic

Share This Post On