Audiopad: A Tag-based Interface for Musical Performance

We present Audiopad, an interface for musical performance that aims to combine the modularity of knob based controllers with the expressive character of multidimensional tracking interfaces. The performer's manipulations of physical pucks on a tabletop control a real-time synthesis process. The pucks are embedded with LC tags that the system tracks in two dimensions with a series of specially shaped antennae. The system projects graphical information on and around the pucks to give the performer sophisticated control over the synthesis process.