I was inspired by Martin of the band Wintergatan (better known for their Marble Machine music video) and his “Modulin”, a modular synthesizer set up with a ribbon controller which could be held and played something like a violin. I used a combination of a soft linear potentiometer and a force-sensitive resistor stacked one on top of the other to make a pressure-sensitive ribbon.

I connected this, along with some other inputs, up to an Arduino and processed the data into MIDI note values, pitch bend, and control change data. I wrote an algorithm to quantize the pitch inputs from the ribbon to either chromatic tones or a specific scale, while still allowing bending notes and sliding from note to note either smoothly or with a portamento, in a way reminiscent of the ROLI Seaboard controllers.

I really do want to have another go at this one some day, take it on again with new eyes and all the knowledge and experience I've gained since, I think it has the potential to be a really fun musical instrument and a cool product.