Interactive Spatial Audio Diffusion: The Pendulum Haptic Interface Prototype

We present a prototype of a tangible tabletop controller for spatial audio based on physical pendulums. The controller, designed for musicians and sound designers, features two independent pendulums mapped to various musical parameters. Manipulating each pendulum enables spatial diffusion of sound. Equipped with a custom board and IMU sensor (MPU 9250), the pendulum detects motion and capacitive touch sensing, including taps. An ESP32 microcontroller with WiFi connectivity gathers sensor data and enables wireless transmission. Angles of the pendulums are calculated from raw data and mapped to musical parameters, allowing users to create musical compositions. The arpeggio mode produces notes based on pendulum angles, while the phasing mode enables phasing and beating effects. This prototype, developed in collaboration with Tangible Music Lab, demonstrates the potential for a 20-channel spatial audio setup called Dodecaotto, a dodecahedron-shaped multichannel system.