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Terpsitone

An open-source reconstruction of Theremin’s forgotten performance instrument.


Overview

Terpsitone is a modern reimagining of Léon Theremin’s lost gesture-controlled instrument.
This project combines MediaPipe, TouchDesigner for real-time tracking, and Max/MSP for dynamic sound synthesis.

It transforms the space around a performer into a musical interface — where movement becomes music and presence becomes performance.

Explore the full design philosophy, development notes, and technical breakdowns in the 📘 Project Wiki.


🛠️ Getting Started

  1. Clone the Repository
    git clone https://github.com/NickalusLindale/Terpsitone.git
    
  2. Install Dependencies
  • TouchDesigner
  • Max/MSP
  • Compatible camera + system drivers
  • MediaPipe
    • This folder MUST be extracted and placed in the same folder as the .toe projects (See Wiki for complete folder organization)
  • ODOT (Free MaxMSP Add-On)
  1. Hardware Setup
  • Mount your infrared camera above or in front of the performance area
  • See calibration tips in the Wiki Setup Guide
  1. Run the Instrument
  • Launch the .toe file in TouchDesigner
  • Open 2025-4-27_synthesizer_0-1.maxpat in Max/MSP

✨ Features

🎥 Real-time gesture and motion tracking via camera

🔊 Generative sound synthesis with mapped motion parameters

🎛 Signal routing with OSC between computers

🎨 Open-source and artist-customizable

📁 Project Structure

/touchdesigner/ — Visual motion tracking + OSC output

/maxmsp/ — Sound generation patches

/docs/ — Process notes and conceptual background

/examples/ — Demo scenes for performances

🧪 Current Limitations

Camera performance may vary across systems

Calibration process still requires manual fine-tuning

Audio artifacts may occur with mismatched sample rates

See Known Issues for more.

🤝 Contributing

Interested in expanding the Terpsitone? Please check the Contributing Guide and share your ideas, fixes, or extensions.