An open-source reconstruction of Theremin’s forgotten performance instrument.
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.
- Clone the Repository
git clone https://github.com/NickalusLindale/Terpsitone.git
- 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)
- Hardware Setup
- Mount your infrared camera above or in front of the performance area
- See calibration tips in the Wiki Setup Guide
- Run the Instrument
- Launch the .toe file in TouchDesigner
- Open 2025-4-27_synthesizer_0-1.maxpat in Max/MSP
🎥 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
/touchdesigner/
— Visual motion tracking + OSC output
/maxmsp/
— Sound generation patches
/docs/
— Process notes and conceptual background
/examples/
— Demo scenes for performances
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.
Interested in expanding the Terpsitone? Please check the Contributing Guide and share your ideas, fixes, or extensions.