The Radiodrum is a musical instrument

Musical instrument

A musical instrument is a device created or adapted for the purpose of making musical sounds. In principle, any object that produces sound can serve as a musical instrument—it is through purpose that the object becomes a musical instrument. The history of musical instruments dates back to the...

 played in three dimensional space using two drumsticks. It was developed at Bell Labs

Bell Labs

Bell Laboratories is the research and development subsidiary of the French-owned Alcatel-Lucent and previously of the American Telephone & Telegraph Company , half-owned through its Western Electric manufacturing subsidiary.Bell Laboratories operates its...

 in the 1980s, originally to be a three dimensional substitute for the computer mouse. Currently it is used as a musical instrument similar to a MIDI controller

MIDI controller

MIDI controller is used in two senses.*In one sense, a controller is hardware or software which generates and transmits MIDI data to MIDI-enabled devices....

 in the sense that all the noise produced from it is programmed. The radiodrum works in a similar way to the theremin

Theremin

The theremin , originally known as the aetherphone/etherophone, thereminophone or termenvox/thereminvox is an early electronic musical instrument controlled without discernible physical contact from the player. It is named after its Russian inventor, Professor Léon Theremin, who patented the device...

, which uses magnetic capacitance

Magnetic capacitance

Magnetic capacitance is a magnetic "reactance" which prevents magnetic "current" in oscillating magnetic circuits from rising...

 to locate the position of the drumsticks. The radiodrum was designed by Bob Boie, Max Mathews

Max Mathews

Max Vernon Mathews was a pioneer in the world of computer music.-Biography:...

 and Andrew Schloss

Andrew Schloss

Andrew Schloss is a musician and computer engineer. Schloss is perhaps best known for his virtuosity on the Radiodrum, a three-dimensional midi-controller. Schloss is a pioneer in computer-music technology, and worked at IRCAM and the CCRMA in the 1980s. He has performed with Léon Theremin, Laurie...

. The radiodrum has been rigged to visual effects, and even acoustic instruments like the piano

Piano

The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...

.

In addition to works by Andrew Schloss, the instrument has been used extensively by composer David A. Jaffe

David A. Jaffe

David Aaron Jaffe is an American composer who has written over ninety works for orchestra, chorus, chamber ensembles, and electronics. He is best known for his use of technology as an electronic-music or computer-music composer in works such as Silicon Valley Breakdown, though his non-electronic...

, with Schloss as soloist, in works including:

• "The Seven Wonders of the Ancient World," a 70-minute concerto for radiodrum-controlled Yamaha Disklavier piano and an orchestra of plucked strings and percussion instruments
• "Racing Against Time," for radiodrum-controlled computer physical models (electronic sound), with 2 violins, 2 saxophones and piano
• "The Space Between Us," for radiodrum-controlled Trimpin percussion instruments and eight strings distributed around the concert hall
• "Underground Economy," an Afro-Cuban improvisational work for radiodrum-controlled electronics, violin and piano

External links

• http://www.mistic.ece.uvic.ca/research/controllers/radiodrum/ - pictures
• http://www.jaffe.com - Information on David A. Jaffe's music