Meet the SynthArmor: part synthesizer, part exoskeleton. I blow, beatbox, and twist knobs — it answers with a voice of its own.

Key Features and Design

1. Arm-Mounted Interface
   • Constructed on modified football shin guards, the SynthArmor wraps the arm like futuristic armor.
   • A set of buttons and knobs allow precise control over pitch, timbre, and sound parameters.
2. Breath and Beatbox Input
   • A flexible tube connects the performer’s breath directly to the instrument.
   • Blowing, humming, or beatboxing into the tube controls the synthesizer engine, shaping tone and dynamics in real time.
3. Integrated Sensors
   • IMU Sensor: Mounted on the arm piece, the Adafruit BNO055 IMU tracks orientation and movement. Tilts, twists, and shakes become expressive sound controls, modulating filters, effects, and spatialization.
   • Microcontroller: Powered by the Adafruit ESP32-S3 Feather, which processes sensor and breath data.
   • Communication Protocol: All data is transmitted via Open Sound Control (OSC), ensuring low-latency performance and seamless integration with Tromleorkestret’s ecosystem.

Real-Time Sound Control

1. DSP on Bela
   • The SynthArmor integrates with Tromleorkestret’s Bela DSP systems, shaping sound through real-time effects such as filters, delay, distortion, and reverb.
   • Breath, gesture, and knob movements dynamically modulate these effects, producing a direct dialogue between performer and machine.
2. Integration with MaxMSP
   • The instrument communicates with custom-built Max patches, expanding its ability to warp and process sound in expressive and experimental ways.

Expressive Control

Like Tromleorkestret’s other instruments, the SynthArmor connects seamlessly to the Parameter Space, offering multidimensional and intuitive sound control:

• Breath as a Driver: Air pressure translates into volume, timbre, and effect modulation.
• Gesture Mapping: The IMU tracks arm movements, unlocking fluid control of filters, resonance, and sound placement.
• Physical Interaction: Buttons and knobs provide tactile access to presets and live tweaks.
• Fluid Integration: The performer moves effortlessly between organic breath tones and futuristic synthesized landscapes.