Bela-based augmented acoustic guitars for inverse sonic microinteraction

This article describes the design and construction of a collection of digitally-controlled augmented acoustic guitars, and the use of these guitars in the installation Sverm{Resonans. The installation was built around the idea of exploring `inverse’ sonic microinteraction, that is, controlling sounds through the micromotion observed when trying not to move. The setup consisted of six acoustic guitars, each equipped with a Bela embedded computer, an infrared distance sensor, an actuator attached to the guitar body, and a battery pack. The result was a set of completely autonomous instruments that were easy to hang in a gallery space. The installation encouraged explorations on the boundary between the tactile and the kinesthetic, the body and the mind, and between motion and sound. The use of guitars, albeit with a nontraditional `performance’ technique, made the experience both familiar and unfamiliar at the same time. Many users reported heightened sensations of stillness, sound, and vibration, and that the `inverse’ control of the instruments was both challenging and pleasant.