Rocks, Camera, Action!
RockMusic is an ‘instrument’ to make music through rocks. Placing rocks on the device generates beats, based on where the rock is placed and how many rocks are present in its proximity. Students developed a system where a phone camera tracks rocks positioned on a surface, using OpenCV to process their location and proximity. Each rock's position generates specific beats, with the number and arrangement of rocks directly influencing the musical output. The processed information is then routed through VCV Rack, a virtual music platform, which translates rock placements into real-time musical beats across multiple virtual instruments. This approach breaks down traditional barriers to music production, making sound creation accessible and intuitive. By exploring object-recognition algorithms, image processing, and music theory, the project demonstrates how everyday objects can become instruments and how technology can reimagine creative expression. RockMusic is an attempt to make music production easily accessible and independent of the tools you have.
