The Wiikembe — performer designed lamellophone hyperinstrument for idiomatic musical-DSP interaction

The Wiikembe is an augmented Likembe from Zaire, believed to be 100+ years old. A Wiimote affords 3D gesture sensing for musical-HCI. An Arduino interface offers explicit control over DSP functions. Puredata (Pd) scales, converts, and routes control data into Ableton Live. A contact mic is used to acquire a direct audio signal from the Likembe. The audio inputs into a conventional computer audio interface and routed into Live which handles event sequencing, DSP, and audio bussing. The result is a compact and intuitive, robust lamellophone hyperinstrument. The Wiikembe extends the sonic possibilities of the acoustic Likembe without compromising traditional sound production methods or performance techniques. We chose specific sensors and their placement based on constraints regarding the instrument´s construction, playing techniques, the author´s idiosyncratic compositional approach and sound design requirements. The Wiikembe leverages and combines inherent performance gestures with analogous embedded gestural sensing to achieve unprecedented intimate musical-DSP interaction. Specific gesture recognition techniques and mapping strategies have been standardized using easily sourced and implementable, low-cost components. This work is in efforts to establish an implementable pitched-percussion hyperinstrument framework for experimentation and pedagogy with minimal engineering requirements.