Type 40 Mark III

Is it a time machine? A MIDI controller? A sound board? An art sculpture? . . . Yes!
We just call it awesome.

The Type 40 Mark III console surface is covered with buttons, switches, knobs, sliders, levers, sensors, and other interactive components. Controls trigger samples and sounds; modify tempo, tone, and pitch; and apply different sound filters.

The console is 5 feet wide,10 feet tall, and has over 160 different input devices. The center time rotor consists of LED tubes, which create mesmerizing, ever-changing light patterns. LEDs in the console interior and the base also pulse and glow. Laser-etched acrylic panels expose the console’s inner-workings–including moving gears, gauges, clocks, and circuit boards.

The Type 40 Mark III is loosely modeled after the TARDIS time machine control console from the “Doctor’s Wife” episode of the eleventh doctor in the “Doctor Who” TV series.

Technology used in the project includes 7 AVR microcontrollers (Arduino and Teensy), a Livid Instruments Builder Brain V2 MIDI interface, LPD8806 LED strips, Nixie tubes, multi-character LCD and LED displays, analog gauges, servo motors, and over 160 controls (buttons, switches, knobs, sensors, etc). The MIDI interface is wired to a Mac Mini computer running Ableton Live, that provides sound through a MOTU 828 audio interface.

Project leads Steve Noreyko, Dr. John Edwards, and Andrea Swehosky have decades of experience hacking, building, designing, and making awesome.

Steve and Dr. John developed the original concept of an interactive sound sculpture over 8 years ago. In 2011, Andrea joined the team and the project gained momentum. The sculpture took form as a life-size TARDIS console with interactive components and sound.

We invite you to explore and play – create your own dynamic soundscape!

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Watch our interview: https://vimeo.com/64119774