Stefano K. Testa

Hybritone is the result of an investigation concerning the interaction between mind+body and musical instruments, analysing the changes that new technologies have brought to the dynamics of such interaction.

The project was carried out in order to produce electronic sounds in an easy and spontaneous manner, by using an interface that is designed to privilege an instinctive and physical approach to a strictly functional one.

The instrument has a contact microphone hidden inside. The player can scratch the metal surface to produce sound through the microphone. The three silicon protuberances have pressure sensors hidden underneath. When they are pinched, sensors read the pressure made on them and translate it to a MIDI message.
Being a MIDI controller, it is possible to freely map it and decide what sonic reactions correspond to the pressure made on it.

The sounds produced with my customized mapping settings recall creepy organic sounds. They well represent the instrument’s design, inspired by David Cronenberg’s Existenz.