In 2002 I began experimenting with gestural video game controllers as interfaces for electronic music performance. I developed three devices to translate the controller data into midi and serial streams, one enabled data from a Nintendo Powerpad to be connected directly to a synthesizer or drum machine. Another device converted data from a Powerglove into a serial stream that could be easily read through a computer program. The final device enabled several different gestural controllers to communicate simultaneously with a computer via midi.

I formed a band “SirPlus SirCuts” with a couple of friends in early 2003 in order to test the effectiveness of the system. While we developed many interesting uses for the controllers in our setup, we came to the conclusion that overall it was a very sluggish control system.

However, what I found most interesting through these experiments was the potential for the controllers to serve as interfaces for simple interactive music systems. I later used 2 powerpads to create such a system (see Recycled Beats (2005) that proved to be successful as a means for stimulating playful interaction among participants.