Home - NickalusLindale/Visual-Theremin GitHub Wiki

🎼 Welcome to the Visual Theremin Wiki

✨ What Is the Visual Theremin?

The Visual Theremin is an open-source gesture-controlled musical instrument inspired by LΓ©on Theremin’s invention, the Theremin.

This project uses TouchDesigner, Max/MSP, and MediaPipe to turn physical movement into expressive sound. By waving, stepping, or gesturing in space, performers create real-time audio and visual responses β€” essentially playing an invisible, immersive instrument.

This wiki documents the design, development, philosophy, and implementation of the Visual Theremin from the ground up.

πŸ“š Start Here

New to the project? Start with the following pages:

🎯 Goals of the Project

  • Reconstruct a historically significant but obscure instrument using modern tools
  • Encourage alternative instrument design through open-source collaboration
  • Create a flexible platform for movement-based performance, education, and experimentation
  • Provide a resource for artists, musicians, and technologists to build upon

🌐 Core Technologies

Tool Role
TouchDesigner Tracks motion via camera + sends OSC
Max/MSP Synthesizes sound from motion data
Infrared Camera Captures gestures invisibly, in any light
OSC Bridges data between visual & sound systems

🧠 Philosophy

This project creates space for new performances, new sounds, and new kinds of embodiment in electronic art.

🧩 Want to Contribute?

  • Check the Contributing Guide
  • Review open Issues
  • Join the creative conversation by suggesting features, sharing demos, or expanding documentation

πŸ“Έ Media & Demos

Coming soon:

  • Video walkthroughs of performance setups
  • Example recordings and presets
  • Diagrams, screenshots, and interactive demos

πŸ‘‹ A Note from the Creator

β€œI hope it inspires you to move, build, and make sound with your whole body.”

β€” Nickalus Lindale

πŸ“¦ Back to GitHub Repository β†’