💡 Originally developed with Stavros Didakis at SoniconLab.com – exploring the boundaries between light, interaction, and sound
One of my earliest experimental sound projects was the Plasma Synth, a unique light-reactive synthesizer built in collaboration with Stavros Didakis under the SoniconLab label.
This project combined visual energy and sound generation — turning light intensity into music using MIDI and MAX/MSP.
Concept
The idea behind the Plasma Synth was simple but powerful:
to create a system where light brightness could trigger and shape sound.
Instead of playing notes through keys or sequencers, the instrument responds directly to changes in light, effectively transforming visual motion into an expressive audio language.
Technical Design
The system used a light sensor array to detect brightness levels thru old web cams
As the light intensity fluctuated — from a flashlight, ambient lighting, or even hand shadows — the sensor generated continuous control values.
These values were then sent as MIDI messages, where brightness controlled pitch, velocity, or filter modulation, depending on the selected mapping.
The data flow looked like this:
Light Sensor → Microcontroller → MIDI Interface → MAX/MSP → Sound Engine
Inside MAX/MSP, we built a dynamic patch that received MIDI input, filtered the data, and converted it into musical output — synthesizing sounds that evolved with light intensity and rhythm.
The result was a hybrid instrument bridging optical sensing and digital sound synthesis.
Visual & Performance Aspect
The name “Plasma Synth” came from its visual connection to glowing, fluctuating energy.
During performances, beams of light and shadows interacted with the sensor in real time, producing a constantly shifting sonic landscape. It wasn’t about playing precise notes — it was about sculpting sound with light and movement.
Collaboration
This project was developed together with Stavros Didakis, an artist and researcher focusing on the intersection of sound, space, and sensory perception.
Our work was part of SoniconLab — a platform dedicated to exploring experimental interfaces and interactive media.
The Plasma Synth was one of our first collaborative steps into light-based musical performance, merging our interests in technology, design, and sound art.
Reflection
Even though this project was created years ago, it still represents a defining moment in my exploration of interactive synthesis and human-sensory feedback systems.
It was a reminder that sound doesn’t have to come from traditional controls — it can emerge from the world around us, from light, movement, and space itself.