The arrival of the new Raspberry PI ARM processor based computers, for under $40, has brought a lot of cool gadget rocking groove ingenuity vibe along with them. I've been experimenting with getting the PI set up for use as a standalone sequencer, instrument, and effects unit for performing with basically nothing except a piece of gear that fits in your pocket. The speed of the PI is a bit lacking, compared to the larger PC's that we normally use in our studios, etc.; but with a bit of ingenuity, and some desire to bang beats from seemingly nowhere, I am sure it can be done. In the future, I plan to expand it to a sensor driven synthesizer module as well; something like a wearable theremin type setup that will turn the person into a walking music machine. This prospect will make the user a dancing instrument; and their every movement will be an expression of music. If you could get several performers doing it together in the same room, it would be like a self-sufficient pop-locking electro tournament.

I've been experimenting with the Raspberry PI and getting it set up for use as a standalone sequencer, instrument, and effects unit for performing with basically nothing except a piece of gear that fits in your pocket. The speed of the PI is a bit lacking, but with a bit of ingenuity, it can be done. In the future, I plan to expand it to a sensor driven synthesizer module as well. I think the key really is to have several of them all interfaced together and drive them via MIDI, etc. Small USB sound cards can be found for very cheap. I found one through Wal-Mart for about $4. The sound that comes with the PI unit should basically be enough, but I'm sure it will come in handy somehow. It's also fun to try out different options; and at that price, you can't really go wrong. I have a very small MIDI-Man USB MIDI controller unit that's commonly used with laptops and what not; so that's a good way to go as far as being able to control other synth and controller units. You can even go totally wireless by controlling a stereo via bluetooth. So if you can design some kind of suit with sensors in it which trigger the synthesizers via MIDI, and then relay that to your sound system then you're pretty much hands free and the whole mess of gear can basically fit in your pockets and you, in effect, are basically a human theremin. You could also make use of a joystick or even a wii-mote and use the various functions it has to control your MIDI signals basically making it a very formidable controller instrument.

I think the key really is to have several of them all interfaced together and drive them via MIDI, etc. Small USB sound cards can be found for very cheap. I found one through Wal-Mart for about $4. The sound that comes with the PI unit should basically be enough, but I'm sure it will come in handy somehow. It's also fun to try out different options; and at that price, you can't really go wrong. I have a very small MIDI-Man USB MIDI controller unit that's commonly used with laptops and what not; so that's a good way to go as far as being able to control other synth and controller units. You can even go totally wireless by controlling a stereo via bluetooth. So if you can design some kind of suit with sensors in it which trigger the synthesizers via MIDI, and then relay that to your sound system then you're pretty much hands free and the whole mess of gear can basically fit in your pockets and you, in effect, are basically a human theremin. You could also make use of a joystick or even a wii-mote and use the various functions it has to control your MIDI signals basically making it a very formidable controller instrument.