Teabox: A Sensor Data Interface System

Artists have long sought after alternative controllers, sensors, and other means for controlling computer-based musical performance in real-time. Traditional techniques for transmitting the data generated by such devices typically employ the use of MIDI as the transport protocol. Recently, several devices have been developed using alternatives to MIDI, including Ethernet-based and USB-based sensor interfaces. We have designed and produced a system that uses S/PDIF as the transport mechanism for a sensor interface. This provides robust performance, together with extremely low latency and high resolution. In our system, data from all sensors is multiplexed onto the digital audio line and demultiplexed in software on the computer using standard techniques. We have written demultiplexer objects and plugins for Max/MSP and Jade, as well as a MIDI Conversion program for interapplicaton uses, while others are in the works for PD, SuperCollider, and AudioUnits.