THE DOWNTOWN FOUND SOUND MACHINE @ RED BULL'S HACK THE HITS

The Problem

Red Bull's Hack The Hits is an intensive 48-hour hackathon which has a simple task: create something that makes noise, and that noise must be capable of making music.

The Solution

My team of 3 created a device called the Downtown Found Sound Machine -- inspired by the 1950s Jamaican Boom Box culture and Chicago aesthetically, we utilized a Leap Motion Controller, an Arduino, and Red Bull cans as capacitive touch sensors to create a large and versatile machine that plays the sounds of Chicago, all recorded throughout the weekend. The Red Bull cans play percussive noises we recorded while the sensor plays ambient noise recordings. The sound from the machine is manipulated based upon different hand gestures and movements to create a fun playing experience and seamless performing experience. We were awarded the People's Choice Award for The Downtown Found Sound Machine out of 5 competing teams of 3 people.