panGenerator's apparatum composes sounds via digital graphic score

‘apparatum’, the installation inspired by the polish radio experimental studio and created by the panGenerator studio, comprises analog sound generators, based on magnetic tape and optical components controlled via graphic score composed with a digital interface. the device draws inspiration musically and graphically from the ‘symphony – electronic music’ composed by bogusław schaeffer.

bogusław schaeffer conceived his own visual language of symbols that conveyed the cues for the sound engineer responsible for the production of the piece. the physical form is inspired by the general aesthetics of the studio’s famous sound generator ‘black room’ designed by oskar hansen.

the user can compose the graphical score via touch-based digital interface

the electroacoustic generators and filters were arranged in a modular fashion inside two steel frames – the construction element that panGenerator has referred to in the design. magnetic tape was the primary medium used in the polish radio experimental studio. the creators also use two types of ‘tape samplers’ – two 2-track loops and three one-shot linear tape samplers. to obtain noise and basic tones they utilize purely analog optical generators based on spinning discs with graphical patterns.

graphical score interface inspired by the works of bogusław schaeffer – composer working in the polish radio experimental studio

all of the analog generators – opticals on the left, magnetic tape on the right

two tape loopers

optical generators producing sinusoidal-like tones via the rotating discs and analog optical sensors

optical noise generators

the printout of the user graphical score with the link to the mp3 file of the recording

mechanical icon indicator of the track that’s currently played back

custom speaker chassis

designboom has received this project from our ‘DIY submissions‘ feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: maria erman | designboom