16 thoughts on “Theometrica Generative Sound Synthesis Instrument Inspired By Acupuncture”

1. Seems like a great concept. Luckily it has nothing to do with acupuncture though, which still is one of the most basic forms of quackery. As a manufacturer I wouldn’t be associated with such a thing.

2. Quackery, huh? You mean like menthol cigarettes prescribed by docs for breathing disorders like asthma en masse 60 years ago? Remember: if you can’t measure it, it doesn’t exist.

   In other news, this does look like an interesting project!

   1. How about a synth based on homeopathy – where you dip a curtis filter in some water, then dilute that water over a hundred times, then sell the water for twenty dollars?

3. If the synth is based on acupuncture, then it should produce no more sound than a placebo synth.

4. woah. Well this is creepy for me. I made this a year ago: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GcHN8h6XP98&feature=share&list=UUQbygcj6w_P9gC4E6JnvZLA&index=2

   1. Yea, I can imagine that would be weird to see. Hard to say if you could have patented the idea, as reading the position of posts on a rotating disc might be too general. Still, yours was cool, too.

5. OFF-TOPIC: I’ve seen a few studies that show that acupuncture is no better than a placebo. However, the placebo affect IS a real thing. A percentage of people do feel better and get better with any benign treatment combined with the power of suggestion and their own innate healing powers.

   ON-TOPIC: The wheel, pins & sensors are in large part a visual effect, coupled with a unique way to visualize and change the sequence.

   SNARKY COMMENT: Now all we need is to see someone using this making ill beats A. in the subway, B. on a train, C. in the club. When the wheel spins really fast, the needles all fly out and give people “treatments” at about waist-hight as the beat breaks down.

   1. Was going to say the same thing as your first point. I and many of my friends and family have found acupuncture to be helpful, and “no better than a placebo” doesn’t mean something doesn’t work. Many pharmaceuticals are barely better than placebos in the tests submitted to the FDA for approval.

      1. (MORE OFF-TOPIC) I think it is a little tricky because people might spend a great deal of money on treatments that are merely triggers for their own inner healing capacities. Also, there are times when a confident practitioner of Traditional Chinese Medicine might offer to treat some conditions that require a different, and perhaps more aggressive care (thus delaying treatment).

         I think one way this could relate to a general discussion of synthesizers is that folks could do double-blind tests of analog versus specific digital emulations. The placebo effect might mean that something “just sounds better” “warmer” “more open” “fatter” “smoother” etc. than it’s emulating counterpart. I’m not saying that all emulations are good. I just think that the placebo-effect often affects those kinds of comparisons.

         1. The placebo effect is very real. You can ask these guys (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TSUo1voVS6w) all about it. They’re trying to sell you a 6000 dollar guitar cable.

            1. Someone with a name referencing Jesus scoffing at placebos – oh the irony!

               1. Appearances can deceive my friend 😉

6. good
   the most important discovery of man
   the wheel

   1. I think you will find that most scientists agree it was the sandwich

7. I know it can be difficult to understand the word “inspired”, and perhaps even more when is together with “by acupuncture”. But guys, don’t worry, hopefully one day you will understand that when someone finds a red balloon floating in the air, and suddenly that person that see it, decides to eat a tomato salad because he gets inspiration from that red mass in contrast with the blue sky, that doesn’t mean that his tomato salad is instead of a tomato salad, a red balloon salad! Sometimes I got inspiration from God… should we open a debate about the placebo or effective aspects of God!? Im craving for it! Too many people around got bored … start creating and avoid stupid discussions about chinese medicine technics… They work, dont worry about that. Its been a long time since this technics are developing…. tha question if it does or not work, is already answered and understood… and if not, try it instead of reading bullshit! Love you guys! 😉

8. Remotely related, I have a generative music stream running 24/7 that you can check out at http://staggeredlaboratories.com