Gijs Gieskes "Image scanning sequencer"
The Image scanning sequencer scans images, and plays the image as midi notes. It uses LDRs (light dependent resistors) to measure the gray-scale of a specific point of an image, and triggers midi notes from a selected threshold. When the threshold is reached, the velocity is determined by the darkness at that given point. The darker the point the higher the velocity will be (and the louder the resulting sound). A simple concept with remarkable results, one of Gieskes' many astonishing instruments.
Image Scanning Sequencer source code can be found here: http://gieskes.nl/instruments/?file=image-scan-seq
Gijs Gieskes (1977) is a man of few words. But when talking about his work you'll easily find yourself spending a few good hours with him, even if it were simply because he likes to show what he means. He would take you to his studio, above the garage of his parents' house in Geldrop, filled to the rim with electronics, home-made instruments, toys and computer parts. Hidden away in a corner stands his bed. After a session in which he connects instrument after instrument to two ragged computer speakers to show what they can produce, you end up completely hooked on the apparent simplicity, but mostly playful complexity of his creations. He doesn't want to call himself a real designer, even though he graduated from the Design Academy Eindhoven ten years ago. "I have become more of an artist/designer", he modestly says. "At the academy I could mostly do what I wanted. I graduated with movies, an animation and a home-made record-recorder". The last years Gieskes has conquered his own, very specific place in the art world. "After graduating I applied for a 'startstipendium' (Dutch art grant for starting artists). I wanted to travel and record music everywhere I went. But I soon found out that this was not my thing. I felt lonely, it didn't work. I went back home and decided to start building instruments".
