Physics synth is an interface for improvisational electronic music performance based upon a 2D physics simulation. The interface was co-designed with an individual musician in response to notions of density, character, machine agency and directness of interaction with digital audio in his practice. This co-design approach involved interview-led enquiry, design and evaluation during live performance to foster in-depth engagement with an individual musician’s values and their relationship with our evolving design.
By evaluating Physics Synth with two additional musicians, we found that a detailed consideration of one user can yield a design valuable to others. We believe the innovative forms of interaction that Physics Synth comprises will offer valuable inspiration and insight to those designing interfaces for digital musicians and those in related expressive application domains.