Kassiopeia

Kassiopeia is innovative because it bridges the digital and physical worlds through MIDI in a completely new way. It allows artists to control physical movement—solenoids, motors, fans, LEDs—using MIDI or CV/Gate, effectively turning everyday objects into sound-making instruments. Unlike traditional MIDI gear that stays within the audio or control signal realm, Kassiopeia enables composers and performers to create kinetic, tactile, and visually expressive works with precision timing and full integration into their existing MIDI setups. It expands the creative potential of MIDI beyond notes and knobs into raw, physical motion.

Kassiopeia has become an essential part of the live setup for Osmium—the experimental band of Hildur Guðnadóttir, Sam Slater, James Ginzburg, and Rully Shabara. They use custom string instruments controlled by solenoids, motors, and physical triggers powered by Kassiopeia, which they affectionately call “robots.” These devices rhythmically strike, bow, or vibrate the strings during live performances, creating haunting, otherworldly textures. This integration of MIDI-controlled physical movement into acoustic performance blurs the line between traditional instrumentation and machine-driven expression, opening new sonic and performative dimensions.