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Shetu

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Submitted By: James Andrew Smith, Kurt Thumlert, Jason Nolan, Mohaimen Hassan and Stefan Powell

Elevator Pitch

Shetu

Shetu is an open-source software MIDI 2.0 research demonstrator, written in C using off-the-shelf parts, with individual note pitch bending and sound pressure control.

Product Description

How It’s Innovative

The primary innovations are in the Shetu controller’s use of off-the-shelf parts and a single programming language, C. These two innovations will facilitate future developments in accessible music instrument design and implementation with disability communities both in the Responsive Ecologies Lab, and, hopefully, globally.

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Most Inspiring Use Cases

This research project is part of a collaborative effort between multiple universities and disability arts/music organizations to make musical instruments accessible and customized to unique users according to their interests and requirements through inclusive design using bespoke controllers. We are working with disabled musicians to help make instruments that are more accessible for them, based on their unique interests and requirements, and ultimately challenges exclusionary boundaries in musical and music education cultures.

Expansion Plans

We are leveraging Shetu to investigate string-based MIDI 2.0 instruments and ultimately create an open-access MIDI 2.0 toolbox that can be utilized by the disability community and other researchers to support accessibility initiatives. Near term projects presently under way at the Responsive Ecologies Lab at Toronto Metropolitan University, include a MIDI 2.0 / Eurorack module in collaboration with Dr. Jeff Lee of System80 (System80.net) and version 2.0 of the Kellycaster (https://www.designingsoundfutures.org/dsf-camin-march-2024/), based on the original prototype developed in collaboration with Drake Music by Dr. Charles Matthews. A project is planned by Drs. Nolan and Lee is a large format wooden step sequencer for children based on observations of how children use wooden square, triangle and circular blocks.

Commercialization

There are no commercialization plans as this is a research project. The source code is planned to be made freely available to the community via GitHub on an open license.

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