Sustained interests: Lorentz Time Division Multiplexing (LTDM) for active collocated string control
File(s)
Published version
Author(s)
Schmidt, Adam
McPherson, Andrew
Type
Conference Paper
Abstract
This work introduces Lorentz Time Division Multiplexing (LTDM), a technology that actively sustains vibrations on conductive instrument strings by exploiting the inherent bilateral nature of electromagnetism. Though many feedback instruments depend on using separate, external sensors and actuators to monitor and induce vibrations in a string, our LTDM controller initiates and sustains vibrations by running electric current through the string itself. By connecting custom circuitry to a conductive string via two electrical leads, strings vibrate and self-sustain when a permanent magnet is held or fixed in close proximity without the need for external sensors or actuators. Unlike most feedback instrument methods to date, the inherently collocated nature of LTDM affords coherent control without specialized calibration and can be easily deployed from instrument to instrument with minimally invasive augmentation. A pair of contrasting case studies demonstrate some of these new sonic qualities and playing techniques we have observed thus far from the same metallic strings musicians have used for centuries.
Date Issued
2026-06-23
Date Acceptance
2026-04-17
Citation
Proceedings of the 2026 Conference on New Interfaces for Musical Expression, 2026, pp.605-610
ISSN
2220-4806
Publisher
Zenodo
Start Page
605
End Page
610
Journal / Book Title
Proceedings of the 2026 Conference on New Interfaces for Musical Expression
Copyright Statement
© 2026 Copyright held by the owner/author(s). This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
License URL
Source
New Interfaces for Musical Expression (NIME 2026)
Publication Status
Published
Start Date
2026-06-23
Finish Date
2026-06-23
Coverage Spatial
London, UK
Date Publish Online
2026-06-01