OTO Is a MIDI Controller That Lets You “Touch the Shape of Sound”

We’ve seen plenty of MIDI controllers in the past, but none may be as interesting as Sonic Geometry’s latest Kickstarter project, OTO.

The name ‘OTO’ comes from the Japanese oto-no-katachi, which translates roughly in English to ‘shape of sound.’ Inspired by this, the Sonic Geometry team has set out to give sound a tangible physical form, no longer just wavelengths.

Each OTO controller houses an IMU that communicates with a host computer via Bluetooth. The host computer translates this raw physical data into MIDI signals that can be used to control notes, CC data, frequency bands and filter-sweeps.

With OTO, you can play synths, DJ, perform live electronic music, and even control your favorite Digital Audio Workstations such as Ableton and Traktor. Each set of controllers will ship with a suite of both standalone and DAW controller software.

The modular nature of the system and its flexible inter-compatibility with popular audio software means both novice and experienced artists, musicians and DJs alike can use OTO exactly how they want.

With OTO, or a system of networked OTO controllers, users can send MIDI and OSC, trigger and modulate audiovisual data, control virtual reality, CAD environments… The possibilities are endless. The current suite of software patches is only the beginning. We want to build vast, interactive, generative musical topographies, powered by devices that are both invitingly simple, and surprisingly powerful.

Intrigued? Head over to OTO’s Kickstarter page to learn more or back the geometric instruments for yourself!