Plant Music #1 (Knas + MIDI Sprout)

Published on Jan 24, 2017 Smokey Quartz

"In this video I try out the MIDI Sprout for the first time, connecting a Flamingo Flower (Anthurium andraeanum) to the Knas Ekdahl Polygamist synthesizer. The MIDI Sprout is a “Biodata Sonification Device” that allows plants to play synthesizers! Everyone and everything should be allowed to play synthesizers! Listen to how the sounds change as I touch the plant leaves and flowers."


Plant Music #2 (Knas + MIDI Sprout)

Published on Jan 25, 2017 Smokey Quartz

"In this second attempt at plant 'music' I connect the MIDI Sprout to a Bromeliad Guzmania and let it have a turn on the Knas Ekdahl Polygamist synthesizer. The MIDI signal is ran through Ableton Live’s scale and arpeggio MIDI effects for my attempt at making slightly more “musical” plant noise. Sounds like I got some more work to do with that."

Plant Music #3 (MIDI Sprout + Knas + Metasonix + Arturia)

Published on Jan 26, 2017 Smokey Quartz

"In this video I connect the MIDI Sprout to a Philodendron ‘Congo Rojo’ and let it play the Ekdahl Knas Polygamist synthesizer and Arturia’s B-3 V Virtual Hammond Organ. Interjecting it’s noisey self into the mix is the Metasonix S-1000 Wretch machine, which is being “played” by the Polygamist via it’s pulse wave and gate outs. So, a plant is playing a synthesizer that is playing a synthesizer!? Ableton Live’s MIDI effects are also massaging the MIDI data coming from the MIDI Spout. It's really all just a bunch of fun noise."

Plant Music #4 – (MIDI Sprout + Metasonix)

Published on Jan 30, 2017 Smokey Quartz

"In this experiment, the MIDI Sprout is a 'one-plant band', playing the drums and synthesizer. The MIDI signal coming from the Sprout are being sent to both the Metasonix D-1000 drum machine and the S-1000 Wretch Machine. With some MIDI tools in Ableton, I’m restricting the signal to 4 notes to play the D-1000. The Polygamist is also shown being manipulated but it is only sending control voltages to the S-1000, it is not heard in this video. Reverb is coming from the Metasonix R-56 Spring Reverb module just outta sight about the D-1000. I don’t start touching the succulent, a Crassula falcatta, until about 1:20."

Plant Music #5 – (MIDI Sprout + Aloe + Human)

Published on Jan 30, 2017 Smokey Quartz

"In this experiment I leave the studio to collaborate with an Aloe plant rooted in the Earth. With one sensor hooked up to the Aloe and one connected to myself, our MIDI signal plays two B-3 organ simulations via the MIDI Sprout."