The Bolero (2012)
Rachel Freire’s bolero design for Imogen’s performance.
A sound-reactive illuminated bolero, custom made for Imogen Heap’s “Me The Machine” Performance in 2012. The circuit is sewn from antique conductive thread and surface-mount LEDs are soldered directing to the thread traces. Three Arduinos control up to 20 LEDs each, making more LEDs flash on, the louder the volume of sound. Volume is detected via an external microphone signal analyzed by software. Volume information is then forwarded to all three Arduinos at once. The Arduino themselves determine random lighting patterns dependent on incoming volume information.
Circuit
Collar circuit:
Shoulder circuit:
Solder connections:
Close up of surface mount LED lights soldered to metal military embroidery thread circuit:
With fabric:
Flash effect
Super flex ribbon cables soldered directly to 8 pins of Arduino. Cables lead to the lower back of Bolero where they all join on a common board, that connects them to power (LiPo battery) and the 14-way connection from the back x-IMU.
Common board:
Videos of decorative lights
Bolero Code
The code running on the 3 Arduino that are mounted on the Bolero takes 4 digital inputs from the back x-IMU and translates these to leves of LED activity.
Code repository >> https://github.com/plusea/CODE/tree/master/PROJECT%20CODE/Gloves
Video of bolero reacting to Imogen:
Link >> http://youtu.be/Fw38cZNos00
Video of Bolero reacting to music:
Link >> http://youtu.be/FGx_fRWhqb0