Project: “Three Track Recording”
Venue: Science Arcade, Ontario Science Centre
Location: Toronto, Canada
Date: Summer, 1985
Client: Ontario Science Centre
Contributors: Matthew Bates in the employ of OSC (concept development, electronics, programming, music), OSC design and fabrication (housing, programming)

Client’s Requirements: Using the new MIDI communication protocol we wanted an exhibit that allowed musical and non-musical visitors to experience the basics of a recording studio session.

Fulfillment: We used the atari computer which had a built in MIDI interface. Three FM synthesizers were used to play back the tracks, one of which doubled as the input keyboard. Visitors could choose to arrange and change prerecorded pieces or enter their own music and add tracks.

Interesting Features: The MIDI format allows for reassignment of a track to any of many different instruments and to playback at different speeds without changing the pitch. The visitor was encouraged to play with these features as well.