beat repeat - an installation showcasing 101 vintage drum machines

beat:repeat

Red Bull Studios New York invited Red Paper Heart to create an installation showcasing 101 vintage drum machines from Joe Mansfield’s amazing collection. The show highlighted each drum machine’s impact on popular music over the past 60 years. The iconic beat sounds from The Cure, Blondie, Prince, Massive Attack, Beastie Boys and more could all be found somewhere in the electronics of the machines on display.

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The exhibit contained two complementary components; a display of drum machines lit by custom LED lights and a center piece featuring the 6 most influential drum machines. Through projection, photos and audio the exhibit told the story of what and who made each machine famous.

beat repeat - 2 Live Crew Me So Hornybeat repeat - connect a drum machine to listenbeat repeat - physical patch cord interfacebeat repeat - roland composer tr-808beat repeat - Ice-T Reckless

The center piece was a 30 foot concave projection mapped wall that was connected to the most influential drum machines in music history. Using patch cords the user could choose which drum machine they wanted to explore with a satisfying analog “thunk.” Each audio jack triggered audio reactive visuals graphically inspired by the respective drum machine.

beat repeat - exhibit at Red Bull Music Academy
beat repeat - Michael Jackson, Linn 9000
beat repeat - Beastie Boys
beat repeat - The Cure, Rhythm DR-55
beat repeat - Nomad Rhythm Maker 12, Ace Tone Rhthm Ace FR-1
beat repeat - exhibit at Red Bull Music Academy

The exhibition ran May 3 to 31st, 2014 and was held in conjunction with the Red Bull Music Academy Festival New York.

beat repeat - the exhibition was held in conjunction with the Red Bull Music Academy Festival New York

Team

  • Zander Brimijoin - Creative Director
  • Daniel Scheibel - Technology Director
  • Lisa Walters - Senior Producer
  • Charlie Whitney - Developer
  • Pedro Piccinini - Designer
  • Nathan Punwar - Documentation
  • Odd Division - Industrial Design and Fabrication

Created for Red Bull Studios NYC