Solar Modulator For Mac Lets You Use Light As Your MIDI Controller

solarmodulator_screenshot1

Developer Benjamin Olson has introduced Solar Modulator – a Mac app that translates changes in light intensity into MIDI messages (using your device’s camera).

Solar Modulator reacts to any light change. It can be something as simple as changing a sound by moving one’s hand towards the camera (blocking light), but it also supports more complex interactions, using a remote control’s infrared pulses and more.

Here’s the official intro video:

Solar Modulator should work with any Mac app that takes MIDI input, (including Logic Pro, Ableton Live, GarageBand, MainStage, and more) since it simply acts like a standalone external MIDI device.

Solar Modulator supports the following MIDI parameters over all channels in normal or high resolution:

  • Modulation/Mod Wheel
  • Pitch Bend
  • Pressure/Mono Aftertouch
  • Sustain/Soft Pedal
  • General purpose MIDI CC controls for mapping to DAW controls.

Note: Solar Modulator requires a camera and MIDI input-compatible software to be useful, as it does not generate sound by itself, and does not directly send MIDI to external hardware.

Solar Modular is free to download and test; the full version is US $3.99 in the App Store.

If you’ve used Solar Modular, leave a comment and share your thoughts on it.

13 thoughts on “Solar Modulator For Mac Lets You Use Light As Your MIDI Controller

  1. I think it is rather excellent idea, especially for things like filter sweeps.
    Will definitely try it out. At $3.99 i’m not really risking much… 😉

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