The latest episode of Red Bull Music Academy’s Studio Science, filmed at Moogfest 2018, Tristan Shone, aka Author & Punisher, demonstrates his DIY approach to creating Doom Metal MIDI controllers.

Video Summary:

Inspired by his experience playing in bands and a love of industrial music and doom metal, Shone writes and performs as Author & Punisher, using an intricate setup of custom controllers which he designs, prototypes and builds himself.

These controllers are machined in CNC (computer numeric control), 3D-printed and powered by Arduino, open-source software and hardware that allows Shone’s inventions – with names like Big Knobs and Grid Iron – to communicate with hardware instruments and software such as Ableton Live.

Beyond the practicality of enabling Shone to perform by himself, these DIY controllers are also a way for him to add a more engaging physical dimension to the MIDI controllers that have become a standard in electronic music. The result is a unique setup where Shone controls every aspect of the music manually, live.

Or as he puts it, “If I’m not touching something, you’re not hearing something.”