Austin – The ARC is the drum circle of the future, where participants can collaborate on a generative soundscape regardless of their musical ability.
The ARC was created by multimedia artists Gabe Liberti and Dave Rife, and electronic artist RAC for Deloitte Digital at SXSW Interactive.
Users interact with a soundtrack by RAC through a series of unusual shapes, such as a rollable sphere that alters the pitch of the arrangement and two hexagonal panels that affect the rate and timbre of certain elements.
The ARC adds to the commentary on the increasing digitisation of music, where anyone can use an app to create their own compositions. ‘Even if you don’t know about music, it’s a very simple system that allows you to express yourself,’ Liberti tells LS:N Global. ‘But nobody is on their phone. Everyone is doing it together.’