The Musical Instruments of Star Trek - Exploring Futuristic Instrument Design

Explore the fascinating world of Star Trek's musical instruments in this keynote address from the Audio Developer Conference 2022. Delve into music technology researcher Astrid Bin's journey of recreating a futuristic instrument from the iconic sci-fi series. Learn how the imagination-first design process of Star Trek's prop creators contrasts with modern instrument design, which is often constrained by current technology. Follow Bin's process from discovering the instrument to collaborating with the show's original production designer, and understand the challenges of bringing an imaginary instrument to life using 21st-century embedded sensors and computers. Gain insights into digital musical instrument design through this unique exploration of science fiction becoming reality. Discover how this project bridges the gap between fantastical concepts and practical implementation, offering valuable lessons for audio developers and instrument designers alike.