The Mixer Project

Installation and project with public participation

for Midi Controller, Apple Computer, Software, acoustic and electromagnetic Sounds, Headphones or Speakers.

Mixer design and programming by Tom Thiel

The Mixer Project was developed in collaboration of Christina Kubisch and Tom Thiel. The basic idea is to invite the audience to create their own composition of acoustic and electromagnetic sounds of the city the installation takes place in.

4 channels with 6-12 sounds each are mixed together. Sounds can be selected by stepping through, they can be pitched and panned, faded in and out — similar to a mixing desk in a recording studio. The Midi Controller (Novation Launchcontrol XL) is all that’s needed, no mouse or computer keyboard necessary while mixing.

Once a user is familiar with the sounds and the controls, the output can be recorded and later given to the user on a USB stick or sent by email.
The mixing process is intuitive and easy to use — even for people who never engaged in the process of making music before. The results of the musical mixes are very individual and different from each other, although they all start from the same pool of available sounds. They are full of interesting variations, surprising processes and musical structures.

Every participant rediscovers the sound world of his own city in a new way. He becomes a composer of an individual piece which he/she even can take home.

Some examples of mixes created by visitors of OSCILLATIONS

Examples Electrical Jubilee, Rome 2025