The Octopus Instrument
Originally proposed as Mitch Greer’s thesis at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, this interactive instrument was designed for large groups to collaboratively create electronic sound through a visual synthesizer interface. Most of the system was completed before being damaged in a move, and this is the only surviving record. The work explored intuitive, collective sound-making, merging visual and sonic elements in a shared, participatory environment.
Like all of Mitch Greer’s instruments from this period, the project ran on an antiquated operating system and relied on custom Max/MSP sound synthesis patches, which have been open-sourced and are available in the Code section of this website. Designed for four-channel audio, the system enabled intuitive, collaborative interaction through sound and visual feedback.
While it was innovative in its time—particularly in its emphasis on group electronic music-making—it now exists as a technological artifact, reflecting early explorations of shared digital experience. Though relatively simple to reconstruct today, its significance lies in the historical context of its creation.
Kickstarter
join the build.
We’re launching a Kickstarter for the Instrument Design series—a collection of handcrafted audio tools and experimental sound sculptures. Some reward tiers include fully functional analog instruments, built in small batches and designed to blur the line between sci-fi artifact and playable device. This is a limited run and a rare chance to own one of these pieces. Support the project and help bring the future of sound to life.
These were the Royal Dragons—fully built, forward-thinking instruments for their time. Combining analog controls with Arduino integration and a touchscreen interface, they represented a state-of-the-art solution within their category. Due to limited funding during the school year, traditional laptops were out of reach, so these systems were developed as custom-built performance tools for live electronic sound.