DIY

MUSIC

WII WILL ROCK YOU

Play real air guitar (or keys) with the wireless game remote. By Bill Byrne

I grew up in the 80s with a Commodore 64, Game Boy, and Nintendo Entertainment System, and I feel more comfortable with an NES game pad than a TV remote.

Photograph by Bill Byrne

Many years later, the NES game pad has evolved into a monster: the Wii Remote wireless game controller, affectionately known as the Wiimote. My wife, Suzanne, and I also perform and record electronic music in a band called the Painful Leg Injuries. I’ve played with numerous MIDI controllers, but despite my years of childhood piano lessons, nothing feels as natural to me as the Wiimote. Blame it on all those hours with Tetris and Mario.

Here, I’ve written up 4 of the setups I’m using to control music with this thereminesque, ether-bending joystick.

1. Loop Machine

HARDWARE

Mac laptop, Bluetooth wireless-enabled

Nintendo Wii Remote controller just the controller, you don’t need the full Wii system

Wii Nunchuk attachment (optional) well worth it

SOFTWARE

Loop Machine version 2.0 $20, or Wii Loop Machine version 1. 1. 1, free, from theamazingrolo.net/wii

Yann Seznec’s Loop Machine (Figure A, following page) is a great way to start warping sounds. It has 3 channels you can load audio samples into, and an additional channel that functions as a basic synth.

The Wiimote’s buttons switch among the channels

Make: 145