Patternflow Is An Open-Source Light Synthesizer + Music Controller
Patternflow is an open-source LED ‘light synthesizer’ that you play with four knobs.
It does not make any sound, but it speaks OSC (Open Sound Control) bidirectionally, so you can control it with music or us it as a music controller with compatible software.
Patternflow features 8,192 LED pixels, in a 128 × 64 matrix, that respond to your control in realtime. Nothing is pre-rendered – every frame is computed live on the device as you play.
It runs on a power bank; setup is one trip to a computer to join your Wi-Fi, and everything after that happens in the browser: patterns, decks, even firmware updates arrive wirelessly.
Patternflow speaks OSC over Wi-Fi. Send values from Max, TouchDesigner, or anything else that speaks OSC, and they land on the virtual knobs; turn a physical knob, and the value goes back out to your session. There is no cable and no audio interface in the path. The device joins your network and shows up as an OSC endpoint.
Patternflow is available as a DIY project via Githu. You can also try a virtual version in your web browser.
A crowdfunding project is also in the works for assembled Patternflow devices. Note that crowdfunding projects involve risk, which is discussed at the site.
