PanMan - a modular tangible controller for sound spatialization

PanMan is a performance-oriented modular midi controller, conceived as a tangible interface for panning multiple sound sources in multichannel audio systems. It consists of four independent control units and a docking base - the modular design allows each of the units to be either physically attached to the base (in which case it might be used as a single controller by a single user) or connected to it via extension cords, allowing up to four users to participate in an interactive sound installation experience or a collaborative performance setting.The physical controls on a single module consist of a joystick/trackball hybrid – a dome-shaped control device designed to be operated with a single finger – and a thumbwheel for additional parameter control, positioned at the edge of the module, allowing for one-handed operation of three parameters. The design facilitates operation by both right- and left-handed users, also allowing a single user to operate two or more controllers simultaneously, controlling a number of parameters at once.