New musical instruments that sense, understand, and perform.
We build intelligent instruments and creative computing systems at the Australian National University School of Computing, then take them on stage as both a research method and a creative output.
Our lab develops new musical instruments that sense and understand music, actively assisting musicians during performances. We apply computational intelligence, AR/VR, and sonic interaction design in creative contexts, and explore how creative computing can inform studies of collaboration, spatial interaction, and decision making.
Latest news
Human-Centred and Creative Computing courses in 2027
Planning your 2027 enrolment? Here are the four core Human-Centred and Creative Computing (HCCC) courses that the lab and our colleagues in the ANU School of Computing are teaching next year. We have a short trailer to introduce them:
Read more · All posts and events
Research areas
We apply research methods from human computer interaction, signal processing, and creative arts. In all of our work, creative interaction is used as a critical research method and as a medium for producing unique outputs.
Collaborative interfaces
New ways for groups to make music together. Our touchscreen musical instruments communicate interactions over a network and engage performers in new kinds of ensemble interaction.
Spatial interaction
Spatial musical apps for AR/VR computers. We experiment with new freehand gestures in AR and have deployed a spiral-shaped keyboard in collaborative music experiments and artistic performances.
Generative sound
AI-generated sound could change the way we make music. We developed a singing-voice synthesis approach with more accurate duration predictions, and now work on text-to-sound generation models.
Intelligent interfaces
Instruments that predict human musical interactions. We model embodied musical interactions, the movements of performers. Prototypes include EMPI, a portable musical robot with a 1-dimensional interface.
On stage
All performances
Members
-
Dr Charles Martin (Lead Researcher)
-
Dr Pia van Gelder (Researcher)
-
Dr Alec Hunter (Researcher)
-
Minsik Choi (PhD Researcher)
-
Sandy Ma (PhD Researcher)
-
Albert-Ngabo Niyonsenga (PhD Researcher)
See also our lab alumni and former students.
Teaching
Charles and other SMCClab members teach several courses at the ANU, including:
- Sound and Music Computing (COMP4350/8350)
- Human Computer Interaction (COMP3900/6390)
- Art and Interaction Computing (COMP1720/6720)
- ANU Creative Computing Extension
Recent posts
- Human-Centred and Creative Computing courses in 2027
- NIME 2026 wrap-up
- SMCClab at NIME 2026 in London
- SMCClablive #2 featuring Andromeda is Coming
- Minsik Choi PhD Presentation
- SMCClablive #1 wrapup
Join our mailing list
This form lets you sign up to emails from the ANU Sound, Music and Creative Computing Lab. Emails will typically include information about our lab projects, performances, events, or studies that you may like to read about, listen to, attend or participate in.
We will only use your email address for this mailing list and you may unsubscribe at any time directly from any email sent to you.