This page provides information about MusicTrain, a media art piece
in which a model train moves when you play an electronic piano.
About Music Train
Promotion Video
Music Train is a media art piece
that visualizes the composition of music.
When you play the electronic piano, model trains
move. The 12 rails correspond to the seven notes
of Do(C), Re(D), Mi(E), Fa(F), Sol(G), La(A),
Si(B) and the five sharp & flat notes in
between. When you play Do(C), the train on the
Do(C) track moves forward, and when you play
Re(D), the train on the Re(D) track moves
forward.If you stop playing for a while, the
train will automatically return to the starting
line.
You can use this system to play a game like
horse racing. Before you start playing, line up
the trains at the starting point. Predict which
train will be in the lead after the song is
finished. The position of the trains represents
the frequency of each note of Do(C), Re(D), Mi(E)
in the song. Generally, Do(C) and Sol(G) appear
more frequently in songs in C major, but as
shown in the video above, Sol(G) appears most
frequently in Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star.
In this way, Music Train makes it possible to
visualize the composition of music in a
particular song.
Concept
(1) Visualize the musical components contained
in the song.
(2) Incorporate game-like elements.
How it
works
When
you play a key on the keyboard, a train with the
corresponding note will move forward, and its
position will be displayed on the monitor. As
the train moves, the signal lights on the
rail-stop at the end will light up.
If no music is played for a certain period of
time, the trains will return to the starting
point. When the performance ends, the trains
will be sparsely positioned. Even if a train has
traveled far away and reached the end of the
track, all trains will go back long enough to
return to the starting point. Once a vehicle
reaches the rail-stop at the starting point, it
cannot go any further, so it will wait for other
trains while spinning its wheels.
The
rails and vehicles are commercially available
products that meet the N gauge model railroad
standard.
The
system is designed to supply power to the
vehicle from the rails.
Each
vehicle has a built-in motor that draws power
from the wheels.
The
rail is connected to a motor driver that can
control reversing and stopping.
The
digital piano and Arduino MEGA are connected to
the PC via USB.
An
Arduino MEGA is used to control the motor
drivers, and to keep the wiring tidy a original
Arduino shield is used.
The
rails are illuminated with LEDs.
System Configuration
The
electronic piano and Arduino Mega are connected
to the PC via USB. A shield attached to the
Arduino MEGA contains motor controllers that can
control forward, backward, and stop. The shield
and 12 rails are connected by a cable that
supplies power.
Up to two MIDI controllers can be connected,
allowing, for example, an electronic piano and
electronic drums to be played simultaneously.
Development process
Production began in July 2025. The first version
was completed in August and exhibited at NT
Tokyo in early September.
Previously, a relay controller capable of
reversing polarity was used, but this was
changed to a motor driver that can do the same
thing.
Changed from Z gauge to N gauge. With Z gauge,
it was difficult to place the train on the
rails, and the trains often stopped midway.
The basic parts were completed on August 7,
2025.
Music Train is a media art piece that visualizes
the composition of music.
When you play the electronic piano, model trains
move. The 12 rails correspond to the seven notes
of Do(C), Re(D), Mi(E), Fa(F), Sol(G), La(A),
Si(B) and the five sharp & flat notes in
between. When you play Do(C), the train on the
Do(C) track moves forward, and when you play
Re(D), the train on the Re(D) track moves
forward.If you stop playing for a while, the
train will automatically return to the starting
line.
The position of the trains represents the
frequency of each note of Do(C), Re(D), Mi(E) in
the song.
In this way, Music Train makes it possible to
visualize the composition of music in a
particular song.
At the exhibition, anyone can freely play the
electronic piano and make the trains run.
