Pande-Mic: how the breathing mask becomes an instrument!

16 May 2020 by Lyubomir Dobrev | Approximate reading time: 1 Minute

· Source: Brend Deckers

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Horrible as it is, the COVID-19 pandemic does promote new and innovative ideas. Perhaps you have already noticed for yourself that you are on a creative high. Indeed, we need new concepts, products and measures. That’s why companies develop tools like the Safe Spacer and artists build things like the Pande-Mic.

Bernd Deckers Pande-Mic

I only know that the mask, which the artist misused for this purpose, is called a respiratory half-mask. Perhaps Bernd Deckers thought: “If I have a mask, then it must also produce sounds!”

Thus, Pande-Mic was born. It’s a portable breathing transducer that turns breathing sounds an instrument.” The contraption is essentially made of rubber and PVC – but there is not much more information. We can only speculate about how it really works. There has to be at least a microphone and some small sound processor. Maybe some of you have a better idea of what exactly is happening there and can help us!

In any case, in the video we hear what the instrument sounds like when the output is processed by a Kaoss pad and an effects pedal. It is definitely full of character!

Luckily, one of these masks can be yours, too. A small batch of devices is being made, and with a little luck you can get your own. The price is EUR 162 + shipping. Plenty of potential for avant-garde performances with this thing!