The Beat Nexus at The GRAMMY Museum

The Beat Nexus is the second of two experiences Moldover designed for The Grammy Museum’s Sonic Playground exhibit. It’s a four-player instrument that is simple enough for anyone to walk up to and learn, but nuanced enough for high level expression and deep collaboration.

Moldover’s UX design skills are at the heart of this experience, with many numerous Max for Live devices and custom configurations for the Embodme Erae II touch-controllers that enable sophisticated musical and visual interactions. All sounds and effects were produced in Ableton Live, with drum loops contributed by the exceptional Kevin Joseph Sawka (KJ Sawka).

Moldover also designed a custom LED visualizer for the center of the instrument, featuring fan-shaped spectrum analyzers. The cabinetry was designed by Curious Beast and fabricated by Blackmouth, combining precise craftsmanship with a clean, modern aesthetic.

Special thanks go to The Grammy Museum staff, Tim Thompson, Jason Donnelly, Brendan Hogan, and Reek Havok for their contributions to the project. Visitors are encouraged to experience this dynamic and beautifully realized instrument, along with the many other engaging installations throughout the Sonic Playground exhibit.