DMLab Colchester - February: Light and Music

A friendly and inclusive session experimenting with controlling sound from light, and light from sound! Experiment with the Photon Smasher to covert light into sound and unlock a whole new approach to creating music and sound. More information about the Photon Smasher can be found here

We will have plenty of equipment there, but please feel free to bring your own FX pedals and LED lights to explore with the photon smasher (please note that any equipment you bring would need to be battery operated).

There will also be opportunities to play with an Ableton to LED synth and learn about DMX stage lighting.

Plus, we can dream up and chat about new ideas together, perhaps adaptations for using the photon smasher, or another way you might incorporate light into making music! This workshop is suitable for everyone over 18 from beginners to experienced musicians/ technologists!

Due to the topic for this month's session, there will be flashing LED lights present. Please get in touch if you would like to discuss any accessibility queries relating to this, and we will do our best to make any accommodations.

Each month the community bring their musicality, ideas, innovations, dreams, specific access needs and technical know-how. From this, amazing new musical instruments and projects will be conceived and developed. Each session will be different, from presentations to jam sessions, hack-a-thons to workshops, all of which will be led by the community.

These friendly get togethers are about coming up with, building and sharing new projects and music. New people are always welcome to join and be part of making music accessible.

DMLab is for musicians and makers. We use the word disabled as we are disabled-led however you do not need to identify as disabled to join us. Everyone is welcome and we will be led by our members who experience access barriers, including people who are Deaf, Blind, Disabled, or who have a condition, impairment or chronic illness.

DMLab Colchester takes place at Firstsite, Colchester. There is step-free, level access throughout the building and 4 accessible parking spaces are available outside the main entrance on a first come, first served basis. There is also an additional drop-off area.
Assistance dogs are welcome, and there is a hearing loops is available. There are several disabled access toilets in the building, and there will be seating available at the event.
There will be plenty of opportunity to take breaks and you are very welcome to attend for the length of time that works for you.
There is space to let us know of any specific access needs when you book. Alternatively, please get in touch if you would like to to discuss further or need any more information at: [email protected]
Further details about venue accessibility can be found on the Firstsite website.

We will have at least one 5-10 minute break in the middle of the 2 hour session. There will be some time listening to presentations and some time working individually and in small groups. You are very welcome to attend this session flexibly in a way that works for you.

DMLab aims to address access barriers to music-making relating to disability. We have our key accessibility information listed on our Eventbrite page, but please get in touch with [email protected] if you have any queries relating to access, or if there are any adjustments we can make for you to attend.

DMLab Colchester is an exciting collaboration between CLIP and Drake Music. For the next three years, from November 2025, we'll host monthly meet ups bringing together an inclusive community of makers and musicians on a regular basis, to support the development of new accessible musical instruments.

DMLab Colchester is an inclusive, community-led space for musicians and creative technologists, disabled and nondisabled, to create, hack instruments, jam & explore new ways to make music. All experience levels are welcome. If you have any questions please contact [email protected].

Participants are welcome to bring their own laptop if they wish. Please note that this project is aimed at people age 18 and over, and all experience levels are welcome.

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Host or Publisher CLIP Sound and Music CIC