PlantWave for Installation Artists: Stable, Wireless, Multi-Plant

A generative sound installation needs a reliable signal source, stable long-running performance, and routing that doesn't require babysitting. PlantWave, combined with the MIDI Bridge, is the only plant MIDI setup that delivers all three wirelessly.

Stability

The MIDI Bridge is built for the conditions installation artists care about:

• Stable long-running performance: No disconnects, no stuck notes during extended sessions.
• Multi-device operation: Multiple PlantWave devices run reliably in parallel, each on its own MIDI channel.
• Unattended use: The Bridge holds its state and routing without requiring intervention during a session.

Why Wireless Matters for Installations

In a gallery or public space, cables between plants and computers are a liability, trip hazards, aesthetically disruptive, and fragile over multi-day runs. The MIDI Bridge eliminates the cable between the plant and the Mac entirely. PlantWave devices communicate over Bluetooth; the Mac running the Bridge and DAW can be tucked out of sight.

Each PlantWave device operates independently over Bluetooth. No shared WiFi network to configure. No cable runs to plan. Position the plants wherever the installation design requires.

Multi-Plant Architecture

No hard device limit, 4 confirmed stable in testing, each on its own MIDI channel through a single MIDI Bridge instance. Practical ceiling varies by Mac hardware and Bluetooth environment. Each device supports up to 8-note polyphony, so a 4-device installation can produce up to 32 concurrent notes across independent channels. No additional latency in multi-device mode.

Routing Options

Independent chains: Each plant runs its own instrument and effects chain in the DAW. Most stable configuration for long runs, one plant's signal never affects another's, and each chain can be monitored independently.

Layered processing: All plants feed the same instrument, but each plant's CC controls a different parameter. The texture becomes a collective expression, four plants modulating filter, reverb, rate, and feedback simultaneously.

Spatial distribution: Route each plant to a different speaker or channel in a multi-speaker installation. Visitors physically move between plants and hear different music from each.

Hardware Setup

• 1–4 PlantWave devices, each with electrodes on a separate plant
• Mac running macOS 13+ (Mac Mini works well for hidden installations)
• PlantWave MIDI Bridge app (free)
• DAW: Ableton, Bitwig, Logic, or any Core MIDI application
• Audio interface → speaker system
• Plants within Bluetooth range of the Mac (~30 feet / 10 meters typical)

Design Principles

• Safe parameter ranges: Every CC mapping should be safe at any value. If CC hits 127 (rare but possible), nothing clips, squeals, or becomes uncomfortable. No volume mapping. No high-resonance filter mapping. See Plant MIDI CC for the full mapping guide and parameters to avoid.
• Beautiful at low activity: Plants have quiet periods. The installation should sound good when CC is low and notes are sparse, not just when the signal is active.
• Mix species: Different plants produce different signal characters. Pothos (active, wide-ranging) alongside snake plant (steady, narrow) creates natural contrast without any programming.
• Pentatonic scales: PlantWave supports 6 scales (Chromatic, Major, Indian, Minor, Pentatonic Major, Pentatonic Minor). For installations, set to Pentatonic, any note combination is harmonious regardless of what the plant generates.
• Test overnight before opening: Run the full rig for 12+ hours before the installation opens. Catch drift, disconnection, or artifacts in advance.

Power Recovery

For multi-day installations, plan for power interruptions:

• Configure the Mac to restart after power failure (System Settings → Energy)
• Set the DAW session and MIDI Bridge to launch at login
• PlantWave devices reconnect via Bluetooth automatically once powered back on
• Keep plants watered and healthy, electrode contact quality degrades on dehydrated leaves

For complete MIDI behavior details, note ranges, CC characteristics, defaults, and edge cases, see the PlantWave MIDI Specification.

Download the PlantWave MIDI Bridge, stable enough for installations, flexible enough for live performance.