Quid Manumit -- Freeing the Qubit for Art

TL;DR

This paper explores embedding quantum simulators into musical instruments, creating novel quantum-based audio effects and instruments using a Raspberry Pi Pico, and demonstrates practical implementations like Quantum MIDI and distortion modules.

Contribution

It introduces the first embedded quantum simulators for musical instruments, showcasing practical quantum audio effects and open-source examples on microcontrollers.

Findings

Quantum MIDI generates additional accompaniment notes.

Quantum distortion modifies instrument sounds with quantum circuits.

Open source examples demonstrate embedded quantum instrument feasibility.

Abstract

This paper describes how to `Free the Qubit' for art, by creating standalone quantum musical effects and instruments. Previously released quantum simulator code for an ARM-based Raspberry Pi Pico embedded microcontroller is utilised here, and several examples are built demonstrating different methods of utilising embedded resources: The first is a Quantum MIDI processor that generates additional notes for accompaniment and unique quantum generated instruments based on the input notes, decoded and passed through a quantum circuit in an embedded simulator. The second is a Quantum Distortion module that changes an instrument's raw sound according to a quantum circuit, which is presented in two forms; a self-contained Quantum Stylophone, and an effect module plugin called 'QubitCrusher' for the Korg Nu:Tekt NTS-1. This paper also discusses future work and directions for quantum instruments, and provides all examples as open source. This is, to the author's knowledge, the first example of embedded Quantum Simulators for Instruments of Music (another QSIM).