Rebuild a Techno Classic into a Playable Instrument
As a branding content curator, I champion projects that fuse music, design and audience empowerment. Merijn Straathof has transformed Richie Hawtin’s landmark DE9 into an interactive online instrument, preserving history while inviting new creative play. This is a rare blend of archival respect and playful remix potential, ideal for designers and musicians alike.
All 120 original loops are free to play, chain and trigger via MIDI. This project converts a tracklist into a playable instrument, inviting remix, experimentation and learning. The web interface supports live chaining, effects mapping and straightforward MIDI mapping for hardware controllers.
Visually the site echoes Minus label minimalism, with monochrome grids, dial style controls and understated 3D renders. It gets out of the way so creativity can flourish, while giving fans a museum quality interface to explore. Merijn’s faithful visual approach respects the original label aesthetic, while the functional UI invites playful experimentation.
As a curator I recommend you read the full piece, for context, links and the designer’s perspective. Read this if you love design led cultural preservation, want hands on creative tools, or seek inspiration. Discover the story behind the build.
Source: www.creativeboom.com
