From Barcode to Beat: The Unexpected Origin of Sound
Technology moves fast. Music moves with it. But what happens when the tech gets left behind?
In Japan, Ei Wada and his collective ELECTRONICOS FANTASTICOS! are answering that question in a way the music industry did not see coming. They are turning discarded electronics into live instruments. Barcode scanners become synths. CRT televisions become percussion. Ventilation fans become tone generators.
It is experimental, yes. But it is also a serious reflection on where music technology is headed.
From Checkout Counter to Main Stage
One of their most compelling inventions is the “Barcoder.” A retail barcode scanner, the kind you see at a grocery store, is wired directly to a speaker. Instead of decoding product information, the scanner’s raw electrical signal becomes sound.
Black and white barcode patterns translate into pitch and rhythm. The speed of the scan controls tempo. The physical motion of the performer shapes the groove. This is not software emulation. It is raw signal processing. The barcode becomes sheet music. The scanner becomes the instrument. Movement becomes performance.
For an industry built on plugins and presets, this is a reminder that sound design can begin at the circuit level.
Human Movement as the Interface
What stands out most is the physicality. There is no mouse, no MIDI grid, no quantize button. The performer’s hand speed literally shifts the BPM. Slight changes in angle or motion alter tone and phrasing.
In a time when workflows are increasingly optimized and automated, projects like this bring back friction. And friction creates character.
For producers and composers working in sync, this is worth paying attention to. Unique sound often comes from unique input methods. When the tool behaves differently, the result feels different. That difference can be the thing that cuts through in a crowded campaign.
Rethinking “Outdated”
Japan, like much of the world, faces a growing pile of obsolete tech. Tube TVs, early digital hardware, abandoned consumer electronics. reframes that waste as opportunity.
A CRT television is no longer just a screen. It is a percussive object. A barcode scanner is no longer a retail device. It is a performance instrument.
For the broader music industry, this speaks to a larger shift. Innovation does not always mean new. Sometimes it means recontextualized.
Vintage synths have long held value because of their limitations and imperfections. This collective is applying that philosophy to everyday electronics, expanding the idea of what qualifies as an instrument.
Community as Infrastructure
What began as one artist’s vision has grown into a nationwide network, nearly 100 members across multiple Japanese cities. It is not just a band. It is a collaborative ecosystem built around experimentation.
That matters.
As the industry continues to debate AI, automation, and speed, communities rooted in hands-on exploration offer a counterbalance. They remind us that music is still physical, social, and tactile.
Why This Matters for Music Today
You do not need to turn a barcode scanner into your next lead synth. But there is a bigger takeaway here.
Sound is everywhere. Every device generates a signal. Every signal has musical potential if you choose to hear it that way.
For composers, producers, and sound designers, the lesson is simple: the edge often lives outside the expected workflow. Sometimes it is in a forgotten piece of hardware. Sometimes it is in a limitation you did not plan for.
As tools become more powerful and more accessible, the differentiator is not access. It is perspective.
And sometimes perspective starts in the checkout aisle.
Let’s Collaborate!
Need help building the tone for your production? Hit us up – the Rareform Audio team would love to help you create the perfect soundtrack that speaks to your audience and enhances the power of your visual storytelling to new heights!
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