Lippenbuzz

Lippenbuzz is a term used in music technology and experimental performance to describe a method and related devices that convert the acoustic and mechanical energy of lip buzz into real-time control signals for electronic sound production. The name combines the German word for lips with buzz, signaling the core action: producing a sustained lip vibration that becomes an input source for synthesis, sampling, or effects processing.

In practice, a Lippenbuzz setup typically includes a lip buzz generator (a small mouthpiece or pad that the performer interacts with to create a buzz), a contact or airflow sensor to pick up the vibration, and an audio interface or processing unit that maps the signal to parameters such as pitch, timbre, amplitude, or effects. The signal can be used alone or as a control source within a modular or computer-based system. Performers often pair Lippenbuzz with live digital processing to achieve expressive, hands-on control of electronic sounds.

The concept emerged in European experimental circles in the early 2010s, with continued discussion in contemporary music journals and at avant-garde performances. Notable practitioners integrate Lippenbuzz with live sampling, granular synthesis, or other forms of digital processing to expand the performer's sonic vocabulary. The technique is taught in some experimental music programs as a way to develop novel breath-and-lip control of electronic sounds.

Reception is mixed, with praise for expanding expressive possibilities and critique regarding the learning curve, the need for standardized calibration methods, and questions about the longevity of equipment reliability under performance use.