This paper placemat from McDonalds lets you create beats while you eat

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Big Mac meet McTrax – McDonalds recently introduced a paper placemat that allows customers to make music.

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Mcdonald’s is experimenting with music recording tech.

Yup, you read that correctly. McDonald’s, the burger chain with the Big Mac, the golden arches, and that creepy-ass clown.

Now this “tech” is not a cheap microphone given to kids in a happy meal, it’s actually a piece of paper.

The paper placemat used to line the trays at McDonald’s has been developed with buttons to make and record music. The placemat, cleverly named McTrax, connects via bluetooth to patron’s smartphone through a downloadable application. The app has pre-recorded sounds and allows users to record their own voice as well.

The placemat itself does not have speakers or a microphone, so all of the sound is transmitted through your phone. The placemat is able to control the app as it was modified using conductive silver and carbon ink and small printed circuits. This tech makes all the buttons on the paper tap-able, for your personal paper recording studio.   

McDonald’s was able to create this impressive experiential marketing technology with the help of This Page Amsterdam and TBWA/Neboko.

Now before you get too excited about becoming the next McDJ, I should tell you that this was only available in the Netherland’s for the this past April.

Hopefully we can all give this unique placement a try in the future!