The .INO file for the project is available here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ygoEk5vHlqo9QrRrLRIgKR5FZhLrtrbQ/view?usp=sharing Below is a copy of the same annotated code. Note that for the program to work properly both the FastLED and WIRE libraries must be installed. This project also requires the use the ‘hairless’ serial to midi software available here: https://projectgus.github.io/hairless-midiserial/ It also requires a… Continue reading FINAL CODE
FINAL PROTOTYPE
With time running out I opted to just have simple brightness and color control over the top LED from the sonars, anything more complicated caused timing and blocking issues (although it may be possible to solve this with interrupts). LED control in general is huge topic to go into but with the hardware element in… Continue reading FINAL PROTOTYPE
THE RETHINK
At this stage I decided the best option was to have LED feedback from the distance sensors rather than the synth oscilator. This presented a problem however with the FastLED setup i was using continuing to block the analogue read and LFO LED output. I once again experimented with interrupts but this effected the smoothness… Continue reading THE RETHINK
IT ALL FALLS APART
It was here I ran into an issue that derailed the entire project. Simply put, I was using the ‘pulseIn’ function to read the low and high peaks of my oscilator and used the time between them to calculate the frequency (pitch). This would allow me to control my LED strip with the pitch of… Continue reading IT ALL FALLS APART
THE ENCLOSURE
For the enclosure I used a box given to me by a tech at my previous uni. It was a good size but I always felt it was a shame to hide all the synth components behind a metal face-plate as they really suit the DIY aesthetic of the synth. This lead me down the… Continue reading THE ENCLOSURE
FURTHER TESTING
I had the idea to use the distance sensors so I could control the pitch of my synths oscillator like a theremin. This should have been fairly simple as the 1V/oct standard for euro-rack synths calibrates the oscillator so 0 to 5 volts corresponds to 4 keyboard octaves. However. The output of the Arduino uses… Continue reading FURTHER TESTING
INITIAL TESTING
This was my first use of a distance sensor with Touchdesigner. It works fairly well passing data via the serial port. However the sensor was not particularly accurate and readings were irratic, this was resolved by using the ‘newPing’ Arduino library (https://www.arduino.cc/reference/en/libraries/newping/). This gave me much more acculturate, stable readings. However there would be issues… Continue reading INITIAL TESTING
PLANNING STAGE
THE PLAN Use an arduino and stripboard components to read LFO signals from the FSS Brunswick mono-synth kit and use that data to control Neopixel LEDs. Also within the same system incorporate an arduino powered ‘sonar theremin’ to receive physical motion/performance data and output that as MIDI data for use with Touchdesigner and Ableton. This… Continue reading PLANNING STAGE