May 2009
7 posts
WatchI gave my presentation (45 minutes) last Monday. A slightly larger version of the presentation is here. Final prototype, poster, and report are next.
WatchI added an old TV to the setup to visualize notes.
WatchHere’s where I am. A better walkthrough will come next.
Stuffed the contents into the box
And made one row of knobs green. And a great green it is.
Frankenstein
I was afraid the frosted faceplate was an irreparable choice and would leave a veneer of pretentiousness impossible to wipe off. I’m starting to come around. I think I’ll find a way to make this controller as ugly and abrasive as it deserves to be. Hurray Interaction Design!
April 2009
5 posts
Faceplate ready
Two layers of acrylic (the top one 2mm and sandblasted, the bottom one 4mm clear) and some knobs. This was my first run on the laser cutter at school and things didn’t go too bad.
The knobs are kind of glossy, and the clear acrylic look is not what I want for the finished piece. I think the final box should be black/dark or have a stronger less polished character.
Interface plan
Time to clean this up
I’ve reach the limit with this pile of wires, knobs and switches. It’s time to put it all inside of a container. The good news is it all works.
More Inputs
Some time has passed since the last update.
Some highlights:
I added an Arduino Mega to the project and now have 28 Analog Inputs
I couldn’t get Firmata to acknowledge all extra inputs on the Arduino Mega in Processing, so I am using plain serial communication
I have a better idea of what eachinput will do
I need to design proper casing
I need to work on the software side
March 2009
28 posts
Getting back on track
I’ve been distracted for what seems like an eternity, unable to make much progress on my degree project. A short break, intensifying the job search, and lastly, the amazing event we had in school last Friday have pulled me away.
So, it’s time to come back and focus. But before I do that, here’s one of the future scrappy devices we made as a class to give away to our visitors.
...
Murder of crows
Inspiration:
While in Berlin this weekend, I got to check out the installation Murder of Crows by Janet Cardiff and George Bures Miller, who have been working with sound for some time.
The exhibition is the Hamburger Banhof in the main hall of what was once a train station and consists of 98 speakers placed in the room playing a special stereophonically recorded soundtrack. There are...
Where and what
Last week was our Mid-Project review, and after that I took off on a little break away from Umeå. I’m just back and will be quite busy for the rest of the week on the Spring Summit event preparations and then attendance, so my project will be on hold a bit longer. It gives me a bit more time to think.
The Mid-Presentation itself was useful and a bit tough. The comments made to me after...
WatchPepe shared this other awesome project. It looks like light projected onto wires of some kind.
Tangible/intangible controls
Possible associations to support (and challenge) my assumptions.
Full notes from last week's brainstorm
I don’t know if this will be useful to anyone reading this, but maybe it will be for me, so I’m adding a link to all Input and Output ideas from the brainstorming session I ran last week here:
Download PDF.
WatchA walk-through showing some of what my controller prototype does so far.
I can control the pitch and velocity of 4 notes in the 8 step sequencer. The other 4 notes are pre-programmed in Processing. Other knobs control tempo, randomness and any chosen effect in Ableton Live. The slider clips the loop.
WatchA closer look at the controller prototpye I finished building this weekend.
Built from scraps of wood and chipboard found around the workshop to be purpusefully temporary. Two Arduinos and two mini breadboards are behind the controls – and there’s room for a second level for another Arduino or more controls.
Cleaning up
Things were getting really messy:
So I invested some time in a much needed cleanup:
… and made this sketch controller:
It still feels limited – I only have 12 analog inputs (6 per Arduino), and I’d like twice that. I’ve ruled out Multiplexers, so for now it’s either more Arduinos or this. I’ve ordered one but won’t have it for a couple of weeks. With...
WatchInspiration:
Music from sand. A good input not on my list :).
WatchInspiration:
This clip from YouWorkForThem is really nice. The A to V mapping is less than obvious (to me), but it doesn’t matter – the overall feeling is one of harmonious unity.
Brainstorm: Ins and Outs
I held a brainstorming session today with my classmates to gather ideas around possible forms of Input and Output to the experience I will build. Mattias suggested I do some thinking around this question some time ago, and I decided this would be a good group excercise.
I started the session by showing a couple of abstract video clips that play with image and sound as an attempt to get...
WatchHere’s the latest.
I have a very basic 8-step sequencer in Processing that outputs midi notes to Ableton Live. An 8x8 LED Matrix (from one Arduino to Processing through Serial) helps keep time as a scanline. A bunch of knobs (attached to another Arduino) control: pitch of 2 of the notes so far, velocity of one of them, a pitch randomizer, tempo and 2 effects applied to the Master-Out in...
Falling behind on posts here
Due to technical hurdles and other distractions. Sure to be mended, don’t go away!
WatchInspiration:
Mellotron using old Walkmen playing looped casettes (via Makezine). Cool.
Reaction
Notes and audio effects trigger visuals – that’s clear. But visual behavior can/(should!) also trigger notes and effects.
And why not have audio effects also trigger additional notes or alter their sequence?
WatchInspiration:
Mattias pointed me to the work of Andy Huntington (an RCA grad), who has some really nice sound projects.
Untitled Sound Objects (sugg'd by Jannes) →
Stuck in code
Not being much of a coder, I’ve been struggling a bit the last couple of days. I’m finally past one of the hurdles and have the rudimentary but functioning skeleton for an 8 step sequencer in Processing.
The issue was all around timing: how to allow real-time control AND trigger timed-events simultaneaously. In the end it was quite simple; I made a timer and this now works!
...
Filtering out some inputs
Some informal tests with classmates and tutors made it obvious that an (awkward) custom controller can be more engaging that something with a more familiar structure.
A keyboard frames the user’s behavior because it is a familiar object. A Monome 40h is more intriguing, but for my purposes too much so; the user’s focus is concentrated on the device and its lights, which takes away...
Take-aways from last week
From tutors and self:
What is the measure of success?
Meets my expectations of Responsiveness, Resolution, Precision
Engages and entertains people who interact with what I make
Understand how I can make the most impact
Focus on the qualities I am after: Responsiveness, Resoltuion, Precision
With the visual/sonic choices I make
With the type of controls I provide
What is the extra layer of...
February 2009
58 posts
WatchInspiration:
via riaz:
Maker Profile - Computer Making Music on Make: television on Vimeo (via Vimeo)
WatchInspiration:
The sounds are harsh, but what’s happening on the screen and how in sync sound and visuals are is impressive. As is the scale.
Via cdm, again.
On revealing
I love these wide angle views where visual performance acknowledges its underlying systems of organization - this could almost be described as visualist marginalia. In moments like this, integrated AV performance is transformative and turns clubspace into a situation room, a self-monitoring synesthetic feedback loop.
- Peter Kirn of cdm, reviewing Transmediale 09.
WatchI now have two Arduinos talking to one Processing sketch each. I can control parameters of a very simple loop using potentiometers.
Seeing this all together, as simple of a prototype as it is, gives me confidence. It also allowed me to show Oskar and my studio neighbours (Jannes, Mikko, and Matt) my progress to get some ideas. I need to focus on the custom controller and think of inputs other...
WatchLEDs triggered by midi notes. This is a test to get output to Arduino from Processing. I’m having some issues with Midi notes generated from within Processing, but am trying not to fixate on that right now.
I also tried Arduino inputs (only potentiometers so far) that manipulate the audio. I’ll post more later on that as there are some conflicts to overcome.
All quite basic still,...
Visual distinction
Ideas around differentiating attributes (other than color) according to Input Device (or channel).
Visual transformation
Some basic approaches.
WatchInspiration:
This sketch by Matt Robinson looks quite simple. You kind of get what it does (some reaction to the audio track) by looking at it, although there is some mystery that makes you keep listening to see what else happens.
It’s made me think about how a high degree of responsiveness can be attainted with a consistent and predictable response, but perhaps also with a dynamic and...