Interesting Mappings

Here is an experiment in mappings using the mouse as an example sensor. I am trying out some of the suggested mappings in 'Mapping performer parameters to synthesis engines' by Andy Hunt and Marcelo M. Wanderley.

In this example max patch I am using the speed of mouse movement (rate of change) with the mouse button pressed to control volume. I have taken the rate of change in both the vertical and horizontal mouse data and added them (I suspect this is not the most appropriate method, but seems to work ok). I have added them so that both horizontal and vertical movements can account for an increase in volume, thus removing the necessity to be exact with any one direction. This data is then fed into an [if] conditional statement, which ensures that the data will be fed through once the mouse button is pressed and wont when it is not pressed.

On the signal end of the patch I am using a binaural type construct where 2 [cycle~] objects are combined using these expressions in either channel:

Channel 1 = x + (y/2)
Channel 2 = x - (y/2)

I have set the parameters so that, with the mouse button not pressed, the horizontal movement of the mouse controls the y value and the vertical movement controls the x value. This is fairly simple mapping but the use of movement, along with the matching of cycles through the expression results in interesting sounds and control.

NIME Chair

Items in the NIME chair patch (above)

Rough first NIME Chair patch (above)

More Arduino to Max...

Week 5 - Using Arduino's Internal Pull-ups

Potential Divider (above)

Top - Pull-up resistor

Bottom - Pull-down resistor

Potential Divider: v2 = (r2/(r1+r2))*v1............where v1 is volatge in and v2 is voltage out

Pull-up resistor:

This is used in conjunction with an internal switch inside the Arduino. It pulls the voltage towards the 5V if no external connection is made.

Using variables in Arduino code:

Variables make our code more human readable. They are necessary for coding a value. More importantly, it is a way of naming and storing a value.

int - 16 bit integers
long - 32 bit integers
byte - 8 bit integers

Arduino Serial:
Serial data is data in the form of ascending bits or bits that are sent one after another. Bits are sent as 1s and 0s.
The Arduino is hard-wired to "talk" to its serial port. Mac OS and Windows also read from serial ports.
Software that read serial information from Arduino include:

• Terminal
• Zterm
• Hyperterminal
• Cornflake
• Serial monitor on Arduino IDE
• Pd
  
• Max/MSP

Some firmware to send serial information:

I = current - amps (flow)

V=voltage - volts (pressure)

R=Resistance - ohms

V/I x R

Variable resistor/Parallel resistors

R1 x R2/R1 + R2= total ohms of resistor.

series R1+R2+R3 = total ohms of resistor.

My musical aspirations for NIME Performance

At time of writing, my musical aspirations for this are still a "work-in-progress", or unsure for short. After watching and critiquing a number of NIME performances I am quite sure of what I like and what I do not like.

I do not like making noises just for the sake of making noises. A controller or an instrument can be very clever and unique, but it doesn't mean a performance with it amounts to interesting music. My musical aspirations for my NIME performance would be that it would have to make some kind of sense. So far, I have been very impressed by the Hyperflute performance at the NIME Performance 2008. This would be very close to what I would like to accomplish, either for my NIME performance or in my own time.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=qfEFzWtTLXs&feature=related

Joseph Malloch - T-stick

Some performances are just showcases of instruments and some are just vehicles for an artist. This performance shows how the use of drama in a performance can sometimes add volumes to the overall experience.

This performance showed a very obvious correlation between movement and sound. I thought the element of drama added by the artist was great, it really suited the piece and performance. In a way, it seemed like it was an essential aspect to the performance. Some of the physical sweeps showed a mastery and total control over the instrument that was really very impressive. The slow movement of the body twins the eerie atmospheric layers of sound being outputted while the quick, aggressive, action or fight-like movements are highlighted with various sharp tones and noises.