Mini-Instrument Lab

The goal of this lab is to help you integrate what you have learned so far into making a musical controller, and to prepare you for the range of issues you will face in your final project.

Part 1: Plan a set of sensors to use as inputs

For this lab assignment, incorporate at least one sensor which is discrete, and at least one sensor which is continuous. Also, use more than one port for your inputs and outputs. Prototype your sensors and circuits on your protoboard to make sure they work.

Part 2: Mount your sensors off your protoboard.

Use scrap wood, foamcore, plexiglass or found objects as a platform to place your sensors in a more instrument-like configuration. Plan how you will use ribbon cable, connectors, headers and perf-board to make sure the connection back to the computer is not unwieldy.

Part 3: Hook your sensors up to a patch of your choosing.

Modify a patch from a previous assignment or try out a new patch to make your mini-instrument make sound! The PeRColate and PD libraries may prove useful to you.

If you would like to use Ed's PD patch, which allows a signal excitation of the waveguide rather than an event-based random excitation, then you can [download it here].

Part 4: Have a classmate use your instrument to play a scripted piece.

To test the soundness of your mappings, teach a classmate to use your instrument to play a piece appropriate to it (e.g. Twinkle Twinkle would be a fine choice for a keyboard-like instrument). Show the performance to a instructor or TA.