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Helmut Uwe [OOVAE] Terton - Fab Academy

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Project idea: Sound Visualisation Device

Ideation and first sketches of the Sound Visualisation Device

Purpose

This project aims to visualise sound that is emitted from a wooden tongue instrument when the tongues are hit by a finger or mallet (Figure 1).
 
The sound created will be visualised through air bubbles in a container filled with water and illuminated by coloured LED lights. Both the bubbles and light will change based on amplitude and frequency of the sound emitted when the instrument is played.

Background

Since high school, I am fascinated by numbers, maybe because I am number dyslexic. Especially Fibonacci numbers and the golden ratio resulting from it has a strong fascination to me. It is clear to me that Fibonacci did not invent the sequences but found out by observation and so did ancient Chinese and before them possibly older cultures.
 
Based on Fibonacci sequences, I want to design and build a wooden tongue instrument that can be played by striking the tongues by finger or a mallet. It is also envisioned that the instrument will have the shape of a nautilus shell to go with the Fibonacci theme.
 
The sounds emitted when played should be recorded either by a microphone or by piezo sensors (piezoelectric) that can detect vibrations of the individual tongues. The analogue frequencies and amplitudes created will be digitalised via a microphone sound sensor (KY-038 or LM393).
 
The data is then sent to an Arduino UNO for further processing by executing specific code. Based on the nature of frequencies and amplitude brackets a signal is sent to mini solenoid valves that will release air pressure to aerators submerged in a water tank. Signals will be also sent to a smart LED strip that allows change to light intensity and colour. Both, the colour and intensity change plus the duration of air bubbles represent the sound created when the instrument is played and therefore will visualise the sound quality in a specific manner.
 
This project is a prototype of a greater art project where I will use the four elements of Fire, water, air and earth to visualise sound. The greater art project is not part of the FabAcademy studies and falls outside of the program timeline.

Possible further developments

Next steps


 
Sound Visualisation Project Sketch
Fig.1 - This fisrt sketch explains the rough idea of the sound visualisation device.
Please click on the image to see an enlarged version.

Variation

I couldn't finish my studies and project in 2023. Since the first idea of a sound object that looked like the following,

Wing Sound Object
Fig.2 - Wing Sound Object.

I came up with a new idea inspired by cut-offs from the making something big project. The panel of the plywood sheet used to cut out the chair parts was intended to become screen placed in the garden. The holes were covered by a layer of glued together milkweed fiber paper also knwon as japanse fiber paper. Layers of airplane dope were applied to tension the paper.

Drum Prototype Screen
Fig.3 - Drum Prototype Screen.
Japan Paper with milkweed fibre
Fig.4 - Japan Paper with milkweed fibre.
Airplane Dope
Fig.5 - Airplane dope to tension the paper.

The tensioned paper made the holes sound like drums. This was the spark for replacing the wind sound object with a drumtable that can be played by two people simultaneously. To make the apaper skin more durable and playable it was decided to apply varnish to it, this would also make it waterproof.

Fig.6 - Drumtable sound demonstration.

Inpsired by the prototype I designed the following model of the drumtable in Fusion 360.

Fusion Sketch
Fig.7 - Sketch of the table top with holes.
Table top extruded with holes
Fig.8 - Table top extruded with holes.
Table top with drum skin
Fig.9 - Table top with drum skin.
Drumtable top with 120mm rim for better sound
Fig.10 - Drumtable top with 120mm rim for better sound.
Drumtable with leg
Fig.11 - Drumtable with leg.
Drumtable render bottom view
Fig.12 - Drumtable render bottom view.
Drumtable render top view
Fig.13 - Drumtable render top view.

The general idea of the project will stay the same, a sound is created, a piezo electric vibration sensor picks it up and sends the signal to the processor (ESP32-C3) board. Piezoelectric sensors generate an output signal directly from applied stress, requiring no external voltage. The piezoelectric effect is the process that enables a signal output.
 
Before creating the ESP32-C3 circuit board it is envisioned to build an arduino prototoype. Here are some ideas from the internet.

Arduino based piezo senor drum kit
Fig.14 - Arduino based piezo senor drum kit.
Source: Light-up Piezo Drum Kit
Arduino based dedect a knock project
Fig.15 - Arduino based dedect a knock project.
Source: Dedect a KnockDedect a Knock
Arduino based dedect a knock project
Fig.16 - Arduino based dedect a knock project.
Source: Dedect a KnockDedect a Knock
Arduino controlling a aquarium pump
Fig.17 - Arduino controlling a aquarium pump.
Source: Arduino: Get startedArduino - Control Pump
Arduino Water Sensor Pump
Fig.18 - Arduino Water Sensor Pump.
Source: Arduino: Get startedArduino - Water Sensor Pump

Some parts have been ordered and otheres need to be made, once the parts are available I will be starting to prototype.


Last update: January 05/02/2024


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