Week 1b: Final Project Ideas

Table of Contents

This page contains the first ideas for a the final project. If you want to see the final idea and the development process, check the final project page.

Following other Fab Academy instructors, a good final project is simple, has a very precise purpose and is beautifully designed. Another advice was to take something what you think is “too easy”, and do that properly. I also considered aspect of iterative development, that is I wanted to propose a project which can be very simple and working, but also can be extended to more advanced versions of itself when I would notice that there is more time. Another nice rule I read was that for the final project it is not important whether it is a novelty or not, but that it is created by yourself. Regarding what to make, I thought I really enjoy making music. My favorite genres included bass music and weird noises, so I wanted to do something with audio (yes, you listen to the linked tracks during reading). Considering all of the above points, I came up with the following ideas.

Initial Proposal: (Living) Bass Synthesizer

A first idea is a bass synthesizer. The bare minimum would be to have it playing some simple sound wave (e.g. sawtooth) as its most minimum version. It would have one button for “play” and an infinity knob for adjusting frequency.

sketch of a simple bass synthesizer
Sketch of the bass synthesizer in its simplest version.

Possible advancements would include doing proper sound design and developing a unique characteristic sound for the synthesizer. This could be achieved by implementing a filter (likely a low pass, maybe with some quirky features, like an LFO automating its cutoff-frequency to get a wobble bass). Other advancements being considered would be adding MIDI input for basic frequency control instead of relying on just a knob and button. More controls for the synthesizer’s algorithm parameters could also be planned. The casing could be designed to resemble the sound the synthesizer makes, e.g. sharp edges if the sound sounds more squealy or more voluminous and bulbous if the sound happens more in the sub bass frequency area.

The major learning outcome with this project would be how to implement a synthesizer in an embedded system.

Sketching the synth more weirdly.
Developing the synth idea further: it could be a living thing. The synthesizers state could be modeled with a dynamical system that models changing emotions based on external influences. Based on the state, the synthesizer could make a different sound. One would need to think of a specific system, maybe a non-linear, oscillating one. The following features could be included.

  • Conditioning:
    • If I want the synthesizer to make a specific sound, I would need to take time before a performance to e.g. cuddle it so it makes the desired sound before the event.
  • Appearance:
    • It needed to be large and bulbous, designed so that it needs so much room that a performer has to design the placing of their setup around the synth. Reason: the synth is a living thing, it should be paid proper attention to.
  • Sound:
  • Interfaces:
    • Ripcord with rotary encoder and spring for theremin-like interface.
    • Touch sensors for cuddling with the synthesizer.
  • Enclosing
    • Silicon casing.
    • Something that breathes: in/deflating
    • Wood: burn in lightning patterns when applying voltage

Final Idea: Bass Gauntlet

My final idea was to have an interface in form of a glove that includes several sensors (accelerometers, vector magnetometer, etc.) to send control signals to a music or light component, e.g. via OSC or MIDI. People using that might be musicians, performers, or light operators.

After a couple of weeks, I got a more detailed picture of which type of inputs I wanted. I thought of a gyroscope for detecting pitch and roll of the hand and pressure (plus maybe bend) sensors at some fingertips. That would enable the user to use finger drumming to send MIDI signals, thus playing music.

Alternative Ideas

Soundboard & Sampler

Another idea is to create a soundboard where the sounds can be sampled from an integrated microphone. I had this idea, because my flatmate always says characteristic and funny catch phrases I would like to record and play back when needed. The minimum version would include a microphone, a jack for output, a push button for activating recording and one piezo crystal for playing back the recorded sound.

sketch of a simple sampler
Sketch of the sampler in its simplest version.

Possible advancements could include adding multiple sample slots, with one piezo for each sound, incorporating one LED per slot to indicate which slot is being played or recorded. An SD card could be used to store and import audio files. The sampler could be extended to have a looper function so that a sample can be played back automatically triggered by clock of user-defined tempo. As with the synthesizer, adding MIDI-compatibility could be considered.

The major learning outcome would be how to safely record, store, and play back sound in real-time.

Interactive Installations

  • Showing people that influencing, changing the environment is the true bliss, rather than just consuming whats around you.
  • Some previous projects concerning interactive art
    • Reddit project: the button.
    • Reddit project: r/place
    • Kinetic sand table. Plate where you scratch with a violin bow to form patterns.
    • IR LEDs + wristbands that get lid up (Coldplay, Beyonce etc.)
    • Final project where somebody had a heart in their hand which pumped in the same frequency as someones heart.
    • Motors that tighten ropes where fabric is attached.
    • Something with water and water drops that are falling down and the waves are filmed to create funny effects.
  • Ideas
    • Maybe adding IR LEDs so that the lamps themselves can speak with wristbands of people (the things you have at some pop concerts)
    • Interfacing for people actively influencing how the lights behave
      • Something where somebody walks past and that lights up.
      • Theremin-like interface for light
      • Some plate where you can step on and you control lamps with that.
      • time-of-flight sensor

Wireless & Controllable Lights

Hanging lights.
Sketch of a hanging light, maybe inflatable.

  • Other projects
    • Mitch Altman: Trippy LEDs
  • Enclosing
    • Paper: you put paper around some 3d rack and make it hot
    • living/moving
    • inflates and deflates periodically
      • Final project where somebody had a heart in their hand which pumped in the same frequency as someones heart.
    • Hanging where it is lifted and lowered periodically.
  • Interactivity
  • Audio-reactivity
  • Communication
    • Artnet, OSC
  • Maybe develop kit to build OSC lights to enable people to create lights themselves.
  • Cardboard with holes and slots. When it is moved, there are funny light effects.

Smaller Ideas

  • Interactive light synthesizer