Up until now we created the ConDio which resembles a music tangible table top surface which allows the user to modify sound. So far during the semester we have learned about different kinds of sensors and by having one as an input, it is almost obvious to make devices/applications that are more graspable or haptic.
By working with the ConDio through the previous semester we sometimes found it a bit irritating and we found our selves limited to the usage of prerecorded samples. We therefore find it very interesting in making these samples ourselves. With a little brainstorming session we found out that we need some kind of an instrument that will allow us to express our selves in making samples from scratch, manipulating them and use them as a sample library on the ConDio. The classes that we are covering this semester are very important as a basis for building our new concept and they are the main motivation force of what is possible.
Our group intends to build a musical instrument by implementing sensor technology as an input and sound synthesis as an output. Our goal is to design an instrument that provides the user with a similar sensation as playing on a percussion instrument but where various outputs and beats can be made. The sound produced by the instrument will be created by “striking” objects placed on a surface (this process will be defined by further research), these objects will be containing sensors (force-, air pressure sensors etc.) which will provide us with different types of input values that will be used in Max/Msp and mapped towards the properties of the sound algorithm/function. To control the different parameters of the sound output (frequency, harmonic, type of modulation etc.), we will make a series of sensors, such as buttons and potentiometers (these will of course be made into more understandable and graspable objects), which will be placed on the same tabletop surface as the other objects. There will be a graphical user interface on the table top that will show the user what kind of change and manipulation he does towards the sound function properties in real time. We are also planning to use a microphone for some kind of human voice recorder that can also be manipulated through the various modulations and synthesis as an output for the instrument. Our main objective is to make the digital percussion instrument work as a stand-alone instrument but as well to act as an uplink to the ConDio where different sample libraries can be loaded dynamically.
We are aware of the large number of percussion instruments out in the market, but we would like to design a digital haptic percussion sampler that can both simulate percussion sounds and all other sounds that can be synthesized through the various modulations.