306 Final Project:

Blender Sequencer

For this project, I will adapt an already broken blender into a sort of sequencer. The blender will act as a MIDI controller through various MAX patches. The controllers will be the 6 buttons on the blender and an accelerometer with X and Y axis. To maximize functionality I have designated the first grey button as a 'mode' button which changes the effect that each of the other buttons have as well as that of the accelerometer


Functions:
MACRO/ POWER MODE
This is the default mode; the 5 buttons will be connected to a breadboard and trigger different elements/instrument machines to switch on or off via serial object in Max. These elements so far will be a piano melody, a bass counterpart, a drum beat, an echo machine for the drums, and a piano arpeggiator. Each of these elements are connected to the same counter which will ensure synchronization. From this counter the first three instruments use the select object to trigger different notes at different beat numbers. These all go to their own makenote object. The arpeggiator patch was based on a previous homework for this class using mainly pipe objects to delay the note numbers from the piano into the corresponding additions to create a chord. The echo element uses the same sort of delay system with only one note number, for the snare.
The accelerator in this mode will affect the speed of the general counter, so that the overall tempo can be increased or decreased via tilting on the X axis. Patches available upon request, download links comming soon.

MICRO/ ATTENUATION MODE
By pushing the first grey button a gate switched the functionality of each of the other buttons. In this mode, each button selects where the X-Y axis information is sent. For example, when the piano button is pressed, the X-Y information attenuates the specific characteristics of the piano melody. As soon as the next button is pressed, the attenuation for piano is kept and now the X-Y attenuate the next element/instrument. Following is a list of characteristics within each element/ instrument:

Button 1: Piano melody
X: octave ( 3 octaves above or 3 octaves below)
Y: channel number (1-7)

Button 2: Bass line
X: volume of 'fuzz' (from a noise patch triggered by each note)

Button 3: Drum beat
X: volume of cowbell (default 0 volume when axis are centered)
Y: volume of crash cymbal (default 0 volume when axis are centered)

Button 4: Echo (for snare only)
X: speed between repetitions
Y: volume decrease between repetitions

Button 5: 3 note Arpeggiator (for piano notes only)
X: speed between notes
Y: type of chord (diminished is default, minor or major available)

DOWNLOADS (using MegaUploader, you will have to download through their site):
-For the complete project Max Patch; " http://www.megaupload.com/?d=III8M8NH "

-For a quick video demonstration IN SPANISH;" http://www.megaupload.com/?d=UV4JL2PQ "


Materials Needed:
-Arduino and bread board
-6 buttons placed inside a plastic base of a blender
-accelerometer sensor
-10k resistors for accelerometer and each button
-Wiring


Future Modifications:
Since there are different modes in this controller, keeping track of what you are modifying is a difficult task for a new user. Once I find an adequate tool to drill holes in plastic, I would like to insert LED's to show which instruments are on or off, and which instrument you are attenuating.
Even though I use a blender for this controller, the idea of circular motion, or any motion at all, is absent. I would like to incorporate the jar of the blender in somehow. Inspired by a photo/LED exhibit in the Museum of Fine Arts, I thought I could use jitter video analysis to recreate certain movements through LED's. These could be behind a screen on the inside walls of the jar to serve as projection.

This project has shown me the tip of the iceberg in terms of what can be done with Max. I would like to work on this further even outside of class. Any ideas, suggestions and/or constructive criticisms are welcome!