Schlagwort: synthesizer

  • SPIN is a beautiful and imaginative AI synthesizer

    SPIN is a beautiful and imaginative AI synthesizer

    Reading Time: 2 minutes

    If you’re heard the pop music emanating from any recent reality TV show, you won’t be surprised to learn that AI is perfectly capable of generating tunes on demand. It won’t replace true artistry any time soon, but AI music fits all of the technical criteria. But typing a prompt is boring, which is why Arvind Sanjeev constructed this gorgeous and imaginative AI synthesizer called SPIN.

    SPIN is beautiful and looks like a cross between a turntable and a drum machine. Those visual cues hint at its function. The user can press buttons on the right-side pad to define musical characteristics, which then form a prompt for a language model called MusicGen. That synthesizes music according to the selected characteristics, like “happy” and “lo-fi.” The music then starts playing and the user can control its speed and direction using the record on the turntable — even scratching like a DJ if they want.

    A Raspberry Pi 4 Model B runs MusicGen, but it receives inputs through an Arduino Mega 2560 connected to the buttons. There are also dials to set song duration and BPM (beats per minute), as well as control knobs.

    The turntable is a Numark PT-01, but the vinyl is a special dummy record that only contains a time code track. The sound from that then feeds through the audio driver back to the Raspberry Pi, where it is decoded to control the playback of the synthesized music. 

    SPIN is truly stunning to look at and its functionality is quite interesting, but Sanjeev’s real motivation was to raise awareness about the ethics of AI-generated art and the original human-made art it is trained on. 

    The post SPIN is a beautiful and imaginative AI synthesizer appeared first on Arduino Blog.

    Website: LINK

  • Unique synthesizer screeches like an owl

    Unique synthesizer screeches like an owl

    Reading Time: 2 minutes

    The Eowave Persephone was an interesting ribbon synthesizer that let musicians control frequency by moving their fingers across a long touch sensor. Ben Glover used to own one, but sold it. During shipping to the buyer, it got lost in the mail and so Glover can’t even buy it back. He regretted losing his Eowave Persephone, so he decided to create his own ribbon synthesizer called the Screech Owl.

    If you could even find one, buying a used Eowave Persephone today would likely set you back at least a thousand dollars. But the Screech Owl is affordable to build, operates in the same manner, and sounds very similar. Glover is a novice maker and was able to pull of this project by outsourcing much of the work to ChatGPT and vendors on Fiverr.

    One part that Glover designed himself was the custom PCB that acts as a shield for an Arduino Leonardo board. The Arduino handles the synthesis according to the input coming from the ribbon. That ribbon is actually two sensors: a SoftPot 500mm-long membrane potentiometer for position and thin film pressure sensor to measure force for aftertouch. Those components fit into a simple but attractive, laser-cut MDF enclosure.

    [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xeE5BE_AsMA?feature=oembed&w=500&h=281]

    Now Glover can relive the experience of playing the Eowave Persephone without the immense cost.

    The post Unique synthesizer screeches like an owl appeared first on Arduino Blog.

    Website: LINK

  • This Arduino Nano-based synthesizer can produce a wide range of intriguing sounds

    This Arduino Nano-based synthesizer can produce a wide range of intriguing sounds

    Reading Time: 2 minutes

    Synthesizers have existed in their current form for several decades now. In essence, they generate simple waveforms that are then either added or subtracted together and modified through the use of filters, envelopes, and modulators to control pitch, volume, and several other characteristics. Due to their simplicity, many types of components can be combined to create them with a wide variety of unique characteristics.

    Built by Ignacio Ríos, his take on the synthesizer incorporates an Arduino Nano along with a series of buttons, potentiometers, and an amplifier to produce sounds. It starts by taking a carrier frequency that is modulated by a secondary oscillator, similar to how FM radio functions. From here, four potentiometers modify how the carrier frequency responds to the modulated wave. Another four potentiometers change the attack, decay, sustain, and release durations, all of which are read by the Nano’s onboard ADC.

    Each of the keyboard’s keys are actuated with a tactile switch that constantly gets polled for when it is either pressed or released. When pressing a key, the program updates the current note being played and each of the four channels with the computed values from the aforementioned potentiometers. Finally, the PWM pin’s pulse width is updated to reflect the new value.

    After 3D printing a shell, the 17 keys for the keyboard, and a few dials, Ignacio assembled the synthesizer together and was able to successfully play a series of varied notes. To see this in action, you can watch Ríos’ YouTube video below or check out his write-up on Instructables.

    The post This Arduino Nano-based synthesizer can produce a wide range of intriguing sounds appeared first on Arduino Blog.

    Website: LINK

  • Convert an old cassette player into a synthesizer

    Convert an old cassette player into a synthesizer

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    Convert an old cassette player into a synthesizer

    Arduino Team — September 22nd, 2020

    Cassettes (if you remember those) are normally used to play back music and other audio, but what about using an old Walkman-style tape player as the instrument itself? That’s exactly what this project by Zack Scholl allows you to do, varying the playback speed to modify pitch output.

    It’s a very simple setup, requiring one to hook up wires that enable an Arduino Uno and MCP4725 DAC to adjust the speed using a voltage input. A drone sound is recorded on the tape, which may also involve some hacking depending on your equipment.

    [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LdBik_Zlwy0?feature=oembed&w=500&h=281]

    The Walkman then emits this recorded sound, which the Arduino — here using a keyboard and computer browser-based MIDI interface — modulates by increasing or decreasing the playback speed.

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  • The Orb is a “rolly, tumbly, singy” synthesizer by Emily Velasco

    The Orb is a “rolly, tumbly, singy” synthesizer by Emily Velasco

    Reading Time: 2 minutes

    The Orb is a “rolly, tumbly, singy” synthesizer by Emily Velasco

    Arduino Team — April 7th, 2020

    Some years ago, Emily Velasco started exploring the idea of creating a musical instrument based on a pendulum. This didn’t work out exactly the way she’d planned, but after several iterations — and inspiration from a cat toy — the device eventually turned into a sort of wobbling egg-shaped instrument, which sings as it tilts and tumbles. 

    The Orb —  as seen and heard in the video below — is truly strange, reminiscent of a theremin morphed with a trendy bowl-shaped wooden speaker. 

    As it’s spun, the Orb produces a sort of warbling noise, and one can position it to vary the sound by hand if they so desire. Inside lies an Arduino Nano running the Mozzi audio synthesis library, along with an accelerometer and audio amplifier board. 

    [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n_0r5pZPzG8?feature=oembed&w=500&h=281]

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  • The Orb is a “rolly, tumbly, singy” synthesizer by Emily Velasco

    The Orb is a “rolly, tumbly, singy” synthesizer by Emily Velasco

    Reading Time: 2 minutes

    The Orb is a “rolly, tumbly, singy” synthesizer by Emily Velasco

    Arduino Team — April 7th, 2020

    Some years ago, Emily Velasco started exploring the idea of creating a musical instrument based on a pendulum. This didn’t work out exactly the way she’d planned, but after several iterations — and inspiration from a cat toy — the device eventually turned into a sort of wobbling egg-shaped instrument, which sings as it tilts and tumbles. 

    The Orb —  as seen and heard in the video below — is truly strange, reminiscent of a theremin morphed with a trendy bowl-shaped wooden speaker. 

    As it’s spun, the Orb produces a sort of warbling noise, and one can position it to vary the sound by hand if they so desire. Inside lies an Arduino Nano running the Mozzi audio synthesis library, along with an accelerometer and audio amplifier board. 

    [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n_0r5pZPzG8?feature=oembed&w=500&h=281]

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    Website: LINK

  • The ZT-2020 is a portable SunVox synth

    The ZT-2020 is a portable SunVox synth

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    The ZT-2020 is a portable SunVox synth

    Arduino Team — February 11th, 2020

    SunVox synth software allows you to create electronic music on a wide variety of platforms. Now, with his ZT-2020 project — which resembles a miniature arcade game — YouTuber “fascinating earthbound objects” has a dedicated input scheme.

    This cabinet prominently features a wide array of buttons, a directional input from a PlayStation controller, and 16 potentiometer knobs. There’s also a screen on top for video output. 

    Inside a Raspberry Pi runs SunVox, while most of the buttons and all of the input knobs are connected to an Arduino Mega. The Mega plays the role of MIDI controller as well, passing digital music info along to produce beautiful electronic music!

    [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7rnk2qte4-I?feature=oembed&w=500&h=281]

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  • Wearable synth plays programmed or random tunes

    Wearable synth plays programmed or random tunes

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    Wearable synth plays programmed or random tunes

    Arduino Team — December 9th, 2019

    Unless you’re very good, personal synths are fun for you — though often quite annoying for onlookers. After making his own wristwatch-based synth in 2016, Clem Mayer decided to build a new version that’s larger and louder than ever, and programmable via an Arduino controller.

    Mayer chose the MKR WiFi 1010 here to take advantage of its LiPo charging abilities. This enables the device to be entirely self-contained in its custom housing, with a variety of switches and sliders for an interface. 

    Users can program their own “tune” to be played back, or even take advantage of a random sequence generated on startup, then modify the sound as it plays live.

    [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4UBJhJQH-C0?start=680&feature=oembed&w=500&h=281]

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  • Bitty is a tiny Arduino-compatible drum machine/synth

    Bitty is a tiny Arduino-compatible drum machine/synth

    Reading Time: 2 minutes

    Bitty is a tiny Arduino-compatible drum machine/synth

    Arduino Team — May 2nd, 2019

    There are a wide variety of ways to create electronic music. For a capable machine that fits in the palm of your hand and is loud enough to use outdoors, however, it’s hard to imagine a battery-powered device cooler than Bitty from Curious Sound Objects. 

    The pocket-sized drum machine and synthesizer, currently on Kickstarter, was prototyped using an Arduino Nano and will be fully Arduino-compatible when released. This means that in addition to changing the sound and interface around with readily-available sound packs—which include Theremin Bitty, Techno Bitty, Basement Bitty, Trap Bitty, Lofi Bitty, and Beach Bitty—it can be programmed with the Arduino IDE. The device can even run sound software written for other Arduino boards.

    Bitty features four sample trigger buttons, a pair of knobs, and a speaker. Designed for entry-level EDM enthusiasts and studio musicians alike, you can play the drums and melodies manually, as well as trigger patterns to produce dance music or hip hop beats. These can be chosen via the left knob, while the right knob handles pitch, note selection, and arpeggiation.

    Check it out in action below!

    [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T8OdetwIe0E?feature=oembed&w=500&h=281]

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    Website: LINK