maxtheremin: January 2007

How does it look? Updated!

This is how my project looks like. Updated version:

How does it look?

This is how my project looks like:

Difficulties of Theremin!

Theremin is a difficult instrument to master. I knew it before but I didn't know it was at this level. It is a very precise instrument in which a slight movement of your finger, changes the note. And because it is "fretless" it is really hard to take control over the instrument. I am still working on it!

I told about the difficulties of the instrument to my friends and to my teachers and they suggested me to make an interface for learning Theremin. Since the most difficult part is to find the right tune at the instrument I have started to develop an interface helping people find their exact tune by displaying an comparing original tune and Theremin created tune.

Processing Codes

I have manipulated a code from sonita in order to response it to sound more precise. I also changed the way it looks. Here is the code:

import pitaru.sonia_v2_9.*; // automcatically added when importing the library from the processing menu.

void setup(){
//size(1024,600,P3D);
size(1024,600);
Sonia.start(this); // Start Sonia engine.
LiveInput.start(32); // Start LiveInput and return 32 FFT frequency bands.
smooth ();
frameRate(30);
}

void draw(){

background(70,190,255);
getMeterLevel(); // Show meter-level reading for Left/Right channels.
getSpectrum(); // Show FFT reading

}

void getSpectrum(){
strokeWeight(0);
stroke(30,90,120);

LiveInput.getSpectrum();

for ( int i = 0; i < LiveInput.spectrum.length; i++){

line(i*32, height, i*32, height - LiveInput.spectrum[i]/1);
strokeWeight(12);

}
}

void getMeterLevel(){

}

// Safely close the sound engine
public void stop(){
Sonia.stop();
super.stop();
}

Sonia & Sonia Helper

2 other libraries for Processing. By these librairies, I will be able to analyse music. Here are the links:

Sonia

Sonia Helper

JSyn

A library will be added to Processing in order to develop musical stuff called JSyn.

"JSyn allows you to develop interactive computer music programs in Java. You can run them as stand-alone applications, or as Applets in a web page using the JSyn Plugin."

JSyn

Luminance

An interactive art installation created with flash with FLOSC

Luminance

FLOSC

OSC can communicate with Flash and this is how: FLOSC

I am thinking of possibilities between Theremin and Flash.

OSC

Useful information. Developed in Berkeley University.

OpenSound Control ("OSC") is a protocol for communication among computers, sound synthesizers, and other multimedia devices that is optimized for modern networking technology and has been used in many application areas.

OSC

Max/MSP or Processing?

My 30 day trial has expired and each "crack" version I have tried couldn't work! I think I will be moving my project to Processing.

Fingerplay

A good example from Germany:

Fingerplay is basically a sample player. Webcam is used to track movement (of the actors hands) and analyse these movements. The resulting parameters are converted to suitable control parameters for sampling engine to achieve a touchless audio control system in the tradition of the theremin.

Fingerplay

30 Day Trial

I downloaded 30 day trial version of Max/Msp and Jitter, and I managed to place a 3D Object inside it, reacting and reforming its shape according to the sound you create. This picture shows my patch.

Similar patches can be found in examples of Jitter.

Max/Msp Jitter Link

There is a list of many possibilities that can be achieved with Max/Msp Jitter here.