So much goin on

At the same time as looking to use this blog as a means to demonstrate where my project is at and where I am going with it, I also want to to continue to contextualise the project as I feel that some people may not see the need in the system i'm proposing, maybe even not understand why you may even want it.

There are tons of music tech things going on at the moment if you have been keeping up with NAMM 2015, a music instrument and technology messe in the US.

Something of interest with regards to this project is a new range of video synthesis modules aimed at the Eurorack format of Modular. These will enable the user to generate their own VJ show, in tandem with the music that the modular synth is producing. It also give the user the ability to have it set up in their room they can see what their music is doing, in a manner of speaking anyway.

The beauty of this is that the device is under voltage control, meaning that whilst we can of course have complete and accurate control over all the parameters, we can also set up a modular to run and change of its own volition. Here is another example, this time running in tandem with a Korg Monotribe.

There is actually a new modular system for within ableton live that has only just been released. I could actually look at intergrating one of the simple systems I have already demonstrated and try to create an in the box version. I quite like this idea, more on that later.

OSCILLIOT - Max for Live Modular System

It has also got me back thinking that I need to look into whether or not the Arduino can be controlled under CV. This wqould open up a whole new world of possibilities.

As this project is also focused around how music related to sound, I am shortly going to start posting a track of my own composition that has then had a max for live visual patch applied in order to create a music video. I feel this will be a great way to keep you in the loop of everything I am doing within the project - a window into my testing through use of the system. Although at this point it is more developing the system through use. The next post shall be back to practical stuff that I have created.

Introduction to Proccessing, Developing Focus

I am finding now that I am making massive jumps from one idea to another again, simply because of the amount of new information that I am finding out. However today I feel like I have turned a corner in terms of the direction that I want to take.

Proccessing is a programming language primarily aimed at creating visuals and graphics, though this is certainly not all you can do with the platform. I feel like this is a strong platform for me to work from based upon the research I have done on it.

During my research I have stumbled upon people using a library within processing called Minim,which enables the capture of FFT data for use in Processing. I also managed to find a short series of tutrorial's from a user named "Switchboard" on Vimeo, which show how to get some basic functionality coming from within Processing.

Switchboards Vimeo Channel

Over the next few days I am going to work through his tutorials and try to get a better grasp of what is happening in the programming language itself.

I feel like my "Scope" is narrowing now. I certainly feel like between Processing and M4L I will be able to achieve the creation of graphics from audio, which was has been the main aim of my project for some time now.

From hear on in, I will be concentrating on music visualization using M4L and Processing, with the aim being to create an application for studio use, both in a creative sense and for use as a clinical audio measurement device, using FFT spectral analysis.

Technical Research Contact

In my hunt for any good explanation of how FFT works, I stumbled upon this page..

Gamma Devices - Metering

I have contact the man behind the devices via Blogger, hopefully he will be able to give me some advice on where to gather the information needed for me to build a device capable of converting Frequency to Colour.

Above is the video link for the "Gamma Devices M-Series". I am curious as to the build of the Graphic EQ style display, as this maybe the best way to gather individual frequency data and send it out to be processed into colour.