know of any motion triggered midi device?

patchdub · Post by **patchdub** » Tue Feb 26, 2008 1:21 am

i am wanting to do an interactive sound installation that uses peoples motion to trigger a few different midi sensors which would then start a a series of events. so far the only thing i have seen that really comes close is soundbeam. (www.soundbeam.co.uk/products/sb2-intro.html). soundbeam is way out of my price range and i am wondering if anybody out there uses or has heard of anything else? thanks...

fsk · Post by **fsk** » Tue Feb 26, 2008 1:28 am

at University a few of us made patches in MaxMSP, which would trigger midi instances using just the webcam of our macbooks. It was just reacting to changes in light.

sooo maybe check out maxmsp.

patchdub · Post by **patchdub** » Tue Feb 26, 2008 5:59 am

thanks. i have looked into maxmsp before and it seems a bit daunting. i would like to find a different method that is more hardware oriented. thanks though.

Tone Deft · Post by **Tone Deft** » Tue Feb 26, 2008 6:13 am

seriously, the make board works great with max/msp.
http://www.cycling74.com/products/makekit
I haven't used it but had a good introduction.

the make board is made for max/msp. it comes with a software library for max/msp. then it's just connect up the boxes in max/msp. for example a box (called an object in max) can represent the A/D converter on the make board, the output of which is a number. tie that box to a D/A output representing hardware and a light sensor is controlling a light.

hope that makes sense, it's not that hard. I've done some max and seen this board, it's a very good solution. you can try max for free for 90 days.

you're in SF, Matt can help you if you're serious
http://www.ganucheau.com/
drop him an e-mail he might reply, definitely if you can pay for his time. he REALLY knows his shit, he's done some of the biggeset max patches ever and loves that make board, check his projects eg the moaning lisa.

subbasshead · Post by **subbasshead** » Tue Feb 26, 2008 6:16 am

I bought one of these altho havent got my head around it yet...
but from what i understand hook up the right sensors
& all you might need is some scaling in max/msp...

http://www.cycling74.com/products/miditron

Tone Deft · Post by **Tone Deft** » Tue Feb 26, 2008 6:21 am

you know what? I'm in San Francisco, I'm familiar with max but far from a guru or even a grasshopper, I'll offer to help as long as it's NOT for Burning Man.

I'm certain I can take on this project, very simple. that is, if you can convince me to get off my lazy ass.

www.sparkfun.com has sensors.

http://www.arduino.cc/ is another little board with I/O and software libraries to make programming easy.

patchdub · Post by **patchdub** » Tue Feb 26, 2008 8:01 am

thanks everyone for the advice. it seems like max is the way to go doesn't it. tone deft this is an idea for a gallery installation not burning man. i will pm you and see if there is a way to convince you to get off your lazy ass. subbasshead i'd be curious to hear about it when you get the miditron working. thanks.

pixelmechanic · Post by **pixelmechanic** » Tue Feb 26, 2008 10:04 am

Miditron works okay, but you might also like to check out arduino...

http://www.arduino.cc/

An even cheaper option once you go down the maxmsp route is to open up the guts of a usb joystick...

If your joystick has got 2 analogue thumbsticks then you can actually solder in 4 potentiometer or sensor based controls... loads of fun and surprisingly simple (tho you might have to plug a resistor into the path of your sensor somewhere to get a better output)

Check out:

http://www.cycling74.com/story/2007/3/12/113645/135

Finally also check out:

http://www.phidgets.com/

Cheers

Jules

ethios4 · Post by **ethios4** » Tue Feb 26, 2008 2:30 pm

All kinds of crazy MIDI sensors HERE....check it out!!

bigbadotis · Post by **bigbadotis** » Tue Feb 26, 2008 3:43 pm

If you just want to see when someone crosses a threshold all you need is an arduino and some IR receivers / transceviers. Or maybe a laser pointer and a photoresistor.

And some wire.

Write 20 -25 lines of code (you can probably find it online), hook the arduino up to Pd or Processing... there's a learning curve if you've never done it before, but this is a -really- good first project to do.

mrruby · Post by **mrruby** » Tue Feb 26, 2008 4:09 pm

http://www.eowave.com/products.php
they have something called an eobody system?
they make cool stomp boxes too....MR.R.

novamusik here in the US carries their line....