GMU:Connecting Max to the World/Frederic Blais-Belanger/Listening to ''Pyrocystis''

This main patch is the combination of the two last Sub-Patches. I use as an input the emission of light of the 'Pyrocystis' read by the Photo sensor to generate the music output.

To use it properly, I first need to adjust the light range. By simply printing the lowest light and then the maximum one, I can adjust the scale using messages box that will be bang when starting the patch.

The number generated by the amount of light is scale between "36" and "83", which are the different touches on the keyboard. The higher the amount of light, the higher the note will be.

In order to make the notes overlap, which gives a better flow to the music, I am using four keyboards (the same I built in this sub-patch) that are playing in sequence due to a "counter object". To make it easier, the synths can all be adjusted at the same time by using 5 scroll-down menus. The menus are connected to the envelops that are encapsulated in the object "p synth".

Finally, the amount of light also modulates the tempo of the music. By scaling the numbers "in reverse", the tempo increases as the light decreases, and decreases as the amount of light increases. To follow the tempo and avoid too much overlaps, the light affects the domain of the envelopes in the same way.

This patch gives thus a "voice" to the Bioluminescent Algae and completes the loop of the installation, making a duet performance possible.

• Note: A second patch was created in collaboration with Étienne Colin. The patch works the same way, but sounds different as he changed the attack of the notes in the envelopes and added some feedback in order to give more depth to the sound.

Patches used:

• Arduino (Low-light): File:TSL237S-LF_LowLight.ino
• Arduino (Natural light): File:TSL237S-LF_Natural.ino
• Max MSP: File:Listening_To_Pyrocystis.maxpat
• Max MSP (Collaboration): File:Listening_To_Pyrocystis-Collabo_Etienne.maxpat