GMU:Max/MSP visual programming/Jiannan Zhang/1.Project introduction

From Medien Wiki

1. Concept

My idea is to create a simple music instrument installation using Max/Msp. At the end we should be able to play music with the laptop keyboard, just like the application "Garage Band" or piano app on mobile phones.

Garage band piano.jpeg

The main function I would use is the sequencer we learned at the beginning in class. I would also find the chart that compares tunes with frequency of sound to make a complete scale of music.

2. Chart: Comparison of tunes and frequency/Hz

Middle tone 1 - 523

Middle tone 1# - 554

Middle tone 2 - 587

Middle tone 2# - 622

Middle tone 3 - 659

Middle tone 4 - 698

Middle tone 4# - 740

Middle tone 5 - 784

Middle tone 5# - 831

Middle tone 6 - 880

Middle tone 6# - 932

Middle tone 7 - 988

High tone 1 - 1046


3. First try: build the keyboard and try to play a simple song

So I built a keyboard according to the frequency of central c to high c. And i tried to play the "Ode To Joy" with it. I also recorded the song and the whole scale of all tones.

Here are some problems I found:

1\ The keyboard cannot be played very fluently. it may result from the delay of a single note.

2\ the music keyboard is unlikely to range widely due to the keyboard of laptop has limited letters.

Next i will try to solve the first problem and continue to relate this keyboard to Arduino led lights.

File:Screenshot keyboard.jpeg

File:project.maxpat


4. Second try: using makenote to build chords

File:chords.maxpat