The following images will take you through how the tempo randomiser evolved.

Below shows the first starting idea, getting a number to randomly ramp between 4 numbers with the line object.

We then noticed the issue that the number that it spat out did not start from the previous number. We’d want the tempo to ramp from the tempo that it is already on. We chose a range of tempos to implement our purpose of exploring genres through our installation.

• 80bpm = a typical hip hop tempo
• 100bpm = a typical mid range tempo
• 125bpm = a typical pop/upbeat/house tempo
• 140bpm = a typical dubstep tempo
• 175bpm = a typical drum and bass tempo

This issue discussed above was then solved by not including the 2nd number in the number messages.

So that only a each tempo is only selected once (so that the same tempo ramp can’t happen again) we added a ‘one bang’ sequence. The waveform object also visually displays the ramping.

However, Ableton still doesn’t understand the last number that is spat out. We then tried using a Max4Live device (below). Therefore, having some of the patch in a separate window and this then operating the Max4Live device.

So here is the code (below) that is in the separate max patch. The rest of the code had been put into a Max4Live instrument to be controlled.

This video shows the tempo Max4Live instrument working.

It was then suggested to us that we used ‘from Max 1’, as in the code below, in the Ctlout, and now Ableton would be able to interpret this number as the global tempo.

The final code, without the need to use a max4live instrument, is below.

The foundations of the Max patch may be confusing from an outsiders point of view, however the presentation mode (below) shows a simple and satisfying visual display which will make sense from a non-coder’s point of view. The four bangs to the left hand side represent the four effects that will be implemented. From this mode the entire patch can be triggered without sensors.

 

The four effects that we are going to implement on the end of the Twister Mat are:

• A random muter, that will mute a random track.
• A random effect button, which adds a random effect to the piece.
• A key cycler, which cycles between keys to add variation to the piece.
• A tempo cycler, which cycles between tempos.

You can see the receive objects for each of these below.

The following videos demonstrate the sensitivity of the sensors, this information gives us the basis for our patch as it determines at which point we gate the input of the pressure sensors.

 

You can find the PDF of how to set up multiple types of sensors here. -> 1.Sensor Setup

We’re using cycling 74’s Sensor Box to use the Arduino with piezo sensors.

Above is a typical set up of a Piezo sensor.

Above shows some coding so that we can choose the specific port to connect to Ableton Live.

This is the start of our patch. The bangs represent the spot on the mat. Each spot has its own Ctlout that will send a signal through to Ableton.

We sent videos back and fourth about issues we had with the Max patch. This video shows communication between Ableton and Max, as we triggered 2 samplesin Ablton, from Max.

We first loaned an Arduino starter kit, consisting of an Arduino, breadboard, resistors and jump cables.

1.74! The only room in the University besides Middle Street with Ableton Live and MaxMSP or Max4Live. This is where we will do most of the programming, patching and construction of the software projects required.

We found this soldered shield that had been used for a previous project. This gave us some insight into how we may solder for our project. Each jump cable is going to an analogue out and they each have a resistor. However, we’d have to check what the jump cables on the right hand side indicate. Overall, this is at least an insight into how a shield can act as an easier breadboard, once soldered.

The venue that we had decided to apply to use was the Eldon Building’s foyer area, and specifically the area owned by CCITV from the CCI faculty.

There were several reasons why we decided that this space would be effective:

• The CCITV area is installed with coloured lighting, which we felt would improve the general aesthetic of the installation, which in turn would lend to a more immersive experience.
• The area is encircled by small study tables, and is next to one of the main stair cases in Eldon. Placing the installation here would make us more noticeable and more accessible.
• The CCITV area’s layout includes lighting, rigging and backing drapes, all of which would create a more professional feel for our installation.

We thought that it would be a sensible creative decision to have the recognisable Twister colours on the lights behind our installation.

The main contact for the CCITV is Louise Lovesey. We contacted her via email to inquire as to the possibility of using this space. The original email that we sent to Lou is displayed below:

 

Update: Below are our emails to Louise leading up to the installation, these specific emails were addressing the times we would have the are booked out and the colour of the lights. Unfortunately we couldn’t have the lights different colours.

We decided to ensure that all of our chosen loops were in the same starting key and tempo (in BPM), as we wanted them to remain synchronized once the key and tempo were changed by the user. The starting key for all of our loops is C major, and the starting tempo is 125 beats per minute. The reason for choosing this tempo is that is fairly quick but has the potential to be slowed down/sped up without causing major changes to the audio. (For example, if the chosen tempo was 100 bpm, a change to 140 bpm would be more dramatic than it would be if the starting tempo was 125 bpm.) Whilst we want the tempo change to be noticeable, the user’s are creating a track whilst interacting with the installation, so we want the listening experience to remain pleasurable.

We used Logic Pro X to select our loops because they are pre-mixed loops and are royalty free. Another advantage of using the Logic Pro X loops library is that it includes functions that allow the user to sort loops by tempo and key, which made browsing through the loops a lot easier.

As stated in the video above, we chose four loops (drums, bass, drums and melody) for each of the following genres:

• Funk
• Pop
• Jazz
• Dubstep
• Classical

We then went on to combine loops from different genres to ensure that they worked together, as shown in the video.