A fascinating deconstruction of the audio contents of the Voyager Golden Record on the Twenty Thousand Hertz podcast.
Category: PG05
Printed Circuit Boards
Finally had the chance to work out how to create the files for the PCB to go inside the Space Rocks, using KiCAD, and with much help from @cunabula.
The files have now been sent away to be printed, and I eagerly await being able to test them in situ in a few weeks’ time.
Some new inspiration
A few links of interest for the start of the year, and the next phase of version 1 of the Space Rocks.
Using voice to navigate digital products
Adobe XD uses voice commands to seamlessly integrate voice into prototyping workflows so that designers can be involved in the early creation stages of voice applications.
Adobe XD voice prototyping.
openFrameworks
An open source C++ toolkit for creative coding. Thanks to @cunabula for the link.
https://openframeworks.cc
Free sounds from the Polish Radio Experimental Studio
Something for when I get some time to play with Ableton. A fascinating story, too:
Free sounds from the Polish Radio Experimental Studio – Ableton
One of the first institutions in Europe dedicated to experimental and electronic music, founded in Poland. Set up in 1957 to create musical ‘illustrations’ for movies, radio and television, Polish Radio Experimental Studio (PRES) was an island of artistic freedom throughout the 1960s, 70s and 80s. As one of the few studios in Eastern Europe with electronic music equipment, and crucially, engineers who could service it, the PRES was a center of research into the possibilities of tape music and saw the creation of many astonishing original electro-acoustic works.
Depending on how paranoid you are, this research from Stanford and Google will be either terrifying or fascinating. A machine learning agent intended to transform aerial images into street maps and back was found to be cheating by hiding information it would need later in “a nearly imperceptible, high-frequency signal.”
This clever AI hid data from its creators to cheat at its appointed task
A few trends in what our industry is writing, talking, and thinking about. Here’s what to expect for UX in 2019.
The State of UX in 2019
And following on from that, this book – Calm technology by Amber Case
Ugly Duck exhibition for PG degree show, September 2018
Photos of the Ugly Duck exhibition for the Ravensbourne Postgraduate final degree show. 19th-21st September 2018
Current code for Space Rocks
Here’s the current code for each Space Rock and the transmitter that they connect to. The code allows the synth programmed into each Rock to change based on the relative distance to the transmitter.
Vaporum (‘Small whale’)
Uses the Control Echo Theremin (Mozzi) synth
// include all libraries #include <LoRaLib.h> #include <MozziGuts.h> #include <Oscil.h> #include <tables/sin2048_int8.h> #include <ControlDelay.h> #include <RollingAverage.h> // uncomment the following line for debug output // NOTE: debug output will slow down Arduino! //#define DEBUG #ifdef DEBUG #define DEBUG_BEGIN(x) Serial.begin (x) #define DEBUG_PRINT(x) Serial.print (x) #define DEBUG_PRINT_DEC(x) Serial.print (x, DEC) #define DEBUG_PRINT_HEX(x) Serial.print (x, HEX) #define DEBUG_PRINTLN(x) Serial.println (x) #define DEBUG_PRINT_STR(x) Serial.print (F(x)) #define DEBUG_PRINTLN_STR(x) Serial.println (F(x)) #else #define DEBUG_BEGIN(x) #define DEBUG_PRINT(x) #define DEBUG_PRINT_DEC(x) #define DEBUG_PRINT_HEX(x) #define DEBUG_PRINTLN(x) #define DEBUG_PRINT_STR(x) #define DEBUG_PRINTLN_STR(x) #endif // Mozzi control rate in Hz #define CONTROL_RATE 512 // RSSI range bounds #define RSSI_LOW -60 #define RSSI_HIGH -30 // freqency range bounds in Hz #define FREQ_LOW 0 #define FREQ_HIGH 1000 // SX1278 object instance SX1278 lora = new LoRa; // rolling average filter RollingAverage <float, 32> kAverage; // theremin effect echo cells unsigned int echo_cells_1 = 32; unsigned int echo_cells_2 = 60; unsigned int echo_cells_3 = 127; // 2 second delay ControlDelay <128, int> kDelay; // oscils to compare bumpy to averaged control input Oscil <SIN2048_NUM_CELLS, AUDIO_RATE> aSin0(SIN2048_DATA); Oscil <SIN2048_NUM_CELLS, AUDIO_RATE> aSin1(SIN2048_DATA); Oscil <SIN2048_NUM_CELLS, AUDIO_RATE> aSin2(SIN2048_DATA); Oscil <SIN2048_NUM_CELLS, AUDIO_RATE> aSin3(SIN2048_DATA); void setup(){ // start Serial port for debugging DEBUG_BEGIN(115200); // initialize SX1278 int state = lora.begin(); DEBUG_PRINTLN(state); // set LoRa bandwidth state = lora.setBandwidth(250); DEBUG_PRINTLN(state); // set interrupt action lora.setDio0Action(setFlag); // start listening for LoRa transmissions lora.startReceive(); // start Mozzi startMozzi(CONTROL_RATE); // set echo cells kDelay.set(echo_cells_1); } // flag to indicate that a packet was received volatile bool receivedFlag = false; // disable interrupt when it's not needed volatile bool enableInterrupt = true; void setFlag(void) { // check if the interrupt is enabled if(!enableInterrupt) { return; } // we got a packet, set the flag receivedFlag = true; } void updateControl(){ // check if packet was received if(receivedFlag) { // disable the interrupt service routine while processing the data enableInterrupt = false; // reset flag receivedFlag = false; // read packet and update RSSI reading String str; lora.readData(str); // get raw RSSI value int rssiRaw = lora.lastPacketRSSI; // map raw RSSI value to frequency range int rssiMapped = map(rssiRaw, RSSI_LOW, RSSI_HIGH, FREQ_LOW, FREQ_HIGH); // filter frequency value float freqFiltered = kAverage.next(rssiMapped); // print RSSI values for debugging DEBUG_PRINT(rssiRaw); DEBUG_PRINT('\t'); DEBUG_PRINT(rssiMapped); DEBUG_PRINT('\t'); DEBUG_PRINTLN(freqFiltered); // set new frequency aSin0.setFreq(freqFiltered); aSin1.setFreq(kDelay.next(freqFiltered)); aSin2.setFreq(kDelay.read(echo_cells_2)); aSin3.setFreq(kDelay.read(echo_cells_3)); // enable interrupt again enableInterrupt = true; } } int updateAudio(){ return 3 * ((int)aSin0.next() + aSin1.next() + (aSin2.next() >> 1) + (aSin3.next() >> 2)) >> 3; } void loop(){ audioHook(); }
Cognitum (‘Razor clam’)
Uses the Detuned Beats Wash (Mozzi) synth
// include all libraries #include <LoRaLib.h> #include <MozziGuts.h> #include <Oscil.h> #include <tables/cos8192_int8.h> #include <mozzi_rand.h> #include <mozzi_midi.h> #include <mozzi_fixmath.h> #include <RollingAverage.h> // uncomment the following line for debug output // NOTE: debug output will slow down Arduino! //#define DEBUG #ifdef DEBUG #define DEBUG_BEGIN(x) Serial.begin (x) #define DEBUG_PRINT(x) Serial.print (x) #define DEBUG_PRINT_DEC(x) Serial.print (x, DEC) #define DEBUG_PRINT_HEX(x) Serial.print (x, HEX) #define DEBUG_PRINTLN(x) Serial.println (x) #define DEBUG_PRINT_STR(x) Serial.print (F(x)) #define DEBUG_PRINTLN_STR(x) Serial.println (F(x)) #else #define DEBUG_BEGIN(x) #define DEBUG_PRINT(x) #define DEBUG_PRINT_DEC(x) #define DEBUG_PRINT_HEX(x) #define DEBUG_PRINTLN(x) #define DEBUG_PRINT_STR(x) #define DEBUG_PRINTLN_STR(x) #endif // Mozzi control rate in Hz #define CONTROL_RATE 512 // RSSI range bounds #define RSSI_LOW -60 #define RSSI_HIGH -30 // freqency range bounds in Hz #define FREQ_LOW 0 #define FREQ_HIGH 1000 // SX1278 object instance SX1278 lora = new LoRa; // rolling average filter RollingAverage <float, 32> kAverage; // harmonics Oscil<COS8192_NUM_CELLS, AUDIO_RATE> aCos1(COS8192_DATA); Oscil<COS8192_NUM_CELLS, AUDIO_RATE> aCos2(COS8192_DATA); Oscil<COS8192_NUM_CELLS, AUDIO_RATE> aCos3(COS8192_DATA); Oscil<COS8192_NUM_CELLS, AUDIO_RATE> aCos4(COS8192_DATA); Oscil<COS8192_NUM_CELLS, AUDIO_RATE> aCos5(COS8192_DATA); Oscil<COS8192_NUM_CELLS, AUDIO_RATE> aCos6(COS8192_DATA); Oscil<COS8192_NUM_CELLS, AUDIO_RATE> aCos7(COS8192_DATA); // duplicates but slightly off frequency for adding to originals Oscil<COS8192_NUM_CELLS, AUDIO_RATE> aCos1b(COS8192_DATA); Oscil<COS8192_NUM_CELLS, AUDIO_RATE> aCos2b(COS8192_DATA); Oscil<COS8192_NUM_CELLS, AUDIO_RATE> aCos3b(COS8192_DATA); Oscil<COS8192_NUM_CELLS, AUDIO_RATE> aCos4b(COS8192_DATA); Oscil<COS8192_NUM_CELLS, AUDIO_RATE> aCos5b(COS8192_DATA); Oscil<COS8192_NUM_CELLS, AUDIO_RATE> aCos6b(COS8192_DATA); Oscil<COS8192_NUM_CELLS, AUDIO_RATE> aCos7b(COS8192_DATA); // base pitch frequencies in 24n8 fixed int format (for speed later) Q16n16 f1,f2,f3,f4,f5,f6,f7; Q16n16 variation() { // 32 random bits & with 524287 (b111 1111 1111 1111 1111) // gives between 0-8 in Q16n16 format return (Q16n16) (xorshift96() & 524287UL); } void setup(){ // start Serial port for debugging DEBUG_BEGIN(115200); // initialize SX1278 int state = lora.begin(); DEBUG_PRINTLN(state); // set LoRa bandwidth state = lora.setBandwidth(250); DEBUG_PRINTLN(state); // set interrupt action lora.setDio0Action(setFlag); // start listening for LoRa transmissions lora.startReceive(); // start Mozzi startMozzi(CONTROL_RATE); // select base frequencies using mtof (midi to freq) and fixed-point numbers f1 = Q16n16_mtof(Q16n0_to_Q16n16(48)); f2 = Q16n16_mtof(Q16n0_to_Q16n16(74)); f3 = Q16n16_mtof(Q16n0_to_Q16n16(64)); f4 = Q16n16_mtof(Q16n0_to_Q16n16(77)); f5 = Q16n16_mtof(Q16n0_to_Q16n16(67)); f6 = Q16n16_mtof(Q16n0_to_Q16n16(57)); f7 = Q16n16_mtof(Q16n0_to_Q16n16(60)); // set Oscils with chosen frequencies aCos1.setFreq_Q16n16(f1); aCos2.setFreq_Q16n16(f2); aCos3.setFreq_Q16n16(f3); aCos4.setFreq_Q16n16(f4); aCos5.setFreq_Q16n16(f5); aCos6.setFreq_Q16n16(f6); aCos7.setFreq_Q16n16(f7); // set frequencies of duplicate oscillators aCos1b.setFreq_Q16n16(f1 + variation()); aCos2b.setFreq_Q16n16(f2 + variation()); aCos3b.setFreq_Q16n16(f3 + variation()); aCos4b.setFreq_Q16n16(f4 + variation()); aCos5b.setFreq_Q16n16(f5 + variation()); aCos6b.setFreq_Q16n16(f6 + variation()); aCos7b.setFreq_Q16n16(f7 + variation()); } // flag to indicate that a packet was received volatile bool receivedFlag = false; // disable interrupt when it's not needed volatile bool enableInterrupt = true; void setFlag(void) { // check if the interrupt is enabled if(!enableInterrupt) { return; } // we got a packet, set the flag receivedFlag = true; } void updateControl(){ // check if packet was received if(receivedFlag) { // disable the interrupt service routine while processing the data enableInterrupt = false; // reset flag receivedFlag = false; // read packet and update RSSI reading String str; lora.readData(str); // get raw RSSI value int rssiRaw = lora.lastPacketRSSI; // map raw RSSI value to frequency range int rssiMapped = map(rssiRaw, RSSI_LOW, RSSI_HIGH, FREQ_LOW, FREQ_HIGH); // filter frequency value float freqFiltered = kAverage.next(rssiMapped); // print RSSI values for debugging DEBUG_PRINT(rssiRaw); DEBUG_PRINT('\t'); DEBUG_PRINT(rssiMapped); DEBUG_PRINT('\t'); DEBUG_PRINTLN(freqFiltered); // change frequencies of the b oscillators switch(lowByte(xorshift96()) & 7) { case 0: aCos1b.setFreq_Q16n16(f1 + float_to_Q16n16(freqFiltered) + variation()); break; case 1: aCos2b.setFreq_Q16n16(f2 + float_to_Q16n16(freqFiltered) + variation()); break; case 2: aCos3b.setFreq_Q16n16(f3 + float_to_Q16n16(freqFiltered) + variation()); break; case 3: aCos4b.setFreq_Q16n16(f4 + float_to_Q16n16(freqFiltered) + variation()); break; case 4: aCos5b.setFreq_Q16n16(f5 + float_to_Q16n16(freqFiltered) + variation()); break; case 5: aCos6b.setFreq_Q16n16(f6 + float_to_Q16n16(freqFiltered) + variation()); break; case 6: aCos7b.setFreq_Q16n16(f7 + float_to_Q16n16(freqFiltered) + variation()); break; } // enable interrupt again enableInterrupt = true; } } int updateAudio(){ int asig = aCos1.next() + aCos1b.next() + aCos2.next() + aCos2b.next() + aCos3.next() + aCos3b.next() + aCos4.next() + aCos4b.next() + aCos5.next() + aCos5b.next() + aCos6.next() + aCos6b.next() + aCos7.next() + aCos7b.next(); return asig >> 3; } void loop(){ audioHook(); }
Undarum (‘Wide shell’)
Uses the Knob Light (Mozzi) synth
// include all libraries #include <LoRaLib.h> #include <MozziGuts.h> #include <Oscil.h> #include <tables/cos2048_int8.h> #include <RollingAverage.h> // uncomment the following line for debug output // NOTE: debug output will slow down Arduino! //#define DEBUG #ifdef DEBUG #define DEBUG_BEGIN(x) Serial.begin (x) #define DEBUG_PRINT(x) Serial.print (x) #define DEBUG_PRINT_DEC(x) Serial.print (x, DEC) #define DEBUG_PRINT_HEX(x) Serial.print (x, HEX) #define DEBUG_PRINTLN(x) Serial.println (x) #define DEBUG_PRINT_STR(x) Serial.print (F(x)) #define DEBUG_PRINTLN_STR(x) Serial.println (F(x)) #else #define DEBUG_BEGIN(x) #define DEBUG_PRINT(x) #define DEBUG_PRINT_DEC(x) #define DEBUG_PRINT_HEX(x) #define DEBUG_PRINTLN(x) #define DEBUG_PRINT_STR(x) #define DEBUG_PRINTLN_STR(x) #endif // Mozzi control rate in Hz #define CONTROL_RATE 512 // RSSI range bounds #define RSSI_LOW -60 #define RSSI_HIGH -30 // freqency range bounds in Hz #define FREQ_LOW 400 #define FREQ_HIGH 800 // SX1278 object instance SX1278 lora = new LoRa; // rolling average filter RollingAverage <float, 32> kAverage; // Mozzi oscillators Oscil<COS2048_NUM_CELLS, AUDIO_RATE> aCarrier(COS2048_DATA); Oscil<COS2048_NUM_CELLS, AUDIO_RATE> aModulator(COS2048_DATA); // harmonics int mod_ratio = 3; // carries control info from updateControl() to updateAudio() long fm_intensity; void setup(){ // start Serial port for debugging DEBUG_BEGIN(115200); // initialize SX1278 int state = lora.begin(); DEBUG_PRINTLN(state); // set LoRa bandwidth state = lora.setBandwidth(250); DEBUG_PRINTLN(state); // set interrupt action lora.setDio0Action(setFlag); // start listening for LoRa transmissions lora.startReceive(); // start Mozzi startMozzi(CONTROL_RATE); } // flag to indicate that a packet was received volatile bool receivedFlag = false; // disable interrupt when it's not needed volatile bool enableInterrupt = true; void setFlag(void) { // check if the interrupt is enabled if(!enableInterrupt) { return; } // we got a packet, set the flag receivedFlag = true; } void updateControl(){ // check if packet was received if(receivedFlag) { // disable the interrupt service routine while processing the data enableInterrupt = false; // reset flag receivedFlag = false; // read packet and update RSSI reading String str; lora.readData(str); // get raw RSSI value int rssiRaw = lora.lastPacketRSSI; // map raw RSSI value to frequency range int rssiMapped = map(rssiRaw, RSSI_LOW, RSSI_HIGH, FREQ_LOW, FREQ_HIGH); // filter frequency value float freqFiltered = kAverage.next(rssiMapped); // print RSSI values for debugging DEBUG_PRINT(rssiRaw); DEBUG_PRINT('\t'); DEBUG_PRINT(rssiMapped); DEBUG_PRINT('\t'); DEBUG_PRINTLN(freqFiltered); // set new frequency aCarrier.setFreq(freqFiltered); aModulator.setFreq(freqFiltered * mod_ratio); fm_intensity = freqFiltered; // enable interrupt again enableInterrupt = true; } } int updateAudio(){ long modulation = fm_intensity * aModulator.next(); return aCarrier.phMod(modulation); } void loop(){ audioHook(); }
Marginis (‘Shape 4’)
Uses the Sine Wave Pulse (Mozzi) synth
// include all libraries #include <LoRaLib.h> #include <MozziGuts.h> #include <Oscil.h> #include <tables/sin2048_int8.h> #include <Smooth.h> #include <RollingAverage.h> // uncomment the following line for debug output // NOTE: debug output will slow down Arduino! //#define DEBUG #ifdef DEBUG #define DEBUG_BEGIN(x) Serial.begin (x) #define DEBUG_PRINT(x) Serial.print (x) #define DEBUG_PRINT_DEC(x) Serial.print (x, DEC) #define DEBUG_PRINT_HEX(x) Serial.print (x, HEX) #define DEBUG_PRINTLN(x) Serial.println (x) #define DEBUG_PRINT_STR(x) Serial.print (F(x)) #define DEBUG_PRINTLN_STR(x) Serial.println (F(x)) #else #define DEBUG_BEGIN(x) #define DEBUG_PRINT(x) #define DEBUG_PRINT_DEC(x) #define DEBUG_PRINT_HEX(x) #define DEBUG_PRINTLN(x) #define DEBUG_PRINT_STR(x) #define DEBUG_PRINTLN_STR(x) #endif // Mozzi control rate in Hz #define CONTROL_RATE 512 // RSSI range bounds #define RSSI_LOW -60 #define RSSI_HIGH -30 // freqency range bounds in Hz #define FREQ_LOW 400 #define FREQ_HIGH 800 // SX1278 object instance SX1278 lora = new LoRa; // rolling average filter RollingAverage <float, 32> kAverage; // Mozzi sine oscillator Oscil <SIN2048_NUM_CELLS, AUDIO_RATE> aSin(SIN2048_DATA); // target gain for smoothing, toggle between 255/0 byte gain = 0; // Smoothing filter, higher number = smoother output Smooth <long> aSmoothGain(0.9995); void setup() { // start Serial port for debugging DEBUG_BEGIN(115200); // initialize SX1278 int state = lora.begin(); DEBUG_PRINTLN(state); // set LoRa bandwidth state = lora.setBandwidth(250); DEBUG_PRINTLN(state); // set interrupt action lora.setDio0Action(setFlag); // start listening for LoRa transmissions lora.startReceive(); // start Mozzi startMozzi(CONTROL_RATE); // set output frequency to the lowest value aSin.setFreq(FREQ_LOW); } // flag to indicate that a packet was received volatile bool receivedFlag = false; // disable interrupt when it's not needed volatile bool enableInterrupt = true; void setFlag(void) { // check if the interrupt is enabled if(!enableInterrupt) { return; } // we got a packet, set the flag receivedFlag = true; } // variable to save starting timestamp unsigned long start = 0; // delay length in microseconds unsigned long delayMicros = FREQ_LOW * 1000; void updateControl() { // check if packet was received if(receivedFlag) { // disable the interrupt service routine while processing the data enableInterrupt = false; // reset flag receivedFlag = false; // read packet and update RSSI reading String str; lora.readData(str); // get raw RSSI value int rssiRaw = lora.lastPacketRSSI; // map raw RSSI value to frequency range int rssiMapped = map(rssiRaw, RSSI_LOW, RSSI_HIGH, FREQ_LOW, FREQ_HIGH); // filter frequency value float freqFiltered = kAverage.next(rssiMapped); // print RSSI values for debugging DEBUG_PRINT(rssiRaw); DEBUG_PRINT('\t'); DEBUG_PRINT(rssiMapped); DEBUG_PRINT('\t'); DEBUG_PRINTLN(freqFiltered); // set new frequency aSin.setFreq(freqFiltered); // set new delay length delayMicros = (FREQ_HIGH - freqFiltered) * 1000; // check if it's time to pulse if(mozziMicros() - start >= delayMicros) { // save current time start = mozziMicros(); // flip 0/255 gain = 255 - gain; } // enable interrupt again enableInterrupt = true; } } int updateAudio(){ return (aSmoothGain.next(gain) * aSin.next()) >> 8 ; } void loop() { audioHook(); }
And the code for the transmitter, which links the four Space Rocks together.
// include library #include <LoRaLib.h> // SX1278 object instance SX1278 lora = new LoRa; void setup() { // start Serial port for debugging Serial.begin(115200); // initialize SX1278 Serial.println(lora.begin()); // set LoRa bandwidth Serial.println(lora.setBandwidth(250)); // set output power to limit jamming Serial.println(lora.setOutputPower(5)); } void loop() { // transmit packets as fast as we can lora.transmit("WeAreHere"); }
Painted and mounted Space Rocks
Stands for the Rocks
Some photos of the newly-milled and engraved wooden stands for each of the Space Rocks.
Catalogue
The printed copies of the catalogue have now arrived.
Plinths
Working with the dimensions of the tops of the plinths for display.
ex-XBees
So…it seems that the combination of XBee RSSI data and the Mozzi synth can only produce intermittent or pulsing sound and doesn’t allow for constant tones, as witnessed by the following video demos. All the data that has to be sent from Arduino to the XBee in order to get it to send and receive packets is causing the audio to stutter.
To get the tones required for the final piece, the circuits will need to be created using SX1278 LoRa modules instead. These will connect the four Space Rocks via an additional transmitter, and based around this circuit:
This should guarantee that the Mozzi synths can play continuous tones rather than interrupted pulses. Although I’ll now need to find a way to fit 4+” 433MHz antennaes into the Space Rocks too.
