THE Outline:
Suit design Issues/solutions:
Designs needs to balance form and function:
- Try to balance development of fabric and electronics design stages so they complement each other. Use designs that promote intuitive sound making.
Use manageable staging:
Apply electronics in stages (see below for details)
-Use the mock suit stage to test ideas
- Use minimal electronics at first
- Design the wireless system "as we go" but go with wired until wireless is ready.
Create a cool looking "skin" to be in:
- Blue
- Color accents ( Whatever heather wants to do.)
Sensors and implements need to be interchangeable
(For repairs or change the kinds of devices for different compositions):
- Create pockets that various sensors could be slipped into.
- See the brain dump below for kinds of sensors bobby and I came up with.
- Would there be pockets for the sensors on the suit or mobile pockets that I could slip the sensors into then snap on?
Larger implements will need stronger adhering:
- Stitch Velcro over all the spots where there are implements (including the side of the legs).
Wire runs will go to one point then go to the amp:
- Have a sheath that goes around the INSIDE perimeter of the suit so they are protected. Heather mentioned using "interface" to protect them.
- They will need to run to a point where they gather in back.
- See the attached suit diagrams Bobby sketched. They show ideas on the wiring and wireless design ideas.
- Discuss placement of wireless unit with Bobby (in mid back so the weight is balanced and can't feel it)
- Maybe create a fabric "box' or protected space where the unit and wireless will go and be out of the way.
Gloves are knit fabric that is loose fitting:
- Any solution for an inexpensive glove that we could put some snaps on?
- We discussed using an existing leather pair or making some
- How about a glove that snaps onto the cuff? Made of the suit material?
- Also, how about making right and left mits that effects/surfaces could be snapped into ?
Shoes:
- I have some old school dress shoes that I would like to transform like I he the gloves that I wear.
Design a way to integrate my art designs with the sound compositions:
- Create a snap on light overlay that can be "programmed" to respond to sensors.
- Since his is a bit of a tangent, yet very interesting, I will be trying to think of the simplest thing we could try as a "mock" light thing.
-Let me know if you come up with anything that is very easy to try.
Apply suit structures in stages: (I am just guessing here.
List whatever you think would be efficient)Mock suit stage 1 fabric design structures:
- Internal wire run
-Mock suit stage two fabric design structures:
- Fabric enclosure for wireless pack
-
Effects Design Issues/solutions:
Designs needs to balance form and function:
Organize thinking about electronics into 2 categories of objects:
- Sound making objects - triggers
- Sound processors
- See pictures for Bobby's approaches and advance those ideas to create most efficient designs.
Work on robust wireless system: (list of issues to consider):
- Make sure it has enough memory for good throughput:
- Issue: How to insure good transmission:
- Study you tube video Bobby and I found
- Email the person about how to modify the arduino system to work the way we want it to.
Video:
Contact info:
- Consider a 3-arduino configuration:
1 on the suit
2 the receiver at the computer
3 at the switch box
- Arduino memory configuration (firmware can be changed)
- using arduino with pure data (fermata)
- can xbee transfer firmata data wirelessly?
Apply electronics in stages:
- Use wired system for mock suit and introduces wireless designs as we go.
- integrate wireless as we figure out how to do it! But move forward with everything else
Mock suit stage 1 electronics design structures:
(I am just guessing here. List whatever you think would be efficient)
- contact mics
- flex sensor
- test run wires to back area and run snake to computer
- 1 wired arduino, 2 usb cables to computer.
Mock suit stage 2 electronics design structures:
- Try a proof -of concept simple wireless arduino configuration as a first proof of concept of wireless ideas.
-
Get necessary electronics:
2 Arduino (60)
1 on suit (no firmata-just xbee)
1 receiving arduino (firmata so it can receive info and send it to pd friendly numbers)
2 xbee wireless interface for arduino (60) (possible a Bluetooth version)
9-volt battery holder
Choose Sensors/Triggers:
photo resistor (
flex sensor (15)
Light emitter
Photocells
Create "original" switch box to turn effects on and off:
- See Picture of bobby's switch box as example.
- Use switch type pictured for best "on/off" switching.
List of "effects" we would like to create (as a way of deriving sensors to get):
Approach: choose effects that will go well with intuitive response
Pitch proximity - use light emitter in guitar so incidental movements will result in sound.
- Light emanating from guitar (switch mounted on guitar lends itself to musical off and on motion)
Photocell sewn into knee- light emitting(independent circuit with a flashlight like switch)
Where do I want them?
Do I want a series of them?
Effect 2:
Pressure sensor
Effect 3:
contact mics in series around the suit to pick up fabric sound
- quadraphonic sound for the contact mics
Effect 4
Effect 5:
List of "compositions" we would like to create (as a way of deriving sensors to get):
Contact mic Piece idea:
One on each limb (then the room becomes an extension of your body)
The signal would go through a surround spatialized audio system around the room).
Video composition:
- Small video cameras could be snapped onto the suit and someone could mix the live feeds
Ask Questions to push the design envelope (I don't know what the fuck that means but it sounds good):
- How important is the on off mechanism?
Should I have one on off capability?
Do you just use thresholds for on and off instead?
Light ideas.
Use of shapes. Priority. Create a snap on light overlay.
What to do with wires
What to do with circuit board
Snaps can take camera.
Wires on the inside of the suit! Heather Use interfacing to protect.
Email person bout processor removal from arduino.
Midi. Ideas.
In pd.
Use of midi device
PDF patch for arduino
Frequency to midi
Not married to the guitar
Issue. How to insure good transmission.
Initially do wireless.
Possibly. Use 3 arduino. Suit. Receiver and box.
Workaround. Send from arduino on suit to arduino at computer.
Get arduino link from bobby
Choose box for foot controller
For blog. Create link logic that allows reader to explore the nature of sound
Phase 1. Mock suit with wired arduinos
Phase 2. Heather. Balance between form and function
