A grid used to send data to a plugin to play different notes in a sequence
Download and Record own samples
Download own sounds from internet or record your own to use in the synthesizer
FM Synthesis
A form of audio synthesis where the timbre of a simple waveform (such as a square, triangle, or saw tooth) is changed by modulating its frequency with a modulator frequency that is also in the same or similar audio range, resulting in a more complex waveform and a different-sounding tone that can also be described as "gritty" if it is a thick and dark timbre.
Management Plan: Tasks and Responsibilities done by both Sasha and Conrad:
Choose which functions to focus on
Piano roll
FM synthesis
record/download samples
Code synth
Use tutorials- Max 74
Help from mentor
Learn how to use a polyphonic synth
Youtube help
Add other features (recording, downloading, etc.)
Test by letting people try it, then make changes
Students, teachers, experienced musicians etc.
Finalize product
Minor/Major deadlines:
53 days left of class!
Day 3 chosen functions
Day 25 coded synth
Day 35 added features
Day 40 tested synth
Day 50 revisions and finalize
Questions to ask mentor:
Easiest way to code?
About polysonic synth
What will makes ours successful?
Additions to synth ?
Daily progress:
(2/27) We went over basics of using a midi and tried to figure out how to code on the computer to make synth polyphonic. We watched some videos and were able to code the midi in Max 7 so that it was polyphonic.
(3/01) We worked on creating new sounds using the online midi and tried coding new things to see what we got. We looked at more video tutorials to see the variety of things we can code.
(3/02) Using the midi and Max 7, we worked on coding the synthesizer so that every time we pressed a piano key, a different sound would play, rather than the same sound for every key.
(3/05) Computer broke down, looks like project will be delayed.
(3/06) Worked on decision Matrix.
(3/08) We chose to focus on recording and downloading songs, using a piano roll, and FM synthesis. We looked up how exactly to incorporate the three.
(3/09) Started working on midi receiver for drums so when midi is activated it plays a sample.
(3/12) Completed polyphonic synth: organized code that can produce any amount of notes at any time.
(3/13) Tried coding it ourselves, starting with coding each individual sound and then added them all together.
(3/15) Created working synth that could play any file from a list of default samples from max.
(3/16) Created a working synth where if a specific key is hit, a specific drum plays.
(3/19) Brainstormed experiment that we could use to test synth.
(3/20) We figured out a purpose, question, and hypothesis for our experiment.
(3/22) Started to plan out experiment with steps and materials.
(3/23) Began putting experiment into action.
(3/26) Focused on updating websites with all the newest information.
(3/27) We went through the checklist and gathered all the things that were still needed for my website.
(3/29) We looked back to some of our original ideas and plans to see how far along we have gotten and planned our progress based on our time left.
(3/30) Finalized website updates.
(4/02) Began tackling linking a modifiable filter to an oscillator.
(4/03) Created a monophonic synth with a filter that controls low pass.
(4/05) Began to tackle how to edit filter from completed synth.
(4/06) Began to work on how to link different aspects together (polyphonic synth, drum midi, and filter).
(4/09) Looked up basics of synthesizing and couldn't find much, meaning we can use this to an advantage.
(4/10) Used what information we had and started writing them out in a doc.
(4/12) Added to doc HOW TO CREATE YOUR OWN SONG.
(4/13) Finished basics intro.
(4/16) Updated websites on all recent progress.
(4/17) Started Presentation Step 5
(4/19) Continued with our Presentation
(4/20) Continued with our presentation
(4/23) CHANGE OF PLANS! We decided rather than creating a whole new synth, we can just create a book that breaks down synthesizers and can teach anyone how to use any synthesizer.
(4/24) Changed presentation and worked on handbook
Weekly progress:
3/02 This week, we downloaded Max 7 and brought in a midi to start the coding of our synth. We started by going over the basics of coding and watched youtube tutorials. We wanted to make our synth polyphonic. We also tried creating new sounds from different code we learned online and then finally coded the midi so different buttons would make separate noises.
3/09 This week, we had a minor setback because of computer difficulties. We worked on our decision matrix to figure out what exactly we want to incorporate into our synth. We chose to focus on recording and downloading songs, using a piano roll, and FM synthesis.
3/16 We decided to focus on putting those three concepts into action. We successfully created a six note piano roll, where six different buttons made different sounds. We did this by learning to code certain sounds individually, then hooking each sound up to a certain button on the synth. Then later in the week, we started to think of an experiment that we will be doing next week with our synth. We decided to test how easy it will be to use, by testing it on different people with different experience with synths.
3/23 We focused mainly on how we are going to do the usability experiment and started to put it to action. We figured out a purpose, question, and hypothesis for our experiment. We want to figure out what elements of a synthesizer are easiest to learn and use to create songs. So the main question is, how do we teach students with little or no experience to use a synthesizer? We believe that with a small written instruction manual and our synthesizer design, people will be able to learn the basics of using a synthesizer to create music.
3/30 This week, we focused on getting our websites updated with all new progress being made. I went through the checklist and gathered all the things that were still needed for my website. I also looked back to some of our original ideas and plans to see how far along we have gotten. I learned that our plan has actually changed drastically based on our original idea, and I am very sure that it till continue to change based on new information we gather once our experiments are complete.
4/06 We started working on linking a modifiable filter to an oscillator. We also created a monophonic synth with a filter that controls low pass. Then we researched how to edit the filter of a completed synthesizer. Finally, we worked on how to link different aspects together, such as a polyphonic synth, drum midi, and filter.
4/13 We looked online if there were any already existing simple tutorials on how to use a synthesizer. The ones we found were very complex, and would not make sense to someone with little or no experience. We decided to use this to our advantage and work on making a tutorial to go with our synth. We started putting all knowledge of synthesizers we have into a google doc to start creating this tutorial.
4/20 This week we worked on putting a presentation together for step 5. We added our problem we want to solve, our solution, and some alternate ideas we had. We also added to the tutorial to try and cover all basics of using a synthesizer. We are somewhat worried about creating a whole new synthesizer because then students will be limited to just ours rather than any synthesizer. Step 4 Experiment Write Up: