Im Scared

To be totally honest, I’m a little worried about my Final Year Project. As it stands I’m going to design an interactive system which uses Wii controllers as an interface to a ‘drumming training’ package.After talking to my project supervisor I know that by simply developing a drumming machine will only get me a 2:2 grade, and that for the higher marks I really need to be able to develop a system that reacts to the drummer, simulating problems that could occur during a live performance. Unfortunately my musical ability, and technical issues I feel I am going to come across are worrying me slightly.At the moment the plan is to use Flashserver 1.0 to allow Max MSP to communicate with Flash.I have started experimenting with this software, but I’m not yet at the stage where data captured in Max MSP is transfered to flash and represented in a visual form. Watch this space!!! 

Interesting…..

Wii drum test – Version 1 – GlovePie

Just testing the first version using GlovePie.

 Theres a few issues with using GlovePie at the moment, the most major one is that the wii’s will play upwards, causing a double sound to occur. Its early stages, but if my ideas going to change slightly towards a more learning process, then I will definatly need a stronger visual guide than GlovePie offers. Yet another reason to futher investigate MaxMSP.

Airsticks

This is Tony displaying the abiliies of the ‘air sticks’

 Overall these were not bad, a good beat was produced, however the sound selections were poor, and the inability to produce more than 2 samples at any given time proved limited. The action was a bit harsh on the wrist, but accurate.

 Sterio or headphone output available.

Good weight Balance

The Real Guitar Hero

 Right, this guy clearly kicks ass, he can play the guitar, but is he the best? Where the score board? How do you mark someone one on their playing abilty? Well, just the same as you would on a ‘lame guitar game.’ Except, instead of using a 5 buttoned guitar, you build the most realisitic one possible, one where you can record the actions of the player, and issue him a mark accordingly.

Try to imagine a Guitar game thats basically a guitar thats wired up to computer. The computer knows exactly whats notes and chords should be played at what time, it displays a visual output to you, to help you with your timing, and chords to be played (like guitar hero) except this isnt a game, is a learning process.

 There seems to be a gap in the music market for virtual e-learning,

 Anyway, try to imaging this kid playing a ‘Real Guitar Hero’ 

Guitar Hero

During my reasearch for project I was lucky enough to be able to play Guitar Hero. As a game it gets 10/10, I was totally hooked from the start, fun factor is through the roof, and can be enjoyed as a group.

 Realism and accuracy wasn”t a design focus when it comes to Guitar Hero, the simple 5 button approach, strummer, and whammy bar offer little variation apart from the speed in which you have to strum or hit the correct 1-3 button combination.

 During my reasearch it was clear that anybody with real guitar ability found this game ‘lame’ or ’stupid.’

People who lacked a musical abilty, or simply did not play the guitar found the game fun and enjoyable, but in no way increased their actual guitar skills, although their desire to learn how to play raised damatically.

This cannot be played ‘on the fly,’ you simply hold the correct buttons and strum the strummer at the correct time, the software then plays the correct sound. If the incorrect buttons are held, and the note played incorrrectly, a noticably incorrect sound will play.

Because Guitar hero is primarily a game, a score system, virtual crowd, co-op play, battle play, online play, online score board is available.

 Online scores and co-op play is a usual aspect of online games, however my idea is starting to switch from a virtual band to a virtual e-learning tool.

 It should be come clearer as I progress……

Wii Drums using GlovePie

This was an experimental look into the capabilities of making a Real Wii Band using GlovePie as the Software behind the drummer.

 

Virtual Instruments and Environments Vs Real?

Wii Band accepted

With the good news that Dan Livingstone (Project Manager) likes my idea, I’ve now purchased 2 Wii controllers, and started experimenting with my Wii drummer application.

After a few days worth of technical issues I can finally use both of my Wii controllers as drum sticks, causing a drum to be played when the controller is ’struck’ and allowing for a different drum sound when buttons are held down and the Wii ’struck’.

The next step is to let the drummer use the application for inital feed back, study and choose one of their songs, then while listening just to that section, choose the sounds to import.

Currently using:
Bluetooth v2.0 allowing for multiple device connections
2 Wii controllers
GlovePie

Terms of reference

Just finished my Terms of Reference, it has to be submitted by the 12th. Im going for the virtual band, it will consist of 3 instruments (drums, lead guitar, and bass guitar) those instruments indivual peices will be stored in the software, and will be networked to each other instrument (so that they will play in time). The Software will visually display to each person when they should be making the appropiate gesture (recorded by Wii controllers).

 This idea will be a continuation from a 20credit module, so it should already be developed to a level.

 Fingers crossed for the idea to get accepted….