3d model – Test 1

Just an attempt at my 3d model that I have in my head for this project.

Issues

I have been having a nightmare getting software to work at home, and in the university labs, but finally I think I’ve cracked it. After about 20 hours of researching and going around in circles, I think that I’ll be able to produce a good final sound project with my Wii controllers, connected to OSCulator which converts the signals to Midi, and then sends that information to Ableton Live.

 I know that OSCulator works on the university mac’s in the labs, now all I need is Ableton Live re-installed (systems gets wiped ever week), then I can start mapping the Midi to functions in Ableton.

Final issue then is that the labs will only have the demo version, which means – NO SAVES.

Hopefully the setup won’t take very long, and maybe I’ll be able to sort something out at home, so I could load a file for the presentation.

Augmented Examples

 After a productive meeting with Shaun I have started experimenting by augmenting over still images. The images are acctually from the footage I plan to fully augment over for my production piece.

Here are my 4 examples:

Update

Sticking to using the Wii controller for my final sound project and final year project I have discovered that:

 I have 3 means available for allowing my 2 Wii controllers to communicate with Flash.

 FlashServer (allows bidirectional communication between MaxMSP and Flash)

http://www.nullmedium.de/dev/flashserver/

 Wii Remote API (flash api)

http://labs.wiicade.com/remote/docs.html

Glove Pie and FWiidom

http://www.fwiidom.org/?page_id=10

At the moment

MaxMSP allows both controllers to be paired but the flashserver software is currently not installed on the university mac labs.  (MAC)

My PC at home does not pair the devices for MaxMSP

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The Flash API works on my PC and MAC laptop, however I’ve currently only been able to connect 1 Wii controller, and the data transfer rate seems poor. Also only half of the buttons are mapped correctly.

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Glove Pie and FWiidom does work on my PC at home, but again currently with only 1 controller, and with poor transfer rate. At least all the buttons are mapped.

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…..

Sound Assignment 2

For our second sound assignment the task is to make an application that either creates/generates, transforms, controls sound or to make/integrate an interface and interact with sound dynamically.Due to the Wii controller being a major part in my Final Year Project, I felt that the experience I could gain from this assignment might help me further down the road.  For this assignment we had to use MaxMSP as a major part of the project. In order to get the Wii controllers working with MaxMSP you will need the Wii object for MaxMSP.(aka.wiiremote for the mac) (tk.wii for the pc)Once this object has been loaded into MaxMSP (not run-time) you will be able to open the help file which will eventually allow you connect to your Wii.Note: For the Mac I did not require an extra bluetooth 2.0 dongle, the standard bluetooth service will be sufficient. Once I was able to get measurable inputs, I just needed to link that action directly to sound manipulation. I used two different types of sample patches from the examples in MaxMSP and cannibalized them to my needs. I was able to link 1 axis to the pitch, and another to the tempo of a long sample. This long sample also activated the vibrate in mirroring the standard 4/4 beat. The Wii lights activated due to the tilt amount. The directional button controls if the long looop was i full mode, or half loop mode. One button simply placed a second sample (like a scratchin sound)Video and Downloads to come……     

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’