Published November 11, 2020

Synth-O-Matic

A microcontroller panel controlled synthesizer.

BeginnerFull instructions provided2 hours223

Things used in this project

Hardware components

Adafruit Circuit Playground Express

Alligator Clips

Software apps and online services

Microsoft MakeCode

Story

For my sensory intervention project I decided to make an instrument that also uses light to create an interplay of space, light, and sound. I call it the synth-o-matic, and it's a monophonic synthesizer. What makes it unique is how it requires the user to move over a greater range of motion compared to a normal keyboard synthesizer. Typically with a keyboard a player moves fingers, wrists, and elbows but I used larger spread out perpendicular panels to involve more shoulder and waist movement.

The project also uses light to create an interplay of sound and sight. While it only works effectively in dark environments, each key corresponds to a particular note and color. After the note ends a specific light shows, which should create a spatial relation between both the sound and color and where the key is located on the synthesizer.

Build testing and testing it on roommate.

To create, I took a cardboard box and cut off one of the top flaps and tapped down the other three to make a flat surface with a hole in the center. I took 6 strips of aluminum foil and wrapped them around the hole and taped them down.

Foil wrapped around perimeter

I then attached the microcontroller to the back of the box with Velcro and attached the alligator claps to the corresponding pins.

CPX attached

The other end of the clamps were then attached to the foil on the underside of the synth.

Clamp attached to foil

Finally the battery is attached with Velcro on the opposite side of the CPX

Battery attached

Synth Code

input.pinA6.onEvent(ButtonEvent.Down, function () {
    music.playTone(262, music.beat(BeatFraction.Whole))
    light.setAll(0xff0000)
})
input.pinA6.onEvent(ButtonEvent.Up, function () {
    music.stopAllSounds()
    light.clear()
})
input.pinA5.onEvent(ButtonEvent.Down, function () {
    music.playTone(294, music.beat(BeatFraction.Whole))
    light.setAll(0xff8000)
})
input.pinA5.onEvent(ButtonEvent.Up, function () {
    music.stopAllSounds()
    light.clear()
})
input.pinA4.onEvent(ButtonEvent.Down, function () {
    music.playTone(330, music.beat(BeatFraction.Whole))
    light.setAll(0xffff00)
})
input.pinA4.onEvent(ButtonEvent.Up, function () {
    music.stopAllSounds()
    light.clear()
})
input.pinA3.onEvent(ButtonEvent.Down, function () {
    music.playTone(349, music.beat(BeatFraction.Whole))
    light.setAll(0x00ff00)
})
input.pinA3.onEvent(ButtonEvent.Up, function () {
    music.stopAllSounds()
    light.clear()
})
input.pinA2.onEvent(ButtonEvent.Up, function () {
    music.stopAllSounds()
    light.clear()
})
input.pinA2.onEvent(ButtonEvent.Down, function () {
    music.playTone(392, music.beat(BeatFraction.Whole))
    light.setAll(0x0000ff)
})
input.pinA1.onEvent(ButtonEvent.Down, function () {
    music.playTone(440, music.beat(BeatFraction.Whole))
    light.setAll(0x7f00ff)
})
input.pinA1.onEvent(ButtonEvent.Up, function () {
    music.stopAllSounds()
    light.clear()
})
music.setVolume(255)
music.setTempo(120)

Synth-O-Matic

Things used in this project

Hardware components

Software apps and online services

Story

Code

Synth Code

Credits

Raymond Boysel

Comments

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Synth-O-Matic

Synth-O-Matic

Things used in this project

Hardware components

Software apps and online services

Story

Code

Synth Code

Credits

Raymond Boysel

Comments

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