How did we track the crossfader during the Art Hack Day?!? ZOMG!! So many questions!

The answer is very simple! We used a VCA Mixer. Specifically the Vestax PMC-07 Pro. Because you know… we’re pro like that.

I hear you asking now, “But, sir! WTF is a VCA Mixer?!?!”

Well, I’m glad you asked. Allow me to explain: VCA or Voltage Controlled Amplifier means that instead of sending the audio signal to the crossfader the mixer instead sends a voltage which in turn controls the volume level for each channel. This makes determining the position of the fader very easy; simply measure the voltage for each channel.

Go team awesome!

Yes, I hear you. You’re wondering, “That’s all well and good, but how am I supposed to hook it all up?!?”

Here I drew you a picture too!

CLICK TO EMBIGGEN

  How did we track the crossfader during the Art Hack Day?!? ZOMG!! So many questions! The answer is very simple! We used a VCA Mixer. Specifically the Vestax PMC-07 Pro. Because you know... we're pro like that. I hear you asking now, "But, sir! WTF is a VCA Mixer?!?!" Well, I'm glad you asked. Allow me to explain: VCA or Voltage Controlled Amplifier means that instead of sending the audio signal to the crossfader the mixer instead sends a voltage which in turn controls the volume level for each channel. This makes determining the position of the fader very easy; simply measure the voltage for each channel. In the case of the PMC-07 Pro the voltage that is sent to the crossfader is 10V DC. We used an Arduino Uno to monitor the voltage. It maxes out at 5V. Not wanting to explode the Arduino with 10V we used a simple voltage divider on each channel utilizing two (four total) 1 megaohm resistors. We would have been a lot better off using 100 kilohm resistors. Using an opamp would have been even more betterer but... we didn't have any of those. Because we're so damn pro and didn't have any of the parts to make a proper Y cable we just soldered everything to the crossfader. Go team awesome!   Yes, I hear you. You're wondering, "That's all well and good, but how am I supposed to hook it all up?!?"   Simple! Follow these amazeball instructions. The PMC-07 Pro uses a 4 pin connector on the crossfader. The outside pins are power and ground the middle pins are for the channels. Use a volt meter to determine which pin is power and which pin is ground. Plug ground into one of the ground pins on the Arduino and the two center pins from the fader through a voltage divider and into two analog pins on the Arduino. We used A0 and A1. You do not need to hook anything up to the 10V power pin on the mixer. Got it?   Here I drew you a picture too! CLICK TO EMBIGGEN The Arduino sketch we used can be found here. In summation here is a list of items you must procure to do this: Vestax PMC-07 Pro mixer (Any VCA mixer will do, just drop the voltage to 5V or less.) Four 100 kilohm resistors An Arduino A proper Y cable for the PMC-07 Pro. Instructable for building it is here Arduino sketch found here Build your Y cable. Make a couple voltage dividers. Hook it up like the picture above and BLAMO! #Pro-Tip: Elliot Marx informed me that if you use an Innofader (the origional, not the Pro or PNP) it will limit the VCA voltages of the PMC-07 Pro to 5V eliminating the need for the voltage dividers. Wire colors for the Innofader are as follows: Blue = 5V Green = VCA1 (varies from 0 to 5 volts) Yellow = VCA2 (varies from 5 to 0 volts, moves opposite from VCA1) Grey = ground Thank you Elliot!  

SML (Scratch Markup Language) is a new file format for recording and replaying turntablism. We’ve developed open-source tools for accurately capturing the record and crossfader movements of a scratch DJ, allowing us to analyze, transcribe, and recreate scratch performances.

We want to do for turntablism what Graffiti Markup Language has done for tagging — especially teaching giant robot arms how to scratch.

At Art Hack Day we collaborated with other artists and programmers to develop the first prototypes of ScratchML. We used timecode vinyl to capture record movements ($10) and a hacked VCA fader + Arduino to record the crossfader ($30).

Scratch data was saved to disk as .sml and broadcast as OSC, which allowed other Art Hack Day participants to build visualizations based on what the DJ was scratching during the exhibition. The apps ranged from spinning-vinyl animations and TTM transcriptions to insane exploding 3D pizzas and a side-scrolling videogame shooter controlled by scratches.

Our goal is to make capturing, replaying, and sharing a scratch performance accurate and easy. SML files can be freely uploaded and downloaded from the ScratchML.com database. We’re particularly looking forward to improving the experience of learning how to scratch — e.g. by building apps that show you just how accurate your autobahn scratches actually are.

Throughout the week here on FAT we’ll be publishing ScratchML projects created during Art Hack Day, data specs, source code, hardware modification details and more.

Want to get involved? Join the ScratchML mailing list, follow us on GitHub, or email me with any questions. More info to come at scratchML.com

More photos here

SML (Scratch Markup Language) is a new file format for recording and replaying turntablism. We've developed open-source tools for accurately capturing the record and crossfader movements of a scratch DJ, allowing us to analyze, transcribe, and recreate scratch performances. We want to do for turntablism what Graffiti Markup Language has done for tagging -- especially teaching giant robot arms how to scratch. At Art Hack Day we collaborated with other artists and programmers to develop the first prototypes of ScratchML. We used timecode vinyl to capture record movements ($10) and a hacked VCA fader + Arduino to record the crossfader ($30). Scratch data was saved to disk as .sml and broadcast as OSC, which allowed other Art Hack Day participants to build visualizations based on what the DJ was scratching during the exhibition. The apps ranged from spinning-vinyl animations and TTM transcriptions to insane exploding 3D pizzas and a side-scrolling videogame shooter controlled by scratches. Our goal is to make capturing, replaying, and sharing a scratch performance accurate and easy. SML files can be freely uploaded and downloaded from the ScratchML.com database. We're particularly looking forward to improving the experience of learning how to scratch -- e.g. by building apps that show you just how accurate your autobahn scratches actually are. Throughout the week here on FAT we'll be publishing ScratchML projects created during Art Hack Day, data specs, source code, hardware modification details and more. Want to get involved? Join the ScratchML mailing list, follow us on GitHub, or email me with any questions. More info to come at scratchML.com More photos here

In the midst of Fucking Google all week long, my new computer finally arrived (took them a month to ship it – fuck that!). It occurred to me that I should share some of the lust that we’ve been slathering on The Goog with her prettier older sister, Apple, who, as we all know, has more bangin’ hardware. Anyways, what follows is a very special unboxing, screencast and screencaptured live for your viewing pleasure.

BTW, if you’re in Berlin at Transmediale checking out the FUCK GOOGLE installation, look for this video right above the G-Hole (pictured below):

In the midst of Fucking Google all week long, my new computer finally arrived (took them a month to ship it - fuck that!). It occurred to me that I should share some of the lust that we've been slathering on The Goog with her prettier older sister, Apple, who, as we all know, has more bangin' hardware. Anyways, what follows is a very special unboxing, screencast and screencaptured live for your viewing pleasure. BTW, if you're in Berlin at Transmediale checking out the FUCK GOOGLE installation, look for this video right above the G-Hole (pictured below):

Michael, over at GRL Utah (yes, the G.R.L. hand extends deep into the mountains of Utah), has updated with the long anticipated One Laser Tag Per Child. This DIY system brings the Laser Tag CPU cost to down around $200 USD, and as always the software is free. Peep the tutorial here.

Michael, over at GRL Utah (yes, the G.R.L. hand extends deep into the mountains of Utah), has updated with the long anticipated One Laser Tag Per Child. This DIY system brings the Laser Tag CPU cost to down around $200 USD, and as always the software is free. Peep the tutorial here.

Double your productivity by connecting a single keyboard to two computers.

This is a follow up to the Double Mouse project I did a while back. I finally completed the keyboard version for an upcoming exhibition here in Hong Kong (more on that soon).

Peep the project page and How To page on instructables.

via: evan-roth.com

Double your productivity by connecting a single keyboard to two computers. This is a follow up to the Double Mouse project I did a while back. I finally completed the keyboard version for an upcoming exhibition here in Hong Kong (more on that soon). Peep the project page and How To page on instructables. via: evan-roth.com

I finally got around to putting my breathalyzer microphone online. Check out the full step-by-step instructions.

From the description:

The breathalyzer microphone is a system for the inconscpicuous collection of blood-alcohol content level data sets. In other words, you can measure a person’s sobriety with a device, that for all intents and purposes, looks no different than a standard microphone.

I finally got around to putting my breathalyzer microphone online. Check out the full step-by-step instructions. From the description: The breathalyzer microphone is a system for the inconscpicuous collection of blood-alcohol content level data sets. In other words, you can measure a person's sobriety with a device, that for all intents and purposes, looks no different than a standard microphone.

I’ve been working with Leah Buechley’s LilyPad Arduino, and in true embroidery sampler fashion, have composed this circuit to see what I could do. The embroidery uses traditional floss and techniques mixed with lights and sounds generated by the onboard software. The amount of light sensed by the sensor changes the speed and pitch of the lights and sounds generated. Move your shadow or hand over it to experience the changes. Upcoming will be an exciting collaboration with Collin Cunningham to make it make more interesting sound. For the time being the circuit is open source inasmuch as the traces are visible on the surface of the embroidery. This piece narrowly evaded being lost in my luggage on the return flight from Maker Faire; at the last minute I decided to carry it on. More info is back at Sternlab.

I've been working with Leah Buechley's LilyPad Arduino, and in true embroidery sampler fashion, have composed this circuit to see what I could do. The embroidery uses traditional floss and techniques mixed with lights and sounds generated by the onboard software. The amount of light sensed by the sensor changes the speed and pitch of the lights and sounds generated. Move your shadow or hand over it to experience the changes. Upcoming will be an exciting collaboration with Collin Cunningham to make it make more interesting sound. For the time being the circuit is open source inasmuch as the traces are visible on the surface of the embroidery. This piece narrowly evaded being lost in my luggage on the return flight from Maker Faire; at the last minute I decided to carry it on. More info is back at Sternlab.