HARMONOGRAPH SYNTHESISER

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HARMONOGRAPH SYNTHESISER

Рет қаралды 15,354

4 жыл бұрын

I built an 18th century harmonograph and connected it to a 21st century modular synthesiser.
A harmonograph is an old scientific device that uses pendulums to create illustrations of harmonic motion, called lissajous figures. On this harmonograph each pendulum is connected to a sensor which triggers different elements of the synthesiser so that every time it makes a drawing, it also plays an accompanying synth soundtrack. There's also a contact mic on the drawing board to pick up the sound of the pen.
It uses three pendulums - two connected in a linear way to the pen and one rotary pendulum connected to the drawing board. You set them all swinging, lower the biro pen to the drawing board and let the pendulums run down over a period of about 5 minutes, after which both the unique drawing and soundtrack are complete.
I recorded an album of the first 18 drawings which can be downloaded from my bandcamp page:
lomondcampbell...
You can see the drawings here:
www.lomondcamp...
I used proximity sensors and an Arduino to get the harmonograph talking to the synth. You can find the code, examples of drawings and sounds plus more information about the project on my website:
www.lomondcamp...
I’ll do a making-of video if there’s any interest. Leave a message in the comments if you’d like to see it. In the meantime check out this video of how I connected my turntable to my modular synth as it uses pretty much the same technology:
• HOW TO SEQUENCE YOUR E...
BANDCAMP: lomondcampbell...
INSTAGRAM: / lomond_campbell
TWITTER: / lomondcampbell
WEBSITE: lomondcampbell.com
#harmonograph #arduino #eurorack

Пікірлер: 36

@leticiacervantes5013 6 ай бұрын

I’m just learning about harmonographs. It is truly fascinating. I wanted to better grasp by hearing the actual relationship between the drawing and music. You made it possible!! Thank you!!! From Chile👋🏼

@lomondcampbell3615 6 ай бұрын

Thanks Leticia. All the very best on your harmonograph journey.

@edtrembicki-guy993 4 жыл бұрын

Growing up in the late 60's, we had Spirograph. This is a whole 'nother level!

@nigelsmith7754 4 жыл бұрын

I'm don't see that it 's a whole other level - it looks like the same thing to me - unless you're a big fan of Wilf Lun ;-)

@lucagunther5405 4 жыл бұрын

Yes. Please do a “Making of” video. I love this idea. Found it on a post on MuffWiggler btw. Cheers.

@lomondcampbell3615 4 жыл бұрын

Thanks Luca...I'll get working on a behind the scenes video for you.

@lucagunther5405 3 жыл бұрын

If you drew with graphite, you could incorporate the decrease in resistance across the drawing into a generative synthesizer piece.

@lomondcampbell3615 3 жыл бұрын

Luca Gunther yeah, this could work well. Still haven’t had time to do a making of video by the way but will do soon.

@marcussmithereens-smithert5409 4 жыл бұрын

Here from Hainbach, this is incredibly cool!!

@syhr_samoht 4 жыл бұрын

SAME

@energylab227 Жыл бұрын

Absolutely beautiful. A feast for the eyes and ears.

@lomondcampbell3615 Жыл бұрын

Thanks a lot!

@glitterrazor4405 Жыл бұрын

i love it

@holliemcnish 3 жыл бұрын

It's so flipping beautiful

@lomondcampbell3615 3 жыл бұрын

Cheers Hollie! Let’s stuff some poems in it.

@holliemcnish 3 жыл бұрын

Lomond Ziggy Campbell I genuinely can’t wait!

@electronicgarden3259 3 жыл бұрын

This is so beautiful 🧡 A few years ago I saw someone using a mechanical metronome connected to his modular and I started thinking about making my own version. I'm intrigued by link physical objects with my modular. Either object controlling the modular or the modular controlling objects. Most cool thing would be if they were cross modulating each other.

@lomondcampbell3615 3 жыл бұрын

I think that was maybe me! I used to have another account called WAVNE. I'm not sure if the account still exists. It was quite easy to do the metronome clock thing just by using Mutable Music Things Ears and a contact mic. Yeah, I totally love that modular is basically an open network. It seems to cry out for physical world interaction.

@electronicgarden3259 3 жыл бұрын

@@lomondcampbell3615 It sounds like how I remember it so it could definitely been your channel :) Yeah modular is open like you said. It can be anything you want. As I'm writing this I start to think of some kind of physical feedback, like force feedback in joysticks, vibration motors etc. But I really like things that move slowly as your setup here. And open reel tape recorders, pendulum. I do like the other things on your channel to.

@lomondcampbell3615 3 жыл бұрын

@@electronicgarden3259 you should make some of your ideas. Would be great to see them.

@electronicgarden3259 3 жыл бұрын

@@lomondcampbell3615 Thanks 🙂

@pulplogic 3 жыл бұрын

Wow! This is fantastic.

@lomondcampbell3615 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks!

@sushidub 4 жыл бұрын

Besides the tech I love the attention to the aesthetic. I'd love to know more about the use of copper and and that gimbal type mechanism for the drawing plate. So cool.

@lomondcampbell3615 4 жыл бұрын

Thanks for the comment sushidub. It was built right at the start of lockdown so I had to use materials to hand as no merchants were delivering. The copper is standed 15mm copper plumbing pipe. The gimbal was a basic design made using acrylic and small 5mm bearings. I'm going to publish a making of video soon. Cheers!