I am wanting to do an art installation where I suspend vinyl records from the ceiling.

I have had a look at what I might need hardware-wise I want them to be connected to a touch sensor that will then trigger midi messages to Logic pro. basically send midi messages to mute and un-mute a channel.

I was thinking of having a soundtrack on a loop in logic, then whenever someone knocks one of the vinyl records, it will trigger a midi message to un-mute a track and voila sound will be heard!

Hi there I am a complete novice at this.
I am wanting to do an art installation where I suspend vinyl records from the ceiling.
I have had a look at what I might need hardware-wise I want them to be connected to a touch sensor that will then trigger midi messages to Logic pro. basically send midi messages to mute and un-mute a channel.

I was thinking of having a soundtrack on a loop in logic, then whenever someone knocks one of the vinyl records, it will trigger a midi message to un-mute a track and voila sound will be heard! 

novice

Array of touch sensors to Arduino? Then Ardunio to max, pick a threshold of activity using either the past or > object to open a gate, triggering a poly object filled with sfplay~ hooked to dac~ with at least 2 outputs.

Array of touch sensors to Arduino?  Then Ardunio to max, pick a threshold of activity using either the past or > object to open a gate, triggering a poly object filled with sfplay~ hooked to dac~ with at least 2 outputs.

if you used little piezo mics on each vinyl it would suddenly turn into the easy part ... just need to get hold of a multichannel a/d convertor ...

http://www.makingthings.com/store/sensors/piezo-sensor.html

The sounds have to be pre recorded sounds from my macbook, unless I misunderstand you Tim?

I'm a bit concerned the piezo sensors might be too sensitive or not sensitive enough, can you control things like sensitivity in max?

We had a few lectures with MAX but it always baffled me!

I assume I have to buy some kind of controller box, but I ideally need 20 of these sensors all hooked up to turn a specific multitrack on or off via muting so basically someone can enter the space and by making contact with any combination of the suspended vinyls will trigger various sounds that work together to form a piece if you get me?

hey, thanks for the advice.
I was looking at these piezo sensors

The sounds have to be pre recorded sounds from my macbook, unless I misunderstand you Tim?
I'm a bit concerned the piezo sensors might be too sensitive or not sensitive enough, can you control things like sensitivity in max?

Ah, if you need 20 then the piezo route is not the most efficient, as you would need an a/d convertor with 20 inputs. Perhaps an Arduino solution will be easier after all.

Ah, if you need 20 then the piezo route is not the most efficient, as you would need an a/d convertor with 20 inputs.  Perhaps an Arduino solution will be easier after all.


Here's some schematics and code to auto-calibrate and serial-send piezo voltages

http://www.dtic.upf.edu/~jlozano/interfaces/blow_sensor.html

although the project uses the piezo's as 'blow sensors', they'll easily respond to touch; this could be quickly and easily adapted via the [serial] object in Max. 20 analog inputs would require multiplexing, or buy an Arduino Mega for 18 inputs without multiplexing. Arduino ships with loads of sketches (code), including one for a piezo.

The Arduino playground is an absolute treasure trove of goodies:

http://arduino.cc/playground/Main/InterfacingWithHardware#Input

I'm thinking of expanding the piece, is there anyway of having more than 18 inputs?

hey, thanks for all the tips.
I'm thinking of expanding the piece, is there anyway of having more than 18 inputs?

does anyone recommend or have any experience with this company?

http://www.eowave.com/shop/products.php?type0=int

NOVICE!