Piezo with MaxMsp
Hi guys, I’m new in this world.
And im sorry if my questions could sounds ridiculously bad.
I‘m trying to create a simple installation:
4 piezo in 4 box to catch the sound and modulating throught MaxMsp.
How can I do it?
how the piezo are “read” by MaxMsp?
or the audio interface where the piezo we connected?
many thanks.
Really.
Francesca
.
Do you mean just the basic piezo like this ready to hook into a circuit or microcontroller?
if so, I would recommend a teensy which is an arduino compatible board but it can do midi so you could use the midi library in arduino to program the teensy to talk with max and the midi objects in max,
or you could use maxuino which may be easier depending on how much or what type of experience you have with these things and then you could just use any basic arduino with essentially no programming on the arduino side besides uploading the firmata script. maxuino is very easy to use and you could hook the piezo right in and measure the analog values from there.
if this is what you mean, I am happy to answer any other questions
Piezo can be used as a trigger or to measure pressure.
Simplest way is to connect them to Audio Inputs of audio Interface,
preferable instrument inputs, as piezo is very high impedance,
and then measure input level in Max.
That can be as simple as inserting level meter and reading it's float output,
just set it for faster reading.
If You want to use something like arduino, my advice is
stay away from maxuino or any other ready-made solutions.
Thank you to both of you guys.
And sorry for my ignorance.
I preferr to follow the SOURCE AUDIO solution, but I really don’t understand how can I connect my audio interface in MaxMsp.
Id like to achieve this result with 4 different piezo:
https://vimeo.com/244870291
many thanks. Really.
I am not going to watch any vimeo videos or anything else,
have no time for such things.
You have to post Your details,
which OS, which Max, which Audio Interface.
That is needed as it seems You are not able to do basic things with max,
so one has to be very detailed in instructions.
Franci - you're going to need two external devices - a preamp for the piezo, and an audio interface (with a powered mic input, to power the piezo preamp) to get the sound into Max. Then you need a patch with an [adc~] or [ezdac~] to get the sound into your patch.
These are the preamps I use... http://www.stompville.co.uk/shop/34-phantom-piezo-preamp-v2.html
They are very sensitive and have a good frequency range (lots of bass).
I created a piece recently using 2 piezo wired in parallel to the preamp and that works ok. Not sure if it will manage 4, so you might need a couple of preamps.
Thank you so much guys.
I don’t want to bother you so i’m Going to check my system to give you an accurate details on it.
DavideStefen, many thanks. Said like this it sound easy... but I’m sure it is not. You don’t have a screenshot of your patch just to try and make a test?
I’m sorry for this request, If this is not possible (or allowed by the forum), please accept my apologies.
And SOURCEAUDIO... sorry for the Vimeo like. Wasn’t my intention make you wasting time. 🙏
Ha, ha, don't worry, it's just that few simple words can make everything faster.
We still don't know if You need piezos as triggers or to act like microphones...
That makes a big difference.
As You are probably not gong to record Piezo audio and use it so,
but just for control, using that preamps is a bit of overkill.
A good piezzo plate needs no preamp at all for such usage, just
mono jack input with a bit of gain.
Here is a simple max patch to get You started
@sourceaudio - I'm assuming from the OP that he/she wants to _process the audio (though admittedly it's not very clear). Yes, you wouldn't need the preamps if it's just triggering that's wanted.
@franci - if it _is audio input that you're after, and you just want to see if it's working,
connect a piezo to the guitar (instrument) input of your audio interface. Use a shielded cable from the piezo if you can, otherwise you'll get lots of hum.
In a blank max patcher...
connect an [adc~ 1 2] via some kind of level control to [dac~ 1 2].
Sorry can't post a patch right now (different computer, and too many glasses of wine) but basically
[float number box]-> right inlet of [*~ 0.] (that's your "volume" control)
left outlet of [adc~] to left inlet of the [*~ 0.]
left outlet of [*~ 0.] to left inlet of [dac~]
increase the value of the number box to hear your input straight through to your output. Don't go above a value of 1. if you value your 'speakers!
[adc~ 1 2] [numbox 0.]
I I
[*~ 0. ]
I
[dac~ 1 2]
@sourceaudio thank you. I will use piezo as microphone and studying you patch. Thank you a lot.
@davidestevens thank you so much. I’m a newbie of MaxMsp and even my question are not so clear. But I thanks you because I’m gonna try immediately that way.