Wii-Quencer (3D Midi interface with Wii-mote)
@ July 17, 2010
Wii-Quencer is a 3D midi controller using the Wii-mote bluetooth gaming controller.
Blogged here as the "Mystery Summer Object 2010"
The work you see here was inspired by my
"Visual" Picaxxo robot project.
It set me wondering if i could paint "Sound" with the Nintendos Wii-Mote controller.
A packet of IR_Leds and Photo_Diodes arrived out of the blue from OddBot (Dagu), so then i knew the direction was set.
NonStream Link ( "Wii-Quencer")
I fitted a ring of copper wire inside half a polystyrene globe, and attached 8 IR_Leds to it.
Its is driven by a small and compact "Ardweeny" - only addition being a 5V regulator.
Some hacked Lipos out of a couple of recycle Nokia phones served as power supply.
The Blue display surface was made from a non reflective material (high density foam)
The controls :-
- Binary Coded Decimal switch (for patterns)
- Direction Potentiometer
- Attack Potentiometer
- Decay Potentiometer
The Key to the whole project is a simple Wii-Mote controller, this i attach to light-fitting on the ceiling looking down towards the Wii-Quencer, hot glueing pegs to the sides helps for a stable mount (it could also be fixed to a wall)
Operation :-
First choose your Pattern Sequence with the BCD switch (Clockwise,anticlockwise,ascending, decending,star,dot,etcetcetc)
The IR_Leds then cycle in the choosen Sequence.
Sit under or in front of the Wii-Mote so that its IR_Camera can see you and the Wii-Quencer.
The Wii-Mote picks up the signals as an X Y coordinate and beams this info to the PC.
The PC Converts the Data directly on screen into a Midi Value which is then processed in "Real Time" to a Virtual Synthesiser.
The Synthesiser sounds can then be choosen as you wish ...... drums....moog......violin...... etcetcetc
Then all you have to do is hold the Wii-Quencer and move it in 3D space or block 1 or 2 or 3 or 4 etcetcetc of the IR_Leds
Moving the Wii-Quencer "Forward, Backward, Left, Right" alters the pitch and volume of the tones.
Moving the Wii-Quencer "Up or Down" Alters the range or span of the tones.
"Rotating" the Wii-Quencer "Slides" the tones.
Painting sound could not be any easier.......... "Beep"
@ Thu, 2010-12-30 01:11
Can't believe I missed this....
First the Wii-Quencer
What's next the Orgasmatron?
Oops ... just saw your previous link ... backpeddling, you were thinking it all along...
@ Fri, 2010-07-23 16:20
Truly far out :)
Truly far out :)
@ Mon, 2010-07-19 03:53
Very artistic Gareth
Have you considered going to the local art gallery? I'm sure they would appreciate the change from static paintings and sculptures. You could probably get Nintendo to sponser you. I think they would love all the new uses you are finding for their products.
@ Tue, 2010-07-20 11:09
In for a penny, in for a pound
Although i know the Art circuit is quite bouyant in Switzerland you are more likely to get funding and display space in the Banks (im kidding not). The only trouble then is i would have to buy a "Mac" to fit in.........
Nintendo ......shall i, shall i not.....what the heck, lets see how they respond..........Stay Tuned....
@ Tue, 2010-07-20 13:14
I can just imagine
Gareth's first commercial product:- The Wii Bot! it paints, it plays music and.... sulks in the corner?
@ Sun, 2010-07-18 00:43
What did you use to get the
What did you use to get the animations onto the blue foam? after effects?
@ Sun, 2010-07-18 11:49
The Video was Mastered using
The Video was Mastered using Edit Studio Pro (i can highly recommend it)
The Bluescreen/Greenscreen or any colour can be selected to insert video clips into the most complex forms possible.
All you have to be careful of is that your object has a unique colour not to be found anywhere else in the background.
Subtitles
Blue screen removal
Wii-Quencer Video
Two projection Videos
One made with Windows Media player
Second made with Fruity loops virtual synthesiser visualisations.
@ Sun, 2010-07-18 15:19
Not a bad price, I have
Not a bad price, I have adobe after effects in my other hard drive, at the time it was 999$...
@ Sun, 2010-07-18 00:09
Great stuff Gareth!
You always build the most amazing gadgets and are a great source of inspiration for us all.
That said you probably should mention the use of ‘blue-screen’ to superimpose the animations on the lid. Some might think that they would get that from building this device :-) (you had me going for a while...)
@ Sun, 2010-07-18 12:28
Delay factor - expands the cortex
Thanks for the encouragement........
I am the first to admit that i occasionally delay (or leave out) information - not for my pleasure but for the pretence of stimulating "BrainCells" .........however i do fill in the gaps eventually.......
You may have followed the Mystery summer object .......... i was totally amazed by some of the guesses and side/lateral thinking going on - and for sure these new ideas have sparked new directions for others (me included), we inspire each other.
If this where to go into production then it would be possible using some of Johhny Chung Lees work to project a video in real time onto a white foam disk - this is something i would like to pursue - however this calls for a new gadjet.....