The newest and most unknown to me, the Pure data side to this project was probably the aspect that felt most intimidating. However, over the past weeks my knowledge and confidence surrounding Pd has grown massively, I feel much more competent in using Pd throughout my work, and it is in fact, something I am excited to continue to use and learn.
For this project specifically, I entered with a clear idea of how I wanted to integrate Pd into the work and the effect I wanted it to have, however I had no real understanding of how to make this happen. There were 2 ways in which I approached the Pd, the first was ‘Audio- Working with samples’, swapping out the original sensors on the Bela tutorial for LDRs and putting in my own sample. The other was using the AM synthesis example, using this code as a base but changing it to involve my sample.
After testing each, it was clear the AM synthesis was the way to go as this most caused the effect I wanted it to. I struggled more with the ‘Audio- Working with samples’ code, I got it to work but it was not modulating the amplitude, instead the light was controlling the speed of the track. Im sure there would have been a easy way to change this, however I did try and found myself at a bit of a standstill.
I first used the ‘AM – live input’ code, playing my composition into the input of the Bela from my laptop and running it through modulation using the LDR as sensor. This worked well, and I was changing the frequency to see how different frequencies sounded alongside the sound piece. Once I was happy with the result, I added a second LDR on a separate breadboard, connected to the other. I then played around with giving the separate sensors different frequency values which made for a more interesting sound. This worked well, however the only thing was, that the composition got slightly lost within the modulation, it structure completely left, which I wasn’t surprised when it occurred, however I wasn’t totally pleased with this outcome as it felt it was missing something.
After trying this method and not being totally satisfied with it, I decided to try again, remaining with amplitude modulation, however with a different approach. Instead of a live input, I added the sample straight into the code, which made for a cleaner sound overall as there was much less feedback. As well, I made the sample play separately to the amplitude modulation. The LDRs are still controlling the modulation but of a detached tone that plays alongside the composition. I much preferred this overall sound as the track became a lot more audible, however the modulation was also still clear, actually more, it became a lot easier to hear the direct effect the amount of light had on the sound.
For each LDR I used a different frequency range but the same volume output level, making the modulated sounds quite a bit quieter than the track as they were initially too loud. In the code above, I was also experimenting with a LED on the breadboard too, with the ‘delay 5’ meaning after the first flash of the LED there is a shirt delay and then the composition starts. This was a really useful object to know, and was one I hadn’t previously used.
I feel the Pd code I ended up using reflects my progress of learning Pd since the start of the module, it involves earlier as well as later aspects of the course. Overall, I am happy with the outcome of this project detail and the effect it has, it portrays what I’ve learnt well and has allowed me to progress even more with Pd, picking up new skills that will continue to be useful.