Synthesizer in Pure Data software
Listen:
Audio description: There is a consistent beat throughout the minute-long sound clip with overlapping sound waves, creating a sound similar to a running car that is idle. The sound is computerized and robotic, not like a musician breathing out into an instrument. A pitch bend slider is activated throughout the clip as well, changing the tone higher and lower. The second half of the clip introduces a secondary beat from changing one of the the sound wave oscillators. This becomes a tighter tapping beat which sounds like a fingernail tapping metal fairly quickly. These overlapping sounds change with fading and volume.
BIG ANNOUNCEMENT! After many weeks of trying to get somewhere with Pure Data, I finally found a tutorial that explains the step-by-step development of a synthesizer! What is shown in the image and audio test is how far I’ve come, which is a basic synthesizer with two oscillators, each with four different sound waves, pitch bend, a MIDI controller hookup, frequency modulation, amplitude modulation, filters, and attack, delay, sustain, and release features. I’m currently going through a second series of videos that will advance the features further. I’ve been following along with all the Pure Data tutorials from The Wayfarer Project on YouTube, which has been so helpful and informative. Without it, I would have really struggled to get to where I am now!
This synth will eventually be accessible through vibration, so the bass notes can not only be heard, but be felt as well. It will become a type of communication tool for creative image description of tactile art that is inclusive to Blind and Deaf audiences. I’m at a point where I have the foundation built but I will have to experiment further with how many features to offer and what that will look like in the final laser cut design. I may not have the final installation completed in time for the exhibit, but I’m excited to share this project in its current state now and however it will look like in the upcoming online exhibit!
