Group: Adam Spencer, Claire Higginson, Jeevan Baylis, and Owen Costello

MU 2801 Final Project: A-Term 2023

Description

JunkBeat is a percussion machine created from found objects with unique sounds and timbres. We programmed an Arduino to control multiple solenoids to hit and LEDs to light up each object. Ableton was used to create a MIDI file to send to the solenoids to play. We were inspired by previous works that are similar to this, such as Klompen by Trimpin and LEMUR’s Modbots. Both of these works used uncommon musical objects to create sounds and compositions, with Klompen specifically using solenoids to excite the clogs that the sculpture used. First we went to a consignment furniture and home decor store, Cutiques, to find objects with interesting sounds. Then we compiled those objects with solenoids and LEDs and began wiring circuits that control each solenoid. Each solenoid and LED were attached to a different pin on the Arduino to be able to control each pin independently in the Arduino code. We then composed a drum pattern in Ableton Live using MIDI to then send to the Arduino to enable solenoids and LEDs to play the MIDI rhythm.