Scribd
Upload
18 views10 pages

Make Noise

The document describes how to make noise by connecting pencil drawings to an Arduino microcontroller. It explains that graphite conducts electricity and the microcontroller will read current flowing through the drawings, translate it to a frequency, and output it to a speaker. It provides a list of materials needed, diagrams of the circuit connections, code to run on the Arduino, and encourages experimenting with different drawings to create varied sounds.

Uploaded by

Julián García
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
18 views10 pages

Make Noise

The document describes how to make noise by connecting pencil drawings to an Arduino microcontroller. It explains that graphite conducts electricity and the microcontroller will read current flowing through the drawings, translate it to a frequency, and output it to a speaker. It provides a list of materials needed, diagrams of the circuit connections, code to run on the Arduino, and encourages experimenting with different drawings to create varied sounds.

Uploaded by

Julián García
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 10

make noise

with your
drawings

and impress your friends


contents

a note for beginners .................... 2

all you need ................................. 2

working principle ........................ 3

connection diagrams .................. 4

code ............................................. 6

play / experiment ....................... 8


a note for beginners

if you're new to arduino, i strongly suggest that you take a look at the
"getting started" section on the official arduino site:
http://www.arduino.cc/en/Guide/HomePage

or to the get a copy of the "arduino getting started" booklet, on which


this booklet was inspired.

all you need

ok, let's get started, this is all you'll need:

- 4 alligator clips

- 1k ohm resistor
(brown, black, red)

- one 8 ohm speaker

- 3 connecting wires
(make them about 1 inch long)

- an aduino or any other arduino-compatible microcontroller

- 9 v battery (optional)
(you can also power the arduino from the computer)

- a pencil

- and a piece of paper


(start with a small piece, say 3 inches long)

2
working principle

graphite, the material inside pencils, is a good conductor of electricity.


to make noise with your drawings you need to connect two ends of your
drawing to a voltage potential (i.e. 5v), measure the amount of current that
flows through them and translate its changes to an audible frequency.
You can accomplish all this with the use of a microncontroller like arduino.

so, basically, the microcontroller will be constantly reading the current flow
through your drawing, calculating a proportional pulse based on it and creating
a square wave that will feed the speaker, eventually translating your drawing
into sound.

3
connection diagrams

graphic diagram:

4
schematic diagrams:

to arduino analog
input pin 5

1k ohm

gnd

from arduino
digital
output pin 8
8 ohm speaker
gnd

5
code

this is the code for your microcontroller

/* code is based on http://www.arduino.cc/en/Tutorial/PlayMelody


but simplified.

*/

int pinSpeaker = 8; // digital output


int pinGraphite = 5; // analog input

void setup(){
pinMode(pinSpeaker, OUTPUT);
}

void loop(){
int rawVal = analogRead(pinGraphite);

// maps the incoming data into a desirable audible range [Hz]


//(upper audible limit is 20,000 Hz)
int freqVal = map(rawVal, 0, 1023, 0, 4600);

// change the mapping range to increase/decrease


// tone duration[in milisecs]
int durVal = map(rawVal, 0, 1023, 0, 800);

playSound(durVal, freqVal);
// -->change this value to experiment with diferent silent intervals
delay(100);
}

6
// this function receives two parameters: duration [microsecs]
// and frequency[Hz]

void playSound(long duration, int freq){


duration = duration * 1000;
//converts duration from mili to microseconds

long period = (1.0/freq) * 1000000;


// converts frequency [times/sec] into period [microseconds]

long playTime = 0;

// make sure that both period and playTime variables


// are declared as "long"

while (playTime < duration){


digitalWrite(pinSpeaker, HIGH);
delayMicroseconds(period/2);
digitalWrite(pinSpeaker, LOW);
delayMicroseconds(period/2);
playTime = playTime + period;
}
}

7
play / experiment

the more graphite there is in your lines, the more current will flow,
affecting your pulse width and frequency.

keep also in mind that the piece of paper works as an insulator, so you can
use an eraser to change the sound.

make experiments with multiple lines, various lenghts and thicknesses.

explore folding the paper, tearing it up, punching it, etc.

play with the code.

8
this booklet was prepared to be distributed for free during the
AUDO festival: alternative artistic practices in sound,
purdue university, lafayette, IN.
sep. 10-12, 2010.

an electronic copy can be downloaded from:


www.thepopshop.org/projects/makingnoise

if you have any comments or improvements feel free to contact me at:

[email protected]

alejandro tamayo
www.thepopshop.org

2008-2010
Bogotá, Col.

this work is licensed under the creative commons


attribution-sharealike 3.0 license.
to view a copy of this license, visit:
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/

You might also like