Glare module

Schematic of the GLARE PCB

Illustration of the GLARE module

A gesture controllable sound interface

GLARE is a speculative interface trying to explore what lies behind the boundaries of the usual input devices. The idea for it arose out of the impression that most of music production interfaces require a deep understanding of the subject and thus impose a considerable hurdle on the average user.

Music is in itself something very intuitive and emotional and as it is something profoundly satisfying and an excellent method of emotional self reflection the making of it should be accessible to a broad audience. This approach is not only aiming to provide a new controller for musicians, but to put the creation of music into the lives of individuals as a practice of leisure and self-realization.

Dancing, usually a way to deal with music after the process of producing it has ended, is a direct and very personal translation of music. Provided the necessary interfaces are available, making music could and should be as simple as dancing to it.

GLARE module is being controlled by gestures only and thereby works in a very intuitive way. The movements controlling the auditive content can resemble the motion of dancing.

REQUIRED PARTS

PARTS FOR ASSEMBLY:

1 x GLARE circuit board
1 x Teensy 3.1 OR Teensy LC board
4 x ADS1115 16 Bit I2C ADC
16 x Light dependent resistors
33 x Mono audio Jack 3,5mm model PJ301M-12
16 x Mono audio Jack Plug 3,5mm
1 x Tactile Push Button 6x6mm 15mm version if available
1 x Toggle switch ON-OFF 2 pin
16 x 480 mm 2 poled cable
16 x 500 mm shrinking tube ø6, 4mm
16 x 500 mm x 2,5 mm insulated metal wire
18 x 10KΩ Resistor
2 x 1KΩ Resistor
73 x Female Headers (optional)
73 x Male Headers (optional)
Insulating Tape
Solder

TOOLS:

Soldering iron
Static light source

PARTS FOR OPERATION

1 x Mono audio cable 3,5mm (to connect audio output)
16 x Mono audio cable 3,5mm (optional; to connect devices to the control voltage output matrix)

For the sake of brevity from now on the ADS1115 will be called ADC, the Teensy LC board will be called Teensy, the GLARE circuit board will be called PCB and control voltage will be called CV.

Make sure you have all the parts listed in the Parts section before you begin assembling the GLARE module! The screen-printed side of the PCB must face upwards. If you want to be able to detach the main parts you should solder male and female headers to the PCB and parts. You can also chose to solder the parts directly onto the PCB.

ASSEMBLY MANUAL:

   1. Carefully detach the GLARE PCB from the main PCB
   2. Solder 33 male headers to the 3 lines of holes on the Teensy 3.1/LC
   3. Solder 10 male headers to the line of holes on each ADC
   4. Solder the legs of the 18 10KΩ resistors to the PCB at the labeled positions
   5. Solder the legs of the 2 1KΩ resistors to the PCB at the labeled positions
   6. Solder the legs of the Tactile Push Button to the PCB at the labled position 
   7. Solder 33 female headers to the 3 lines of holes surrounding the Teensy 3.1/LC label on the PCB
   8. Solder 10 female headers to each of the 4 lines of holes on the right side of the ADC 1, 2, 3 & 4 labels on the PCB
   9. Solder the legs of the Toggle switch to the PCB at the labeled position
   10. Solder the legs of the 33 Mono audio Jacks to the PCB at the labeled positions

OPERATIONAL MANUAL:

Basic operation (audio):

Make sure the device is disconnected from power
Plug the 16 Sensors into the upper row of 3,5mm audio jacks
Arrange the heads of the sensors according to your preference
Glare works best if the sensors are aimed at a single light source. You can of course experiment with different light setups
Power the device on (the device on the sensors will automatically calibrate to the light they are exposed to so make sure they are not obscured)
Make sure the toggle switch is in the audio playback position
Connect the Audio output plug to an audio playback device
After a few seconds the device will start outputting audio whenever you cast a shadow on one or more of the sensors. The volume of the audio signal will increase equivalently to the density of the shadow
To recalibrate the LDRs hold down the pushbutton for 2 seconds

Advanced operation (CV):

Follow steps 1 - 5 of the basic operation manual
Make sure the toggle switch is in the CV output position
Connect all devices you want to control to the CV outputs 1-16
After a few seconds the device will start outputting CV for each sensor on the according CV output whenever you cast a shadow on one or more of the sensors
To recalibrate the LDRs hold down the pushbutton for 2 seconds