Getting these mustard seeds to scatter and converge in this cymatics test took tuning the cycle~ object in Max to around 73 Hertz. The spherical shape of this material lends itself well to this sort of experiment. The next time we attempt this we will be using a more controlled environment with a leveled, more sensitive membrane between the speaker and the seeds or grains.
Today’s synthesizer sound is contained within the video above and includes the acoustic sound of rice grains bouncing on a speaker cone. The tone was generated by the cycle~ object in MaxMSP and set to a frequency of somewhere around 156 Hertz.
After a few attempts and creating cymatics with the WSG, we switched to creating a simple Max patch that we used to generate the frequencies. This allowed us to isolate specific frequencies that worked well to excite the mustard seed on the platform. This time it is much easier to hear the hissing sound of the mustard seed as is vibrates on the platform. It sounds a little bit like white noise, but brighter and less consistent
Cymatics Test: Mustard Seed and Max
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I recorded this sound during a cymatics experiment that I conducted with Pramila Vasuvedan of Annichia Arts to see if patterns in mustard seed would emerge. To generate the tones I connected my WSG to a simple amplifier and then to a twelve inch speaker with a platform suspended above the speaker cone. Mustard seed was poured onto the platform as we tested different frequency and amplitude combinations. This experiment was not quite successful, probably becuase the WSG has multiple oscillators, but we learned a few things in the process and created some interesting sounds, as well as some unbearable ones that I’ll refrain from sharing. Listen for the hiss of the mustard seed vibrating on the one eighth inch thick panel of plywood that we used as a platform.
Cymatics Test: Mustard Seed and WSG
Tonight I’ll be performing a solo Ostraka set at The Somthin’ Else series curated by Jon Davis. This month the theme is “Frankenstein’s Day Monster Pizza Party, an electronic music potluck”. From the blog:
“It’s alive! Come celebrate Frankenstein’s Day with The Somethin’ Else on Friday, February 11th at the Love Power Building! Music, dancing & PIZZA!!!!!!” featuring: Mkr/Marx, Speakthrone, Dark Lord of Rhodes, (Alans), S/M, The Eclectic Ensemble, Ostraka, Jackie Becky/Jonathan Kaiser/Naomi Joy/Ryan Billig, Patrick Voller, Surface Vains, Self Sound Ochestra, Camden, Jesse Whitney & Tim Glenn, Littlefoot, MKR, and more. 9:00pm. All ages. $5 or free with a potluck contribution.
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2011
LOVE POWER BUILDING
1407 WASHINGTON AVENUE SOUTH
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA