Sax Improv with Breath Control (Max/MSP Experiment)

[multisonoraestudio]

Dear, I'm sorry!

I mean I do not know almost nothing about it "Breath Controller", I wonder, what equipment you turn on the microphone, if a MIDI input, USD or any device-specific function Breath Controller.

I ask kindly tell me what equipment you use to make that sound wonderful, and how everything connects to the equipment.

Sorry if I'm upsetting you, but I would love to learn how to do it.

Thanks for all dear.

[metabog]

@multisonoraestudio I am not using any pre-existing software or hardware except my microphone and Max/MSP. I made a patch in Max MSP that converts the audio signal from the microphone into a smooth envelope and turns it into MIDI, which is then controling Mr. T Sax.

[multisonoraestudio]

Dear, please explain for me all details about your Breath Controler.

I´m brazilian, and i need very very much this information.

thanks for all.

[metabog]

@multisonoraestudio I think if you look around the comment section, you'll see I've already explained how it works.

[boulton2]

This was fantastic.

I'm so impressed. It was so smooth! Bravo sir!

[SabreMage]

This is super sweet. It's just a shame that it lacks much portability. Really wishing Yamaha would bring the BC3A back into production T_T. I think it'd be really cool to pair something like this or that with the AX-Synth or some other keytar for a more up-front performance. =P

[MarseJDj]

genious!

[mudithead]

Oh man! Awesome work!!!

Would you mind sharing the max msp patch please?

[dvbutanero]

Please, can you upload the program please

[DevilsHabitat]

lol interesting



[ramurel2006]

Impresionant ! N-am mai văzut aşa ceva până acum...

[jimmyss75]

This reminds when I connected a mic into a DX7 while waiting for the BC2 I've just ordered back in 1995, I created a breath sensitive Violin patch for the JV1080 w. Orchestral addon and it worked really really well. check out "Bluesea" on my channel If you want to hear the results. Im happy to find that others is also exprimenting with MIDI controllers. Keep up the good job :)

[megamankicksyourass]

really cool! i'm having trouble getting a smooth stream (really jumpy). i'm using peakamp~ into scale (to turn it into 0-1). using a dynamic mic, only thing i have. am i missing something?

[metabog]

@megamankicksyourass Try filtering i it with onepole~.

[metabog]

@megamankicksyourass Usually, to get 0.0 - 1.0 control signals from audio, I just put it through a meter object. It turns it into non-signal control messages, rectifies it and scales it perfectly for this application.

[dgmulf]

I just did this with Reaktor and Logic -- endless entertainment!!

[metabog]

@dgmulf That's cool. I have Reaktor, but I found so many incredible user made ensembles that I feel I'm not worthy to even try it.

But on a serious note, I don't like the filters in Reaktor that much, and I have an obsession with filter characteristics. In Max I can just go nuts and build up my own. On the other hand, Reaktor has true 1-1 feedback paths... hard choice.

I guess in the end it all comes down to programming your apps from scratch in C++. :P

[0Sorrow0]

how does FL studio work for you? I used to use it, then switched to ableton live, and i can hear the differences

[metabog]

@0Sorrow0 I tried Ableton, but ultimately came back to FL. Must be a matter of taste. I've worked with FL since version 5, so I know every bit of it, and know how to bypass it's flaws. I didn't use Ableton that much, but I found it to be a bit simplified, and the interface was too clumsy. FL seems a bit cleaner and better organized to me, and it has a couple of awesome tools I haven't found in other DAWs.

[tenderfootV]

I have seen a few of your videos on msp, and they are really inspirational... very good work.

Is an envelope filter hard to make? I have never used msp before, or tried to do any signal manipulation. I think I will do some research into it because this is VERY cool - one of the problems with synths is controlling the dynamics. What is the VST you are using? It sounds really good, though I think that's because of the dynamics sounding so 'human'.

[metabog]

@tenderfootV It's not hard at all if you know how filters work. There are many ways to do it, but the way I do it is by putting a low pass filter on the signal from the mic, and set the cutoff as low as possible (for this example), say 1hz. That will take away all the fast changes in the amplitude and leave you with a smooth signal that you can map to anything (using some basic math functions). Then you just calibrate it for your needs, for example you might want a sharper envelope response.

[metabog]

@metabog Of course, you need to rectify the signal first using either abs~ or the volume meter object. That makes the signal go only from 0 to 1, not -1 to 1. Another way to do it is to use snapshot~ and set the time for it at a high value, so it works like a sample and hold. Then you just smooth out or average between those samples, then pass it through a pack/line, and get a smoothed signal (you can make it much softer than with the filter).

[tenderfootV]

@metabog thanks... I do understand all of what you said, but I'm still learning what is what with max, going through a few youtube tutorials. It would be nice to do this with one of those headset microphones, that will one of my aims... I don't get the 1hz bit, but I have never seen a fourier transform of breath... maybe I can with max :D

[metabog]

@tenderfootV Fourier transform of breath would probably just look like noise but filtered according to formant frequencies and different standing waves and oscillations in the mouth and throat.

[ashwalk85]

Once ZIltoid came and demAnded my universe's ultimate cup of coffee, and we didn't give it to him.

[metabog]

@ashwalk85 I don't believe your civilization survived very long. Your people are probably now a scattered, nomad civilization hiding from Ziltoid's attack cruisers on nasty, desert planets.

[SqueezCZ]

Very ingenious, indeed!

[raydeen2k]

Very nice!

[Dm3qXY]

hail Ziltoid indeed !..