Werkstatt Settings, Waveforms, and Sound

WerkStatt Settings, Waveforms, and Sound

Computational Media

Description:

This exercise will work through several settings on the WerkStatt and have you describe the resulting waves and sounds. At the end you will create your own sound and record the settings.

Process:

Working in partners, follow the directions for setting up the wiring for WerkStatt and Arduino, downloading the code for Processing, and working through the different settings. You and your partner should work on one Computer and you both can turn in this form on your Google Site.

Vocabulary:
VCO = Voltage Controlled Oscillator
VCO MOD = Voltage Controlled Oscillator Modulator
VCF = Voltage Controlled Filter
VCF MOD = Voltage Controlled Filter Modulator
VCA = Voltage Controlled Amplifier
LFO = Low frequency Oscillator
ENVELOPE = Envelope Generator

Directions:

1. Set up the WerkStatt and Arduino according to the following diagram: Remember to plug in the Werkstatt to Power and use the audio splitter so you and your partner can listen to the WerkStatt.

3. Open Processing.

4. Go to the link: and paste the code from the website into the Processing Document. Save the Processing document as “Lastname_Waves”

5. Plug in the Arduino and run the program. You should see 4 Waveforms corresponding to the EG, LFO, VCF, and VCO.

6. Set the settings on the Werkstatt to match the following and listen to the sound:

-VCO: FREQ to 5, WAVE to PULSE, PWM to 0

-VCO MOD: SOURCE to LFO, AMOUNT to 5, DEST to PWM

-LFO: RATE to 0, WAVE to SQUARE

-VCF: CUTOFF to 5, RES to 5

-VCF MOD: SOURCE to LFO, AMOUNT to 0, POLARITY to +

-VCA: MODE to EG

-ENVELOPE: SUSTAIN to ON, ATTACK to 0, RELEASE to 0

7. Turn the LFO Rate knob and note the change in the sound. Place a screen shot of the wave monitor and describe the change in the LFO Out Wave and how it changes the sound. You might also need to change the VCO: PWM setting to 5 to hear the change in sounds.

Description of Wave and Sounds:
Screenshot for 7:

8. Change the LFO Wave form to Triangle. Place a screen shot of the wave monitor and describe the change in the LFO out Wave and how this changes the sound.

Description of Wave and Sounds:
Screenshot for 8:

9. Change the settings to match the following:

-Set the VCF Cutoff to 5 and the VCF RES to 5.

-Set the VCF Mod to LFO and set the VCF Amount to 5.

-Turn the rate knob on the LFO from 0 to 10 and back to 0.

How does the change in RATE of the LFO effect the sound? Take a screenshot of the wave monitor showing the changes in VCF and LFO.

Description of Wave and Sounds:
Screenshot for 9:

10. Make the following changes in WerkStatt setting:

-Set the switch the VCF MOD SOURCE to EG and the AMOUNT to 6.

-Set the ENVELOPE ATTACK and DECAY knobs to 5.

Write a description of the Waves and resulting sound. Note in particular the role of the ENVELOPE Wave (EG)

Description of Waves and Sounds:
Screenshot for 10:

11. Change to the following settings on the WerkStatt:

-Set the switch on the VCO MOD to EG and the AMOUNT to 6.

-Set the ENVELOPE ATTACK and DECAY knobs to 6.

-Press the buttons on the Keyboard.

Write a sentence describing the change in sound. Take a screenshot of the Wave Monitor.

Description of Waves and Sounds:
Screenshot for 11:

12. Change the following settings on the WerkStatt:

-Set the VCO DEST switch to FREQ and the VCO SOURCE switch to EG.

Press the keys and note what happens to the sound. Experiment with the ATTACK and DECAY buttons on the ENVELOPE panel.

Describe what happens to the EG waveform and describe the change in sound. Place a screenshot of the Wave Monitor showing the shape of the EG waveform.
Screenshot for 12:

13. We have changed settings through the rotational knobs and the toggle switches. In your own words, describe how:

The VCO MOD changes the VCO in sound and waveform:
The VCV MOD changes the VCF in sound and waveform:
The difference between the SOURCE LFO and EG on the toggle switches and how that effects the sound.
What does the CUTOFF and RES knobs do on the VCF. Describe the difference in sound.

14. Create your own settings on the WerkStatt for VCO, VCF, VCO MOD, VCF MOD, LFO, and ENVELOPE. You can also modify the Processing program to change the color and thickness of the lines by changing the lines of code that call the WaveDrawer class on line 74:

Take a screenshot of the waveforms for your setting and fill in the values below. Describe the sound of your setting in your own words.

Our New Sound Settings: (Mark Below so others can re-create your sound)

Screenshot of Wave display of Our New Sound
Description of Our Sound in our own words: