This is the Incandesynth.
I started with a broken desk lamp. I set out to create an expressive, gestural musical instrument with it.
This lamp makes music.
A desk lamp like this one is usually pretty inconspicuous. It’s not the star of the show. A lamp is a utilitarian item that stands to the side, mutely and discreetly. But not this one.
The Incandesynth is a digital musical instrument that I created as a part of the Digital Musical Instrument Design course at Northwestern University in the spring of 2021. The name is a portmanteau combining the words “incandescent” (as a nod to the lamp as the form factor) and “synthesizer” (an acknowledgement of the digital nature of the instrument).
I had a desk lamp that no longer worked. Rather than pitch it, I thought it could make a neat musical instrument. It’s sturdy and will stand comfortably on any flat surface, which is nice for playability. It also has several points of adjustment, so I could twist and angle the different sections of the lamp in a variety of ways as I built out the functionality of the instrument. Another reason I was drawn to the lamp was because the lampshade is pretty similar to the bell of a horn—like the trumpet.
I knew from the start that I wanted to use the “bell” of the lamp as an expressive part of the instrument. I also wanted to make an instrument that would largely be “touch-less.” My experience with writing and playing music has always been somewhat constrained and disciplined. Making a gesture-based instrument would hopefully allow me to truly just play…and not obsess so much about the theory and structure of the sounds I was making.
Watch and listen as the Incandesynth is played.
You’ll hear a funky, punchy, sharp-edged synthesizer that can also be played (to varying degrees) in a manner that is spooky and ethereal.
How does it work?
The Incandesynth uses two sensors: an ultrasonic sensor and a photocell. The ultrasonic sensor collects data based on the user’s hand placement and outputs a sawtooth wave based on a preselected list of MIDI notes in the Max patch. The photocell adds reverb and decay when obscured by the user’s other hand. Take a look below to learn more about how the sensors are manipulated and used in the sound output.
In addition to the sensors, I also have a filtergraph~ in the Max patch that is randomly ramping to different center frequencies every 1.5 seconds. This adds some subtle dimension to the output without requiring direct intervention/interaction from the user.
Pitch control.
The ultrasonic sensor is mounted to the top of the lamp’s frame and is aimed down at the base of the lamp. The audio signal is only enabled when something enters the field between the base and the top of the frame. Moving something (i.e. your hand) within that field will produce different pitches.
Timbre control.
I included a filtergraph~ object in the Max patch. As the user plays, this object randomly moves the center frequency from 0 to 500 Hertz. It changes every 1.5 seconds, and ramps over the course of 1.5 seconds every time, so it’s constantly in motion and impacting the timbre of the sawtooth wave.
Reverb control.
The photocell is deep inside the lampshade, or at the very back of the “bell.” Obscuring the photocell (aka increasing the darkness) will increase the decay and the prominence of the reverb on the sawtooth wave from the ultrasonic sensor. The more the bell is “muted” or covered, the more the notes will bleed together, overlap, and linger.
How did it go?
Overall, I’d say I’m happy with how the Incandesynth turned out. First and foremost, I’m glad to have repurposed an otherwise useless household object. Waste not, want not, right?
More importantly, I think this is a pretty successful touch-less synth. My hope in creating this instrument was to get away from having a constant focus on notes and theory. Instead, the music comes from pure exploration and play. It takes experimentation—lots of trial and error. I believe anyone could pick this up and create something through play.
I also like that every performance on the Incandesynth will always be unique because of the randomizer filtergraph~. It’s neat that the user doesn’t have to make all the decisions as they play the instrument. It’s also a nice safeguard against perfectionism…no matter how much you practice and repeat your work, the output will always be different.
Everyone’s invited to explore and play.
Want to build your own Incandesynth? Start with a “rescue lamp,” and feel free to use the resources below.
-
<pre><code>
----------begin_max5_patcher----------
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-----------end_max5_patcher-----------
</code></pre>
-
#include <NewPing.h>
const int PhotoSensorPin = 0;
int lightLevel;
#define TRIGGER_PIN 12 // Arduino pin tied to trigger pin on the ultrasonic sensor.
#define ECHO_PIN 11 // Arduino pin tied to echo pin on the ultrasonic sensor.
#define MAX_DISTANCE 40 // Maximum distance we want to ping for (in this case, 40 centimeters)
NewPing sonar(TRIGGER_PIN, ECHO_PIN, MAX_DISTANCE);
void setup()
{
Serial.begin(115200);
}
void loop()
{
unsigned int uS = sonar.ping();
int b1 = uS >> 7;
int b2 = uS & 127;
Serial.write(b1);
Serial.write(b2);
lightLevel = analogRead(PhotoSensorPin);
b1 = lightLevel >> 3;
b2 = lightLevel & 7;
Serial.write(b1);
Serial.write(b2);
Serial.write(255);
delay(50);
}
-