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Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related institutions.
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The Experience Music Project out in Seattle has more ways to manipulate
sound than you can shake a tambourine at. They have many very cool
interactive booths that use many very cool technologies. Also, the Rock and
Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland may be a good resource. (also, very cool.)
Kathryn Briggs
Exploris
Raleigh, NC

-----Original Message-----
From: Informal Science Education Network
[mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of jasonJayStevens
Sent: Thursday, February 26, 2004 9:24 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Sound Exhibits


ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology Centers
Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related
institutions.
****************************************************************************
*

William,

As I'm sure you realize, waveforms are a great way to visualize sound,
and can be used as a springboard for a lot of science in a fun way.
COSI Toledo (if my memory serves...it's been several years) has a
keyboard instrument with which one can observe the two waveforms of any
two keys struck, and, on a third display, witness the singular waveform
that the combined tones produce.
It's a great exhibit inasmuch as it simply and clearly demonstrates a
set of principles, while at the same time, offering some aesthetic
pay-off.  At least for a musician such as myself, getting to actually
see soundwaves merge, being able to see the differences between
cacophony and harmony, was thoroughly engrossing.

**But I have no idea how they kept that keyboard in good shape.**

My inclination would be to enter the project assuming that I'd need to
design a different interactive layer for between the user and the
processor.

Whether this means using pre-existing MIDI technology or hacking a
keyboard is up to choice and budget.

There's a whole community of "circuit-benders" out there, modifying
consumer electronics, and you can find many "keyboard hacks" on the
internet....for example:
http://www.anti-theory.com/soundart/circuitbend/

But MIDI's worth delving into if you haven't.  I'm surprised I don't
see more exhibits that take advantage of MIDI, it being so rugged and
pretty versatile.  You know, one laptop computer, a cheap MIDI device,
and a piece of software or two, and today one can emulate equipment
that  just seven or eight years ago would have cost tens of thousands
of dollars.
Apple's iGarage--or iLife GarageBand or whatever it's called-- is a
great example...it's a sampler and sequencer that cost's only $50!!!
(of course...you need a computer, too)
So much for Junior asking Mom and Pop for a cheap electric guitar for
Christmas!


___
jasonJayStevens
exhibitsDevelopment
annArborHandsOnMuseum
[log in to unmask]

potterBelmarLabs
www.potterbelmar.org
[log in to unmask]

On Feb 25, 2004, at 1:07 PM, William wrote:
> Hello everyone!
> One of our upcoming projects is creating a sound booth area where
> people
> can experiment with sounds.  Specifically, we wanted to create an area
> where people could either utilize a keyboard or record their voice.
> Then
> play with the speed of those sounds and maybe even alter the wave
> forms.
>  As such, I am looking for what people consider the most successful
> exhibits in this vein.
> More specific questions are:
> Does anyone know of software packages that do this in a user friendly
> way,
> or that can be modified with overlays to do this?  any items I should
> avoid?
> Recommendations for keyboards to use in conjunction with this?
>
> Thank you in advance for your ideas!
>
> -William Katzman
>
> William Katzman                    "The important thing is to never
> stop
> questioning." -A. Einstein
> Director of Exhibits               "Are you sure about that Al?" -His
> wife.
> Catawba Science Center
> ph: (828) 322-8169 x307
> fax:(828) 322-1585
> [log in to unmask]
>
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___
jasonJayStevens
potterBelmarLabs
www.potterbelmar.org
[log in to unmask]

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More information about the Informal Science Education Network and the
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