Tag Archives: algorithmic music

Mozzi creates complex sounds for Arduino  

Doarhan recently kicked off a project with the Mozzi library to create a wide range of complex sounds for Atmel-based Arduino boards – which are typically tasked with generating only simple tones.

Aside from an Atmel-powered Arduino board and the Mozzi library, key project components include:

  • 100K potentiometers – x5
  • Male headers
  • Female headers
  • 1/8″ audio jack
  • Audio cable
  • Speaker

“Currently your Arduino can only beep like a microwave oven. Mozzi brings your Arduino to life by allowing it to produce much more complex and interesting growls, sweeps and chorusing atmospherics,” Doarhan explained in a detailed Instructables post.

“These sounds can be quickly and easily constructed from familiar synthesis units like oscillators, delays, filters and envelopes. You can use Mozzi to generate algorithmic music for an installation or performance, or make interactive sonifications of sensors, on a small, modular and super cheap Arduino, without the need for additional shields, message passing or external synths.”

On the hardware side, Doarhan recommends Makers begin by configuring the potentiometers.

“The middle output of the potentiometer is always the analog output. The other two outputs on the left and right are either power (5V) or ground. Solder your red, black and white wires on to the potentiometers,” Doarhan instructed.

“Solder the male headers to the ends of each wire. This will make it easier to put it together on the Arduino afterwards. The reason that I did not solder the wires on a proto shield is to make it removable so it can be replaced with a different kind of input like sensors.”

Next up? Getting your audio jack and soldering a white wire to one of the positive outputs, then soldering the black wire to the negative output. Then, configure the female headers, connect all the pieces, link the audio and upload/run the Arduino sketch.
