An Inclusive Musical Mechatronics Course

Carnegie, Dale A.; Zareei, Mo H.; Murphy, Jim W.; Watterson, Craig

doi:10.1007/978-3-319-50337-0_17

“…5). Whilst the construction of novel mechatronic chordophones is a focus of our research activities, we have also designed a 400 level course (equivalent to senior-year level) (ECEN427) based on a problem-based learning pedagogical framework, with a formative element involving the design and construction of a picking mechanism and a summative element requiring the construction of a pitch-shifting system for a mono-string chordophone [17]. We specified a speed range of 120 bpm, and gave students a stretch goal that the picker should be expressive.…”

Section: Picker-pluckermentioning

confidence: 99%

Designing Mechatronic Musical Instruments: The Guitar

Carnegie

¹

,

Murphy

²

,

Placencia

³

2020

Self Cite

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Since the earliest times, humans have sought the ability to produce rhythms and tones using devices external to the human body. As technology developed, so too did the desire for this sound production to become automated. Initially peaking around the Industrial Revolution, traditional automated musical production devices went into a steep decline with the arrival of the phonograph. However, factors such as the ubiquitous acceptance of the microcontroller led to a resurgent interest in this field. This paper investigates the design considerations and development of the stringed chordophone and specifically the guitar. The challenge is to produce a mechatronic device capable of speedy and reliable note selection, string actuation, string damping and expressiveness. In the same manner that there is not one best way to play a guitar and no best guitar design, so too is there no ''best'' chordophone design. Rather, the competing factors of speed, precision, reliability, portability, expressiveness and timbral variation can be given different weightings and result in different designs. Therefore, rather than presenting a single chordophone development, this paper provides a multitude of design options providing an interested reader with the background and suggestions to create their own bespoke design. This paper concludes with the presentation of the authors' final design as an integration of the presented ideas and design techniques. We demonstrate that this chordophone introduces expressivity at a level not achieved before, is modular yet portable, is mechanically quiet and can play at a speed beyond that of even the best human player. INDEX TERMS Automated music production, mechatronic chordophone, mechatronic music.

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“…Recent chordophone designs have started to take advantage of the expressive capabilities that can be achieved through mechatronic pickers. [6] highlights this in an academic course which requires students to explore monochord designs for mechatronic learning. The resulting devices have integrated various creative approaches to alter the pick's contact strength and to achieve human-like compliance while plucking (Figs.…”

Section: Vindriis Explored Different Picking Approaches While Buildingmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This has led to the exploration of alternatives such as a "chop-stick" pitch shifter (as shown in Fig. 2.33), as well as the robot arms discussed in this section [6].…”

Section: Robot Arm Pitch Shiftersmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, such expressive techniques have not been characterised or documented for these systems. Nevertheless, [6] discusses various similar monochord prototypes designed by students which are capable of performing sliding actions between two notes.…”

Section: Pitch-based Expressive Techniquesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Fig. 2.41 shows the measured mechanical noise levels for BassBot, Mech-Bass, Swivel 2.0, and StrumBot in A-weighted decibels (dBA) 6 [49,34,50].…”

Section: Extraneous Noisementioning

confidence: 99%

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The Design and Construction of an Expressive Mechatronic Chordophone

Placencia¹

0

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Mechatronic chordophones are stringed instruments that integrate mechanical components and electronics to make music. These instruments offer precise control over multiple sound parameters and expressive techniques for enhanced musical expression. There have been multiple successful mechatronic chordophone designs,from robotic slide guitars to bass guitar robots. Among these designs are plucked string and pitch shifting mechatronic chordophones, which make music by exciting the string with a picking mechanism and selecting musical notes with a pitch shifter mechanism. This configuration enables these systems to enhance their musical performance through pitch-based expressive techniques and micro tonal pitches. However, even if these instruments can achieve speeds and precision beyond the capabilities of a human performer, their expressive capabilities are limited. It is difficult for mechatronic chordophones to perform dynamic variations and expressive techniques,and the presence of extraneous noise usually interferes with their musical performance. Furthermore, it is still challenging for users to control such instruments. We have built two mechatronic chordophones. The first is Protochord, a mechatronic monochord prototype. We used this system as a platform for iterative design to develop new expressive mechatronic chordophone subsystems. The second is Azure Talos,a multi-string mechatronic chordophone designed to outperform other existing systems and to afford a wide array of parameters for musical expression. Our research has led to the development of novel mechatronic chordophone subsystems such as: a revolving picking mechanism with superior dynamic variation capabilities compared to that of other existing designs; a fast and precise robot arm pitch shifting mechanism that affords pitch-based expressive techniques; and an optical pickup that rejects extraneous noise. We have demonstrated the technical capabilities of these designs through quantitative evaluation processes, in many cases providing the first set of quantitative tests in the literature of these types of sub-assemblies and systems. A key aim is to provide standards and benchmarks in evaluation criteria which may be used in the development of new mechatronic chordophones. Finally, we developed strategies to assess Azure Talos' musical capabilities through standard guitar techniques, repertoire examples,and creative musical explorations.

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The Design and Construction of an Expressive Mechatronic Chordophone

Placencia¹

2021

Preprint

0

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Mechatronic chordophones are stringed instruments that integrate mechanical components and electronics to make music. These instruments offer precise control over multiple sound parameters and expressive techniques for enhanced musical expression. There have been multiple successful mechatronic chordophone designs,from robotic slide guitars to bass guitar robots. Among these designs are plucked string and pitch shifting mechatronic chordophones, which make music by exciting the string with a picking mechanism and selecting musical notes with a pitch shifter mechanism. This configuration enables these systems to enhance their musical performance through pitch-based expressive techniques and micro tonal pitches. However, even if these instruments can achieve speeds and precision beyond the capabilities of a human performer, their expressive capabilities are limited. It is difficult for mechatronic chordophones to perform dynamic variations and expressive techniques,and the presence of extraneous noise usually interferes with their musical performance. Furthermore, it is still challenging for users to control such instruments. We have built two mechatronic chordophones. The first is Protochord, a mechatronic monochord prototype. We used this system as a platform for iterative design to develop new expressive mechatronic chordophone subsystems. The second is Azure Talos,a multi-string mechatronic chordophone designed to outperform other existing systems and to afford a wide array of parameters for musical expression. Our research has led to the development of novel mechatronic chordophone subsystems such as: a revolving picking mechanism with superior dynamic variation capabilities compared to that of other existing designs; a fast and precise robot arm pitch shifting mechanism that affords pitch-based expressive techniques; and an optical pickup that rejects extraneous noise. We have demonstrated the technical capabilities of these designs through quantitative evaluation processes, in many cases providing the first set of quantitative tests in the literature of these types of sub-assemblies and systems. A key aim is to provide standards and benchmarks in evaluation criteria which may be used in the development of new mechatronic chordophones. Finally, we developed strategies to assess Azure Talos' musical capabilities through standard guitar techniques, repertoire examples,and creative musical explorations.

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An Inclusive Musical Mechatronics Course

Cited by 4 publications

References 13 publications

Designing Mechatronic Musical Instruments: The Guitar

Designing Mechatronic Musical Instruments: The Guitar

The Design and Construction of an Expressive Mechatronic Chordophone

The Design and Construction of an Expressive Mechatronic Chordophone

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