I have been using the MIRToolbox plugin for MATLAB in order to analyse music.  By using four standard (non DRM, free) tracks over the course of my experiments, I hope to able to make correlations between music, gesture and form by running Self Organised Mapping (Neural networks) over the results.  H[...]

After winding several coils by hand, I wished to eliminate the guesswork and model the coils using Finite Element Analysis with the freeware program FEMM. After talking to design engineers at Buckley Systems and Wellington Drive, I realised that they are striving for focused flux lines with the a[...]

In order to test my hypothesis regarding the use of PWM controlled electromagnets arrayed within a grid structure I have made a prototype.  The Arduino Duemilanove board that I am using has 6 native Pulse Width Modulation outputs, so that is how many I used.  However a better test would have been wi[...]

In order to test a Arduino controlled grid of electromagnets I first had to wind some coils after using FEMM to analyse the characteristics of the coils.  Winding 1280 turns by hand is the definition of tedium, so one of the technicians at school very kindly lent me his own coil winding machine as s[...]

Professor Petri Toiviainen of the Center of Musical Excellence at the University of Jyväskylä in Finland helped create this amazing animation. To me, it is really incredible how the brain seems to be reacting to individual notes, rather than passages, or clusters, of notes.... "This animation sho[...]

A little off topic, but it may have applications at a later day in the development....my first attempt at making a video game with Unity 3D and scripting C# as part of the first project here at Kolding Designskolen/

Many biologists, notably Richard Dawkins have used computer based simulation to study evolution. By building virtual objects using algorithms derived from nature it is possible to see natural selection over many generations....this idea of a computer based evolution is integral to my project as I be[...]

William Latham was an early convert from the field of fine arts to the possibilities of computer generated artform using algorithms originally derived from biology. From Wikipedia: Latham has authored a book called Evolutionary Art and Computers together with Stephen Todd, published 1992, bas[...]

Diana Lange is a graphic artist from Germany, who has recently created animations that use music (via Fast Fourier Transform data - FFT) to control objects that she has created in Processing. This method of using FFT data to manipulate objects interests me a great deal, and certainly has potential a[...]

Making the final plug for the ceramic loudspeaker was fraught with difficulties. I had figured out how to use the Roland Modela CNC machine at school, so decided to make a layered model using a type of MDF called Trimatrx (sic) that contains no/reduced Volatile Organic Compounds, and is thus much[...]

Here are the series of images showing the machining and casting of the initial loudspeaker mold. The aim here was not to create the final shape/design, but rather test for casting properties. I sectioned the virtual Solidworks model to obtain a series of cutting outlines and then the mold former w[...]

General Update - September 21st from Ben Jarrett on Vimeo.

This is a series of fast handmade clay forms that I built on strofoam formers to output some quick ideas that I had regards control box forms....although none of them are successful per se, I was able to gain some insight into what the eventual forms may be.

I have modelled up a plug in Solidworks, originally with the intention of getting it CNCed with the Roland Modela we have at school. Unfortunately it has broken down, and with the only technician in New Zealand currently been in Australia for a month, other arrangements are in order. Back to Sha[...]

I found that a great way of quickly modelling up casings was to use a rigid foam former. Using some trashed styrofoam, a bandsaw and a belt sander one can make a former in minutes. At first I was draping terracotta directly onto the formers, but encountered cracking as you can see in the pictures.[...]

I have the concept that if using a rotary dial, it should be an analogy of a SLR camera lens - with the same kind of precision and tactile promise.  I mocked up a couple of quick Solidworks animations to see what effects I could get/ Amplifier Dial Render #1 from Ben Jarrett on Vimeo. [...]

The loudspeaker I am building is a little unusual, mainly due to the driver selection.  I am using two drivers; a Jordan JXr6HD for the midrange and treble and a Tangband W6-1139SI for the bass.  I will write about the downwards facing bass driver in another entry, so let’s turn our attention to[...]

Here is the basic block diagram for the system, with one channel only shown.  The volume control is digital - onboard the DAC chip (most likely the newer ESS Sabre 32bit Reference).  I have been very reticent to use digital attenuation due to the well known problems with bit decimation and my ow[...]