my initial goal was to create a unique guitar pedal using an arduino, where the guitar's sound is altered by data from a unique sensor. i'm fascinated by the interplay between technology and nature, and thought it would be both intriguing and humorous to create a pedal that relies on a plant being watered to produce optimal sound. this design is not only functional but also discursive, prompting further discussion and encouraging users to contemplate the relationship between humans and nature.
arduino
max msp
3d printing
circuitry
12/5/2024
this project required months of tinkering and advanced coding and circuitry skills. the final design works with two separate circuits: an arduino records and feeds serial inputs from the soil moisture sensor and potentiometer to the computer, while a mini audio interface transmits the guitar's audio signal to be altered. from there, max msp - a visual programming software for music - processes both the audio input and the sensor data in real time to modify the sound. once this system was created and tested, i designed a clear enclosure using fusion 360 and had it 3d printed in resin. i then soldered all the components onto a shield and mounted it to the arduino, making the system compact and aesthetically pleasing.
plant pedal
2024
project brief
my initial goal was to create a unique guitar pedal using an arduino, where the guitar's sound is altered by data from a unique sensor. i'm fascinated by the interplay between technology and nature, and thought it would be both intriguing and humorous to create a pedal that relies on a plant being watered to produce optimal sound. this design is not only functional but also discursive, prompting further discussion and encouraging users to contemplate the relationship between humans and nature.
design process
this project required months of tinkering and advanced coding and circuitry skills. the final design works with two separate circuits: an arduino records and feeds serial inputs from the soil moisture sensor and potentiometer to the computer, while a mini audio interface transmits the guitar's audio signal to be altered. from there, max msp - a visual programming software for music - processes both the audio input and the sensor data in real time to modify the sound. once this system was created and tested, i designed a clear enclosure using fusion 360 and had it 3d printed in resin. i then soldered all the components onto a shield and mounted it to the arduino, making the system compact and aesthetically pleasing.
final
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