Latin America Drum Machine
This is a Geo-Musical Map I designed and built that dissects 3 Afro-Latin Rhythms: Cumbia (Colombia), Samba (Brazil), and Candombe (Uruguay). Each button plays the rhythmic pattern of each drum. All the patterns are synched with each other so the user can mix and match the different patterns on tempo to create "new" rhythms out of traditional rhythmic patterns.
The fabrication of this prototype was built using a CNC Router to cut the wood and a Laser Cutter to cut the Acrylic. The tech: Arduino UNO communicating in serial with Max MSP.
Software Engineer: Aaron Montoya-Moraga
Hardware Engineer: Wenqi-Li
The Latin America Drum Machine is a physical iteration that is inspired by the screen based project, “Map of Triangles,” built in P5.js, a Javascript coding platform. The physical iteration is intended as an installation piece, included as part of a broader installation about Afro-American rhythmic patterns. It has many advantages, including a granular approach to breaking down rhythmic patterns within the geo located rhythms.
PROCESS
This is an example of the first screen based prototype on P5.js ( Map of Triangles), using found rhythmic samples turned into loops.
This P5.js prototype is a pivotal stepping stone towards the physical iteration. I used the image of the prototype to design a 3D object to prepare a CNC router file to cut a piece of wood. This particular 3D render is on a platform called Fusion 360.
A. B. C. D. E. F.
A. “Map of Triangles,” an abstract map of Latin America, built on P5.js. First iteration.
B. 360 Sketch to create a 3D render of the drum machine (based on the screen based prototype) to cut on a CNC router.
B. The final sketch of the drum machine on tracing paper. Experimenting with button placement.
C. Final CNC router cut on foam.
D. Button placement experimentation on foam.
F. The back of the final drum machine prototype and its wiring. The breadboard then connects to an Arduino which is triggered by a Max-MSP patch containing the audio information.