Piano / Synthesizer

For this project, our goal was to craft a musical instrument within the constraints of limited resources. Despite the restricted options, we brainstormed various concepts and ultimately settled on developing a hybrid piano/synthesizer. To accomplish this, we repurposed buttons as keys by integrating two types of sensors, analog and digital. Using a breadboard, we configured the keys and delved into the coding phase. Each button was programmed to generate distinct notes, connected to a borrowed speaker from the IM lab for clearer and better sound quality.

As we progressed with the initial setup, the need for an analog sensor arose. We incorporated a potentiometer, not to alter the current, but as a knob to modulate the notes produced by the four buttons. The potentiometer’s range was segmented into three sections, and within the programming loop, an ‘if-else’ construct acted akin to cases, adjusting the notes played in response to the potentiometer’s adjustments.

THE VIDEO

The Code

#include "pitches.h"


const int speaker = 12;


const int tone_G = 2;
const int tone_A = 3;
const int tone_B = 4;
const int tone_C = 5;
const int tone_D = 9;
const int tone_E = 10;
const int tone_F = 11;




int buttonState_G = 0;
int buttonState_A = 0;
int buttonState_B = 0;
int buttonState_C = 0;
int buttonState_D = 0;
int buttonState_E = 0;
int buttonState_F = 0;


int potPin = A0;
int potVal = 0;




void setup() {
 // iterate over the notes of the melody:
 pinMode(tone_G, INPUT);
 pinMode(tone_A, INPUT);
 pinMode(tone_B, INPUT);
 pinMode(tone_C, INPUT);
 pinMode(tone_D, INPUT);
 pinMode(tone_E, INPUT);
 pinMode(tone_F, INPUT);
 
 }


void loop() {
 // no need to repeat the melody.


 potVal = analogRead(potPin);




 buttonState_G = digitalRead(tone_G);
 buttonState_A = digitalRead(tone_A);
 buttonState_B = digitalRead(tone_B);
 buttonState_C = digitalRead(tone_C);
 buttonState_D = digitalRead(tone_D);
 buttonState_E = digitalRead(tone_E);
 buttonState_F = digitalRead(tone_F);


if (potVal < 341)  // Lowest third of the potentiometer's range (0-340)
 {   
 if (buttonState_G == HIGH) {
   // play the sound
   tone(speaker,NOTE_G4);
 }
 else if (buttonState_A == HIGH) {
   // play the sound
   tone(speaker,NOTE_AS4);
 }
 else if (buttonState_B == HIGH) {
   // play the sound
   tone(speaker,NOTE_F4);
 }
 else if (buttonState_C == HIGH) {
   // play the sound
   tone(speaker,NOTE_C3);
 }


 else
  {
   noTone(speaker);
   }
 }


 else if (potVal < 682)  // Lowest third of the potentiometer's range (0-340)
 {
   if (buttonState_G == HIGH) {
   // play the sound
   tone(speaker,NOTE_A4); //random note not matching the name
 }
 else if (buttonState_A == HIGH) {
   // play the sound
   tone(speaker,NOTE_B4); //random note not matching the name
 }
 else if (buttonState_B == HIGH) {
   // play the sound
   tone(speaker,NOTE_C4); //random note not matching the name
 }
 else if (buttonState_C == HIGH) {
   // play the sound
   tone(speaker,NOTE_D4); //random note not matching the name
 }


 else
  {
   noTone(speaker);
   }


 }


 else
 {
   if (buttonState_G == HIGH) {
   // play the sound
   tone(speaker,NOTE_AS4);
 }
 else if (buttonState_A == HIGH) {
   // play the sound
   tone(speaker,NOTE_FS4);
 }
 else if (buttonState_B == HIGH) {
   // play the sound
   tone(speaker,NOTE_GS4);
 }
 else if (buttonState_C == HIGH) {
   // play the sound
   tone(speaker,NOTE_CS3);
 }


 else
  {
   noTone(speaker);
   }
 }
  
 }