Music Producer Progress
For this stage of the project, I actually went from just having an idea to having something that works, and that honestly changed how I see everything. Before, it all sounded pretty simple in my head, but once I started actually connecting p5.js with Arduino and dealing with real inputs, I realized how much the interaction itself matters. It’s not just about making things work, it’s about how they feel when you use them.
Right now, the core system is already working. I can record audio directly in p5, save multiple recordings, select one and have it loop, and then change its pitch in real time using the potentiometer. The Arduino buttons are also working, and depending on the mode (piano or drums for now), they trigger different sounds. On top of that, the audio is being visualized as a waveform that reacts live, which already makes everything feel more alive. It’s still pretty raw visually, but it already feels like a mini music tool. I’ll include a video demo showing how it works so far, and also the schematic of the Arduino setup.
The hardest part by far was getting p5.js and Arduino to actually connect. At first, nothing worked. The port wouldn’t open, the sketch wouldn’t connect, and I kept getting errors even though the Arduino code itself was fine. I tried different approaches, switching between p5.serialport and web serial, closing and reopening ports, checking permissions, restarting my computer, and even simplifying everything just to test if anything would connect. It took a while, but once it finally worked, everything else became way easier. That was definitely the moment where the project clicked for me.
Another thing that was tricky was making the buttons have different meanings depending on the mode. It sounds simple, but structuring it cleanly took some thought. I ended up designing it so Arduino only sends raw data, and all the logic happens in p5. That separation made the system way more flexible and easier to expand.
One thing I’m actually really proud of is how the mode system works. Instead of having a lot of controls, I have one set of buttons that changes function depending on whether you’re in piano, drums, or later bass mode. It keeps everything simple but still powerful. I also really like the recording system. Each recording gets saved in an array, and you can select it, loop it, deselect it, and change its pitch whenever you want. The fact that the pitch isn’t fixed and is controlled live by the potentiometer makes it feel much more interactive. The waveform visualization using FFT is also something I like, because even though it’s simple, it already makes the connection between sound and visuals feel real.
There’s still a lot to improve though. I still need to add the bass sounds, design the interface better, and make everything feel more intentional visually. Right now it works, but it doesn’t fully feel like a finished experience. I also want to add a clearer instruction/tutorial section, fix some timing issues with the sounds (some feel slightly delayed), and clean up the audio files, especially for piano and drums. Another big thing is allowing instrument sounds to also be recorded and looped, not just the voice. And visually, I want each element (voice, beats, piano, bass) to look different and more meaningful.
Now that the technical foundation is working, I feel way more confident moving forward. Before, I was mostly worried about whether I could even connect everything and make it function. Now that I’ve solved that, I can actually focus on making it feel good to use. My next steps are refining the interaction, improving the visuals so they’re less generic, making the controls more intuitive, and adding more layering so the final compositions feel richer.