Introduction: Water Synthesizer With MakeyMakey and Scratch

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Using MakeyMakey to transform different materials into switches or buttons and thus trigger movements or sounds on the computer is a fascinating affair. One learns which material conducts the weak current impulse and can invent and experiment with it.

 This experiment shows the colorful water synthesizer.

Supplies

MakeyMakey Kit
Glasses
Water Color
Water
Apps:
Scratch
Music App (I used Garage Band)

Step 1: Music Research

It needs a short excerpt of a music title, which can be played with a few notes.
This requires a little research on the Internet, the selection is large and it is worthwhile to search a little longer for the right sound snippet.

Step 2: Recording the Sounds

With an online piano or music app, you can now record the individual notes as the desired instrument. I used Garage Band for this. The length and volume should be such that it can be shortened and controlled later in our programming program.

Step 3: Programming With Scratch

With the program Scratch you can now assign the individual sounds to simple shapes. It is nice if you work with color already, then the programming becomes more manageable and fits to the later construction of the water synthesizer. Of course the colors of the MakeyMakey crocodile clips are suitable here, then it will look suitable later. So, for each tone I have chosen a certain color. And so the tones in Scratch visually sorted.

Step 4: Building Up the Water Synthesizer

When the preparation of the sounds in Scratch is complete, the installation process begins. 
The number of glasses corresponds to the number of sounds. These are filled with water. And the water is colored in the colors of the tones. That looks already cool. Then the color matching crocodile clips are first attached to the MakeyMakey. Since we have nine tones for our piece, we used the in slots on the bottom of the MakeyMakey. So W-A-S-D-F and G makes six slots equipped with the white wire extenders and three slots from the top. Makes room for the connection of nine crocodile clips. The other side of the crocodile clips are hung in the glasses.

Step 5: Connecting the MakeyMakey to the Computer

When we have completed the setup, the MakeyMakey is connected to the computer. And if we still connect ourselves with a crocodile clip with earth slot of the MakeyMakey, we can already play the sounds. And now we have to arrange the glasses so that we can play our music well. This takes a little time to test, but then you will find the best setup.

Step 6: And Then It Is: Play! Have Fun!

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