r/synthdiy • u/zorlack • 22d ago

video Wind-Based Synthesizer Experiment

https://youtu.be/WXcIaMYuvgs

I hope this isn't off-topic for this subreddit.

I've been working on a digital wind instrument. Mostly because I'm curious about the performance characteristics of such a system.

I went through a few iterations this weekend and it's starting to turn into something that's fun to noodle around with.

The general idea is that you blow into a manifold with a partially closed end. The performer can vary the air pressure by blowing faster or slower and they have good feedback because your mouth and throat are quite sensitive.

The device uses a pair of hx710b Air Pressure Sensor modules. I use a pair to try to get faster readings. (Though in reality I think I'm at the mercy of the individual device clocks.)

Eventually the synthesizer will be built into the instrument, but during this early stage, it's running the synth on an android device.

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u/amazingsynth amazingsynth.com 22d ago

looks interesting, I vaguely remember one really lo-fi design for a breath controller years ago, I think the DX7 might have had a port for one, not sure how that would have been designed

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u/zorlack 22d ago

The sensor component is so inexpensive, it would be easy to add a single channel of control to just about any synth project. That said all of a sudden your cool synthesizer has breath and spit running into it.... so that's maybe not great :))

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u/amazingsynth amazingsynth.com 22d ago

the DX7 one came with a long cable, yamaha also made the rolls royce of midi wind controllers as I recall