Creative Technology for Artists and Makers Course 

with Claudine Chen and Andy Wilson

Limited to 8 participants.

This course will introduce open source electronics and programming tools that can be used for all sorts of interactive audio or visual projects. Over the 4 weeks we will cover basic analog electronics and how to solder, working with LEDs and Arduino, and programming for AV using open source software including Pure Data, Patchblocks and Processing. If you want to include things like wearable electronics, sensors or open source hardware or software in your projects, this is the workshop for you!

Who?
The workshop is suitable for beginners to electronics or programming.

Cost?
Full Course €140
Part 1 – Hardware & Analog €75
Part 2 – Software & Coding €75

When?
Sunday 2-7pm
19th Nov – 10th Dec

Where?
A4 Sounds
St Joseph’s Parade, Off Upper Dorset St
Dublin 1

Learning
– How to solder
– How to power and connect LEDs
– How to incorporate sensors into audiovisual creations
– How to use an Arduino
– How to create audiovisuals with Pure Data, Patchblocks, and Processing

Participants to bring:
– Laptop if possible

Materialas Provided:
– Soldering Irons
– Oscillator PCBs and components
– Speaker/Monitors
– Arduinos

Course Breakdown

Part 1 – Hardware & Analog

Class 1
Analog electronics and learn to solder –  This week we will learn to solder by building an audio oscillator and have a look at some of the basic electronics components normally found in audio and video electronics. The oscillator you build, which is yours to take home, can be used to generate a sine wave audio signal

Class 2
LEDs/Arduino – want to incorporate LEDs into your project? This week we will look at how to make blinking or fading LEDs using an Arduino, and how to change the colour of RGB LEDs. We will do some basic programming and look at how to incorporate sensors and rechargeable batteries for portable projects. We’ll also have a quick look at other boards out there besides Arduino such as the Raspberry Pi & Teensy that can be used for projects with different requirements.

Part 2 – Software & Coding

Class 4
Pure Data & Patchblocks – Pure Data and Patchblocks are object orientated programming environments that utilise code in user friendly blocks, that can then be linked together and dragged around to create a “patch”, or a finished program of code. Patches can be as simple or complex as you like and can perform a few or many different functions.

Class 4
Processing – Processing is a java-based programming environment that makes it very easy to interact with your webcam, Arduino, or the keyboard and mouse. You can create shapes and colors, and manipulate images and video; you can also create sounds and manipulate sound files. You will learn basic programming skills.

Learning Resources (all weeks) – Each week everyone will get all the files, code, patches, etc that we’ve been looking at in each workshop to take home and use again.

Facilitators:

Claudine Chen earned her electronics chops getting her applied physics Ph.D., and expanded to creative coding as a student of the School of Machines, Making, and Make-Believe in Berlin. She exhibited the collaboration Alternative Soundtrack as part of the Lacuna Lab Activation exhibition at Spektrum in Berlin in 2016. She helped found Science Hack Day Berlin in 2013.

Andy Wilson is currently working as an electronic instrument designer for www.patchblocks.com, developing a new interactive audio platform for the next generation of music makers. He also recently worked for 2 years with www.maker.ie developing open source DIY audio products and delivering DIY electronics workshops, and in the past year in the past year has exhibited work at audio industry events in Dublin, Berlin and London.