Discover the wonderful world of littleBits! Learn the basics of sound, understand synthesizers and their history, and build a basic analog synthesizer that generates beeps, blips, and other fun electronic sounds. This workshop is hands-on and you will also learn how to control littleBits with an external MIDI controller and use littleBits to control Ableton Live and other Digital Audio Workstations (DAW).

2. http://www.slideshare.net/chadmairn
@cmairn

3. Agenda
• Discover the power of littleBits
• Learn the basics of sound
• Understand synthesizers and their history
• Build an analog synthesizer and more
• Use littleBits modules to control music software
Disclaimer: much of this presentation was inspired by the “Unleash Your Inner Rock Star” manual written by littleBits and KORG

4. What are littleBits?
They are magnetic modules that require no wiring and no soldering.
You can build circuits in seconds and they are color-coded:
• Power is needed in every circuit and they always come first in the chain.
• Input accepts users/environmental input and sends signals to other modules.
• Output modules do something, like light up, make a sound etc. Only affected by input.
• Wire modules expand reach and change directions to include other modules.
There are billions of combinations with over 60 interchangeable modules!
They are really fun and easy to use.

5. Sound is the vibration of air or another medium.
Image source: http://goo.gl/lwGlX8
Interactive Wave Simulator

6. Pitch is how a person perceives the frequency of a
vibration. Everyone perceives pitch differently.
Image source: http://goo.gl/jw20w8

7. Frequency is how many times a waveform passes by a certain
point in space over time and is measured scientifically.
Image source: http://goo.gl/jw20w8

8. Amplitude is an indicator of the amount of energy in a sound
wave. The higher the amplitude the louder it sounds.
Image source: http://goo.gl/270vz2

9. Timbre differentiates sounds of the same pitch. This is how
we determine the difference between instruments.
Image source: http://goo.gl/IlE7QX

10. Monophonic synthesizers, like this Minimoog, produce one
note at a time.
Image source: http://goo.gl/EA7Veb

11. Polyphonic synthesizers, like this Polymoog, produce
many sounds simultaneously.
Image source: http://goo.gl/TlSRKY

12. Brief History of
Synthesizers
More info: http://goo.gl/AMh7aB
1920 – Theremin
1928 – Ondes Martenot
1954 – Hammond B-3 organ
1965 – Rhodes piano
1968 – Hohner clavinet
1969 – Minimoog
1977 – Prophet-5
1981 – Roland Jupiter-8 (JP-8)
1982 – Roland TB-303
1983 – Yamaha DX-7
1988 – Korg M1

13. Image source: http://goo.gl/2hW0o6
Signal Generators (Voltage Controlled Oscillator)
Modulators Controller (keyboard)
Patch bay overrides hard-wiring

14. http://littlebits.cc/kits/synth-kit

15. What is in the Synth Kit?

16. The power module lets you use a 9 volt battery to
supply electricity.
Source: http://littlebits.cc/

17. The oscillator is the main sound source and is
capable of creating audio tones.
Source: http://littlebits.cc/

18. The random module has two modes: "noise" and
"random voltage.” Random voltages can control
oscillators and make them play random pitches.
Source: http://littlebits.cc/

19. The keyboard lets you play melodies.
Source: http://littlebits.cc/

20. The micro sequencer sends out voltages based on the position
of each of the four “step” knobs. It also has a trigger output,
which can send voltages to any other modules.
Source: http://littlebits.cc/

21. The envelope module has two controls: "attack", which is
how long it takes to achieve maximum volume, and
"decay", which is how long it takes to achieve silence again.
Source: http://littlebits.cc/

22. The filter changes the relative volume of certain frequencies in the
sound. The "cutoff" knob sets the frequency to be emphasized,
and the other controls 'peak,' or intensity of the filter.
Source: http://littlebits.cc/

23. The delay module takes incoming audio and repeats it, like an echo. It has two
knobs: "time", which sets the delay length between a sound and its repetition, and
"feedback", which controls how many times the sound repeats.
Source: http://littlebits.cc/

24. The mix module allows you to combine two inputs and send them to a
single output. It also has a volume control for each of its inputs (i.e.,
mixing). Use it to play two oscillators on a single speaker!
Source: http://littlebits.cc/

25. The split module sends a single input to two wired
outputs. It's great for connecting one output to two inputs
(e.g, using a keyboard to control two oscillators).
Source: http://littlebits.cc/

26. The synth speaker amplifies your circuits!
Source: http://littlebits.cc/

27. MIDI Module
MIDI (Music Instrument Digital Interface) is a communication
protocol for instruments. They don’t speak in sound, but in data.
MIDI allows you to control synth modules from a DAW (Digital
Audio Workstation) like Ableton Live and other MIDI-enabled
instruments like keyboard controllers.
Also allows you to create your own MIDI controller with littleBits
modules by converting control voltages to MIDI messages.
Multiple MIDI modules can be used at once to create polyphonic
control.
Source: http://littlebits.cc/bits/midi

28. Using an external MIDI controller with littleBits
MIDI Out
MIDI In

30. Set MIDI Input and Output in Ableton Live

31. MIDI Out – littleBits becomes the controller
In Ableton Live, change All Ins
to littleBits KORG W5 MIDI
Note: MIDI Out only happens via USB port.
MIDI In
MIDI Out

32. littleBits micro sequencer sending MIDI data to DAW
Play around and change instruments/parameters etc. in Ableton
Live and change sequencing duration/speed via littleBits

33. You can control a DAW
via a littleBits MIDI
module[s] and trigger
other modules using the
micro sequencer and
tweak sounds from the
DAW and from littleBits;
it is seemingly limitless!!

34. http://littlebits.cc/projects/keytar
http://littlebits.cc/projects/keytar

36. http://www.slideshare.net/chadmairn
@cmairn