Sound Reactive Lamp

The Sound Reactive Lamp project synchronizes Philips Hue lights with audio input, creating a dynamic lighting experience that reacts to sound frequencies and amplitudes. Inspired by the desire to cultivate a 'hyper awareness' of the present moment, this project combines technology and art to offer a calm and interactive contemplation of sound and light.

Learn more about the design philosophy and check out the video documentation here: vastquiet.space/sound-reactive-lamp-1.

Features

• Audio-Visual Synchronization:
  • Maps audio frequency ranges (low, mid, high) to custom colors.
  • Maps audio amplitude to dynamic light brightness levels.
• Philips Hue Integration:
  • Sends real-time color data to a Philips Hue Bridge using the Entertainment API.
  • To learn more, sign up for a Hue developer account and access the documentation here.
• Customizable Ableton Device UI:
  • Supports on-the-fly light color assignment for low, mid, and high-frequency ranges through the Max for Live device UI.

Installation

Prerequisites

This project was designed around the following software and hardware:

Software:

• Ableton Live, Max for Live, and Node for Max.

Hardware:

• Microphone, audio interface, Philips Hue light bulb, and a Hue Bridge.

Steps

1. Clone the repository: git clone https://github.com/nataliagalan/sound-reactive-lamp.git cd sound-reactive-lamp

2. Install dependencies: npm install

Usage

1. Set Up Philips Hue:

   • Follow the Philips Hue Entertainment API documentation to:
     • Set up your Hue Bridge.
     • Create an Entertainment Area.

2. Configure the Environment:

   • Create an .env file in the root directory of the project.
   • Use the .env.example file as a guide to configure the required environment variables.

3. Prepare Ableton Live:

   • Open Ableton Live, create, and save a new project.
   • Connect your microphone to your audio interface and ensure the audio input levels are between -12dB and -3dB.

4. Install the Max for Live Device:

   • Copy this repository to your Ableton Live Max for Live devices folder. The final path should look like this:

     your-ableton-project/Presets/Audio Effects/Max Audio Effect/sound-reactive-lamp_1
     

   • Add the sound-reactive-lamp_1 Max for Live device to an audio track.

5. Set Up Colors:

   • Open the Max for Live device UI in Ableton and set the desired colors for low, mid, and high-frequency ranges.

6. Run the Node.js Script:

   • Press the script start button in the Max for Live device to run the Node.js code.

7. Play and Experiment:

   • Try different sounds and colors to observe how the lights react.
   • Explore the philips-hue-audio-sync.js script and sound-reactive-lamp_1.amxd Max patch to customize the project for your needs.

Troubleshooting

• Hue Bridge Connection Issues:

  • Ensure the Hue Bridge is on the same network as your computer.
  • Verify that the Entertainment Area is set up correctly.

• Audio Input Levels:

  • Adjust microphone gain to keep levels between -12dB and -3dB.

• Max for Live Device Not Responding:

  • Restart Ableton Live after adding the Max for Live device.
  • Ensure Node.js is properly installed and configured.

Contributing

Contributions are welcome! If you find bugs or have ideas for improvements:

1. Fork the repository.
2. Create a feature branch: git checkout -b feature-name.
3. Commit your changes: git commit -m "Add feature XYZ".
4. Push to the branch: git push origin feature-name.
5. Submit a pull request.

For major changes, please open an issue first to discuss your ideas.