Click HERE to download the ColorSynth Owner's Manual!

Click HERE to download the "ColorSynth CONTROL" MAX/MSP patch!

CONCEPT

ColorSynths are stage lighting effects, designed by and for electronic musicians. They translate MIDI messages into light and colors. Using a ColorSynth can be as simple as plugging it into the MIDI out port of your favorite keyboard, electronic drum kit, or other MIDI capable device. Advanced users can use software such as Ableton Live, Max/MSP, PureData and others to create complex lighting sequences.

For the elctronic musician, ColorSynths offer a great advantage over current conventional lighting effects, as they do not require DMX hardware or software to operate. Simply connect to power and a MIDI source, and your ColorSynth is ready to add the most crucial element to your live musical performance - pretty, colorful blinky lights.

MIDI IMPLEMENTATION

ColorSynths interperets the following MIDI messages:

Notes - Mapped to the colors of the RGB spectrum like this:

Velocity - Affects the speed at which a new note changes the current color to a new color. Softer notes/colors transition slowly, harder ones transition fast or instantly.

Continuous Controllers (CC):

HARDWARE

The vibrant colors and intense light of the ColorSynths come from a high power RGB LED, which is mounted on a heat sink inside of the enclosure. The enclosure is made of ABS plastic, and is combination hand/machine crafted in San Francisco, CA by . Please listen to his music and let him know how awesome we (I) think he is.

On the back of the ColorSynth fixture are MIDI IN (left) and MIDI OUT/THRU (right) ports, a 6 position DIP switch, a DC power input that accepts 10-15V DC (center positive), and an on/off switch. Any data received at the MIDI IN port is processed and then echoed out the MIDI OUT port. The first four DIP switches assign the binary value of the ColorSynth's MIDI channel, which is shipped by default to channel 1. When in the UP/ON position, the 5th DIP switch engages a standalone mode. When in standalone, the first four DIP switches modify the behavior of the standalone mode.

** SAFETY PRECAUTIONS **
DC POWER OVER MIDI PINS 1 AND 3

ColorSynths ship with the 6th DIP switch set in the OFF/DOWN position by default. When set to the UP/ON position, the 6th DIP switch connects the DC power input to pins 1 and 3 of the MIDI OUT port, allowing you to power two ColorSynths with one power supply. ColorSynths also ship with a "wall wart" power transformer that provides 1A of current, enough for two ColorSynths. You should always use a power supply that provides at least 500mA of current per ColorSynth, and you should NEVER power more than 4 ColorSynths from a single power supply.

**IT IS STRONGLY RECOMENDED THAT YOU ONLY USE THIS FEATURE WHEN CONNECTING THE MIDI OUT OF THE COLORSYNTH TO ANOTHER COLORSYNTH**

While the MIDI spec defines pins 1 and 3 as not connected, some MIDI devices may short these pins to ground, which could be dangerous. Power is not connected to the MIDI IN port, so devices connected to that port will not be affected by the use of MIDI power. Because of this, it's recomended that your ColorSynths be on the end of your MIDI device chain.

When in doubt, leave this feature disabled, with DIP swith 6 set in the OFF/DOWN position.

The on/off switch is actually a MIDI Power (left) / DC power (right) switch. This guarantees that in long chains of ColorSynths and multiple power transformers, MIDI power and DC power from different units will never mix.

PLANS FOR OPEN SOURCE RELEASE

ColorSynths are conceived, designed, and hand assembled in Oakland, CA by Eric Bateman. The design, source code, circuit layout and all other Death Star schematics are intended to be released soon under an open source license and will be free for non-commercial use.