Author: Tom Zicarelli

An update of the automax project

This is a Max patch that generates engine sounds (car, airplane, and spaceship) by reading RPM data from a bluetooth OBD-II sensor in an automobile. It uses Max adaptations of Pd patches by Andy Farnell from “Designing Sound”. And a Fourier filter patch (spaceship) by Katja Vetter.

In this audio clip, an airplane engine sound is mixed with a car engine sound.

The Max patch has been updated to detect available bluetooth devices. The audio example above was done with this device (Bluetooth Supper Mini OBD 2/OBD II ELM 327 Power 2)

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B009NP5RPQ

But any Elm 327 device should work, as long as it will connect with your  computer.

The device pictured above needs to be deleted and re-paired each time you use it (code: 1234). I would recommend looking for something else.

Download

https://github.com/tkzic/automax

Files

Main patch

automax.maxpat

Abstractions and other files

• engine-overtone.maxpat
• fourierfilter.maxpat
• hextoint.maxpat
• vz.nanoctrlr-tz.maxpat
• max-pd-abstractions folder (needs to be in Max file path or a subdirectory)

Instructions

Follow the sequence of events as directed in the patch. Starting by selecting your device from the menu in the upper left corner. If there is a problem with the serial connection you will get “read 0” messages – or an error in the Max window.

Set the polling rate as slow as possible (700 ms.) and then work backwards.

The Korg NanoKontroller works with this patch too.