Small electronic windspeed sensor?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the development of a small electronic windspeed sensor for controlling expression in a custom electronic flute. Participants explore various sensor options, including thermistors and microphones, while considering the challenges of sensitivity, size, and interference from ambient conditions.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • One participant suggests using thermistors for airflow sensing, noting the complexity of accounting for breath, humidity, and temperature variations.
  • Another participant proposes enclosing thermistors in a tube to shield them from ambient interference while measuring breath.
  • There is a consideration of using a microphone to detect breath intensity, with concerns raised about distinguishing "wind" noise from the flute's tone.
  • A participant mentions a homemade anemometer as a potential reference but questions its practicality for the intended application.
  • Clarification is sought on the term "Expression," with a participant explaining the goal of controlling volume and tone brightness through breath intensity.
  • Commercial options for similar devices are noted, with references to Yamaha and Akai as manufacturers.
  • Links to additional resources and construction ideas are provided for further exploration.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express various ideas and approaches, but no consensus is reached on the best method for implementing the windspeed sensor or the definition of "Expression" in this context. Multiple competing views and uncertainties remain throughout the discussion.

Contextual Notes

Challenges include the need for sensitivity in detecting breath, potential interference from ambient noise, and the complexity of integrating different sensor types effectively.

jack476
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Hello, I'm putting together a sort of electronic flute and I'd like to be able to use a sensor to control expression with breath.

It needs to be small enough to bring up to the mouth to control, rather sensitive, and the cheaper the better. Any suggestions?
 
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I think my post timed out?

Anyway - solid state (electronic) airflow sensing is it's own specialty. Often done with a thermistor (temperature varying resistor) or two. By applying current to one thermistor, you can gauge the cooling effect of the airflow, and compare to the second thermistor, ideally at the same ambient temp, but out of the airflow.

As you can imagine - doing this for breath, humidity, variable temperature - would be tricky.
 
I like that idea :)

I've used thermistors in the EE lab class I am in...guess I could just "borrow" a couple from the parts bin xD But do you think I might be able to shield them from ambient interference by like putting them in a little tube that you blow into?

I have also thought that maybe it could be possible to use a small mic and have the intensity of the input sound (breathing harder would of course be slightly louder) somehow hacked to control the expression. Thoughts on that?
 
Noise on microphone works, since this is a flute? - how will the mic pick up the "wind" noise and not the tone of the flute, it can be done, but gets complicated. As for what you mean by Expression I have no idea.
 
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My mum has an anemometer someone hacked together from one of those cyclist's training computers. It's just a very light dynamo driven by some anemometer cups, basically.

Don't know if that's practical here.
 
Windadct said:
Noise on microphone works, since this is a flute? - how will the mic pick up the "wind" noise and not the tone of the flute, it can be done, but gets complicated. As for what you mean by Expression I have no idea.

I may not be using the terminology appropriately since I am only an amateur musician. What I'm trying to do is have the intensity of the breath control volume and/or the brightness of the tone, or a pitch modulator.

Practically, that just means I need some kind of analog control that can be operated with breath.
 
Windadct said:
how will the mic pick up the "wind" noise and not the tone of the flute, it can be done, but gets complicated. As for what you mean by Expression I have no idea.

These devices are available commercially - Yamaha and Akai are the two "big names".

You might get some construction ideas from http://home.comcast.net/~ijfritz/index.htm

Or some of the other links to forums etc here: http://www.patchmanmusic.com/WindControllerLinks.html
 
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