EditorX Sensor Input Analog Digital

The Analog / Digital sub-section configures a sensor input for analog or digital sensors.

Analog / Digital

Sensors are either analog or digital. Analog sensors output a single value that is captured by the digitizer using its analog to digital converter, after which a number of algorithms can be applied to process the sensor value and output it as a MIDI message. Digital sensors convert analog value(s) in the sensor itself and output a serial binary data stream using the I2C protocol that is received by the digitizer, which then can apply a number of algorithms to process the sensor values and output them as MIDI messages.

When selecting Analog, a number of conversion methods will be made available that may be applied in conjunction with processing methods. When selecting Digital, a number of sensor presets can be selected, applicable to the corresponding I-CubeX sensors.

Analog Sensors

For analog sensors the following conversion methods are available:

Lookup table
Absolute value
Time duration
Frequency
Absolute value + BPM

Lookup table

A lookup table takes the sensor value as the index for a table and then outputs the value stored at that index. This method is useful for linearizing the response curve of a sensor, such as the ReachClose, ReachFar and all Touch sensors.

File:Conversion lookup-table.png

Absolute value

The absolute value method subtracts an offset value of the sensor value and if the result is negative, changes the sign of the value so that the output is always positive.This method is useful for sensors whose value at rest, ie. when the sensor is not stimulated, is not zero but varies around a value, such as the BendMicro/Mini/Short, BioVolt and GForce3D.

File:Conversion absolute-value.png

Time duration

The time duration method counts the milliseconds between a peak (or dip) and the following peak (or dip), if no Peak / Dip End notification processing method is enabled. If Peak / Dip End notification is enabled, the time duration method counts the time between a peak and its end (ie. the time the value drops below the threshold set for peak detection). The range of the time duration is 1 - 16383 ms. The time duration unit can be set separately, and setting it to 1 means the time duration is output in milliseconds, setting it to 100 means the time duration is output in 10ths of a second. This method has many applications, such as measuring the time between taps on a Touch sensor, the time a hand was held over a ReachClose sensor or the time between two activations of a MoveOn sensor.

Frequency

The frequency method operates like the time duration method but outputs a frequency instead of the time duration. The frequency unit can be set separately, and setting it to 1 means the frequency is output in Hertz (Hz), setting to 60 means the frequency is output as beats per minute (BPM). This method has many applications, such as measuring the BPM of taps on a Touch sensor, or the frequency of breaking a SeeLaser-Red beam pointed at a Flash sensor.

File:Conversion frequency-Hz.png File:Conversion frequency-BPM.png

Absolute value + BPM

The "Absolute value + BPM" method combines the absolute value method with the frequency method, as explained above. The Mon button enables/disables the output of MIDI messages containing the absolute value, before conversion to beats per minute (BPM), to monitor the range of the sensor input values and adjust the offset value accordingly. This method is useful for capturing beats per minute (BPM) when using a BioVolt as a heartbeat sensor.