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Setting up

What we will cover

This introductory lecture gives an overview of the course, and takes you through your first Bela projects.

Table of contents

  1. What you’ll learn in this lecture
  2. Code example
  3. Recommended parts
  4. Further reading

Lecture 0: Setting up

What you’ll learn in this lecture

  • Setting up your Bela kit
  • Running your first projects
  • Using the Bela IDE

Code example

shepard-risset: implements a Shepard-Risset glissando, a classic auditory illusion of a tone that appears to gradually ascend without ever becoming any higher.

Running the examples in this course assumes that you have a Bela Starter Kit or Bela Mini Starter Kit.

Some of the lectures also work with sensors and other electronic hardware. We suggest the following components, which can be acquired from any electronics supplier:

  • Solderless breadboard (any size)
  • Potentiometers: at least 2, ideally 8. Choose ones that fit a breadboard.
  • Pushbuttons (tactile switches): at least 2, ideally 8.
  • LEDs: at least 2, ideally 8, various colours.
  • Resistors: 8+ 10k resistors for switches; 8+ 220 ohm resistors for LEDs.
  • Force-sensing resistor (FSR), any shape.
  • Piezo element (contact microphone), any size, with wire leads attached.
  • Jumper wires, including pin-to-socket wires.
  • A 3.5mm stereo audio cable for connecting Bela to other audio devices.

Further reading

There are many excellent textbooks and online resources for learning digital signal processing and audio programming. A few that are mentioned in the lecture include: