Besides developing the hardware of the FLAPIBox, a selection of peripherals were developed. Both store-bought sollutions and prototypes are described in this section.
Microphones and loudspeakers are connected to the FLAPIBox. The same goes with other peripherals such as sensors and MIDI controllers. The latter have not been tested yet.
Off-the-shelf peripherals
There are already many Off-the-shelf instrument specific microphones and loudspeakers that can be used with the FLAPIBox. Besides these, some components need modification to work with certain instruments. The PiezoBarrel (Francis 2025) is a contact microphone that can be mounted on a brass mouthpiece, a saxophone neck or a clarinet barrel. The IntraMic (Janik 2022) is another microphone for clarinet or saxophone. Helpinstill (Charles 2024) is a pick-up system for piano. As for loudspeakers, besides conventional speaker membranes, sound exciters and bass shakers are transducer speakers that are widely used with resonance-box instruments.
Modified peripherals
At an early stage of my research project, some 3D-printed mouthpiece microphones were made as an alternative to having a microphone inside the mouth when playing, but when I discovered the PiezoBarrel, these became redundant. For a coming piece for multi-euphonium-setup the BrassBellMic were developed. A 50mm piezo disc is mounted inside the euphonium bell. The goal is to exclude any feedback issues. The FluteFootSpeaker is based on a design by Geir Davidsen, originally designed for using the euphonium as resonance cavity for electronic sound. The design has been altered to fit the foot of a bass flute. The loudspeaker is the same, namely an AuraSound 2 inch (NS2-326-8AT) Full-range Woofer. The design was made for my piece ”Søvnen - for bass flute and electronics”
Early versions of mouthpiece microphones, made with piezo elements glued to 3D-printed and conventional mouthpieces.
FluteFootSpeaker:
Besides developing the hardware of the FLAPIBox, a bass flute foot speaker has been made. A piece, "søvnen - for bass flute and electronics" make use of this speaker.
BrassBellMic:
-was first made to test whether a piezo disc could work adequately as a microphone for euphonium, excluding feedback challenges (Møster 2021).
PiezoBarrel:
A hole is drilled in the mouthpiece and a threaded fitting adaptor is soldered over the hole. We have produced PiezoBarrel mouthpieces for trumpet, trombone and euphonium.
3D printed parts (from left): 1) Foot, spring and tube 2) Ring for testing diameter 3) Ring becomes tray with 4 spring-loaded feet
One of eight euphonium mouthpiece speakers developed by Geir Davidsen for Tuba/Me/Room. This has been modified to fit the foot of a bass flute
Helpinstill:
A magnetic string pick-up system that can be attached to most grand and up-right pianos. Here shown in an up-right piano.
Mid-range car speakers:
For use with brass instruments, hand-held playing into the bell of the instrument. PRO PSM8 8" for euphonium, MAD PM1-64 6,5" for trombone and MAD M2-34 3,5" for trumpet, all from GAS. Frequency range +/- 100-10.000Hz.
Foot joint mounted in speaker bottom and glued. Loudspeaker fitted, membrane pointing downwards. All parts 3D-printed
