Crickets

About

Chirps from ten species of crickets were analyzed in terms of rhythm and dominant frequency to determine characteristics of constituent wavelets from each species' chirp. This data was translated into assembly language instructions to make an algorithm that synthesizes chirps. Each cricket contains a microcontroller running at 4 MHz, programmed with a virtual 2-bit square wave oscillator that interprets data from each chirp. As the crickets chirp, calls of different species cycle with varying length, making a multi-species chorus as the calls overlap. The negligible differences between the microcontrollers' on-board clocks were exploited to cause relative phasing amongst the chirps.

To keep body size small the printed circuit board was made as narrow as possible with few components. The crickets are made of masonite, monokote, paint, and electronic components.

Crickets has been installed at the Weisman Art Gallery in Minneapolis, REDCAT in Los Angeles, and at California Institute of the Arts.

Photos

redcat single cricket

Spectrograms

Code

;=========================================;
; Crickets - 2005 Cooper Baker ;
;=========================================;

; INIT ============================================================
device sx28l,osc4mhz
device turbo,stackx,optionx
IRC_CAL irc_slow ;irc_4mhz
reset main
freq 4000000

; DATA =======================================================

;================================
org $008 ; memory page
;================================

oscil_count ds 1
oscil_loops ds 1
cycle_count ds 1
cycle_loops ds 1
seconds ds 2
wait ds 3
rand ds 1
address ds 1
wavelets ds 1
rubs ds 1
chirps ds 1

watch rand,8,udec
watch chirps,8,udec
watch seconds,8,udec

; constants --------------------------------------------------
leds equ ra
pins equ rb
oscpin equ rb.0
loud equ %11111110
medi equ %11111100
soft equ %11110000
rest equ %11111111

;================================
org $000 ; memory page
;================================

; SYNTHESIS ===================================================

counter ;----------------------------------------------------
mov oscil_count,oscil_loops ; + 2
:loop nop ; * 1
nop ; * 1
nop ; * 1
nop ; * 1
djnz oscil_count,:loop ; * 4 + 2 =
retp ; * 8 + 4 total

oscil ;-----------------------------------------------------------
clrb oscpin
call @counter
setb oscpin
call @counter
retp

cycle ;-----------------------------------------------------------
mov cycle_count,cycle_loops
:loop call @oscil
djnz cycle_count,:loop
retp

; TIMING =======================================================

waiter ;----------------------------------------------------------
:loop mov wait+2,#16 ; + 2 | 4 = 34
:loop_c mov wait+1,#249 ; * 2 | 249 = 1496
:loop_b mov wait,#249 ; * 2 | 249 = 998
:loop_a djnz wait,:loop_a ; * 4 + 2 | wait_a * 4 + 2 = a = 998
djnz wait+1,:loop_b ; * 4 + 2 | wait_b * 6 + 2 + (a * wait_b) = b = 249998
djnz wait+2,:loop_c ; * 4 + 2 | wait_c * 8 + 2 + (b * wait_c) = c = 1000026
djnz seconds,:loop ; countdown (unrelated to clocking)
retp ; + 3
; c + 5 = | 4,000,098 total clocks (~1 second)

random_chirps ;----------------------------------------------------------
mov W,<<rand
mov W,<<rand
snb rand.4
xor W,#1
snb rand.5
xor W,#1
snb rand.3
xor W,#1
mov rand,W
mov chirps,W
clc
rr chirps ; rand scaling by shifting
clc
rr chirps
clc
rr chirps
clc
rr chirps
add chirps,#1
ret

random_waits ;----------------------------------------------------------
mov W,<<rand
mov W,<<rand
snb rand.4
xor W,#1
snb rand.5
xor W,#1
snb rand.3
xor W,#1
mov rand,W
mov seconds,W
clc
rr seconds ; rand scaling by shifting
clc
rr seconds
clc
rr seconds
clc
rr seconds
add seconds,#1
ret

; MAIN ============================================================
main mov !leds,#0
mov rand,#$a0
loop
call random_chirps
call @badlands
call random_waits
call waiter

call random_chirps
call @banded_scaly
call random_waits
call waiter

call random_chirps
call @black_faced_bush
call random_waits
call waiter

call random_chirps
call @carolina_ground
call random_waits
call waiter

call random_chirps
call @common_short_tailed
call random_waits
call waiter

call random_chirps
call @confused_ground
call random_waits
call waiter

call random_chirps
call @damp_loving_field
call random_waits
call waiter

call random_chirps
call @fall_field
call random_waits
call waiter

jmp loop

; CHIRP SUBROUTINES ==============================================

;================================
org $200 ; memory page
;================================

; JUMPS ** ** **
confused_ground
jmp confused_ground_jump
; ** ** ** ** **

badlands ;- 400 ms ---------------------------------------------
mov oscil_loops,#56 ; 4.4 kHz
:chirp
mov wavelets,#5 ; 5 wavelets
:wavelet
mov !pins,#soft ; soft
mov cycle_loops,#4 ; 1 ms
call @cycle ;

mov !pins,#medi ; medi
mov cycle_loops,#4 ; 1 ms
call @cycle ;

mov !pins,#loud ; loud
mov cycle_loops,#22 ; 5 ms
not leds ; leds on
call @cycle ;
not leds ; leds off

mov !pins,#medi ; medi
mov cycle_loops,#26 ; 6 ms
call @cycle ;

mov !pins,#soft ; soft
mov cycle_loops,#22 ; 5 ms
call @cycle ;

djnz wavelets,:wavelet ; wavelet loop

mov wavelets,#10 ; 310 ms
mov !pins,#rest ; rest
mov cycle_loops,#136 ; 31 ms
:pause call @cycle ;
djnz wavelets,:pause ; pause loop
djnz chirps,:chirp ; chirp loop
retp

banded_scaly ;- 100 ms + 2 sec pause --------------------------------
mov oscil_loops,#37 ; 6.6 kHz
:chirp
mov wavelets,#11 ; 11 wavelets
:wavelet
mov !pins,#soft ; soft
mov cycle_loops,#20 ; 3 ms
call @cycle ;

mov !pins,#medi ; medi
mov cycle_loops,#13 ; 2 ms
call @cycle ;

mov !pins,#loud ; loud
mov cycle_loops,#99 ; 15 ms
not leds ; leds on
call @cycle ;
not leds ; leds off

mov !pins,#medi ; medi
mov cycle_loops,#7 ; 1 ms
call @cycle ;

mov !pins,#soft ; soft
mov cycle_loops,#26 ; 4 ms
call @cycle ;

mov !pins,#rest ; rest
mov cycle_loops,#165 ; 25 ms
call @cycle ;
mov cycle_loops,#165 ; 25 ms
call @cycle ;
mov cycle_loops,#165 ; 25 ms
call @cycle ;

djnz wavelets,:wavelet ; wavelet loop

mov wavelets,#193 ; 1930 ms
mov !pins,#rest ; rest
mov cycle_loops,#66 ; 10 ms
:pause call @cycle ;
djnz wavelets,:pause ; pause loop
djnz chirps,:chirp ; chirp loop
retp

black_faced_bush ;- 100 ms + 1 sec pause --------------------------------
mov oscil_loops,#52 ; 4.8 kHz
:chirp
mov wavelets,#11 ; 11 wavelets
:wavelet
mov rubs,#2
:rub
mov !pins,#soft ; soft
mov cycle_loops,#14 ; 3 ms
call @cycle ;

mov !pins,#medi ; medi
mov cycle_loops,#14 ; 3 ms
call @cycle ;

mov !pins,#loud ; loud
mov cycle_loops,#34 ; 7 ms
not leds ; leds on
call @cycle ;
not leds ; leds off

mov !pins,#medi ; medi
mov cycle_loops,#29 ; 6 ms
call @cycle ;

mov !pins,#soft ; soft
mov cycle_loops,#29 ; 6 ms
call @cycle ;

djnz rubs,:rub ; rub loop

mov !pins,#rest ; rest
mov cycle_loops,#239 ; 50 ms
call @cycle ;

djnz wavelets,:wavelet ; wavelet loop

mov wavelets,#19 ; 950 ms
mov !pins,#rest ; rest
mov cycle_loops,#239 ; 50 ms
:pause call @cycle ;

djnz wavelets,:pause ; pause loop
djnz chirps,:chirp ; chirp loop
retp

carolina_ground ;- continuous (396 ms loop) ---------------------------------------------
mov oscil_loops,#40 ; 6.1 kHz
:chirp
mov wavelets,#6 ; 6 wavelets
:wavelet
mov !pins,#soft ; soft
mov cycle_loops,#43 ; 7 ms
not leds ; leds on
call @cycle ;
not leds ; leds off

mov !pins,#rest ; rest
mov cycle_loops,#24 ; 4 ms
call @cycle ;

mov !pins,#medi ; medi
mov cycle_loops,#43 ; 7 ms
not leds ; leds on
call @cycle ;
not leds ; leds off

mov !pins,#rest ; rest
mov cycle_loops,#24 ; 4 ms
call @cycle ;

mov rubs,#3
:rub
mov !pins,#loud ; loud
mov cycle_loops,#43 ; 7 ms
not leds ; leds on
call @cycle ;
not leds ; leds off

mov !pins,#rest ; rest
mov cycle_loops,#24 ; 4 ms
call @cycle ;

djnz rubs,:rub ; rub loop
djnz wavelets,:wavelet ; wavelet loop

mov !pins,#rest ; rest
djnz chirps,:chirp ; chirp loop
retp

common_short_tailed ;- continuous (494 ms loop) ---------------------------------------------
mov oscil_loops,#44 ; 5.6 kHz
:chirp
mov wavelets,#38 ; 38 wavelets
:wavelet
mov !pins,#soft ; soft
mov cycle_loops,#6 ; 1 ms
call @cycle ;

mov !pins,#medi ; medi
mov cycle_loops,#6 ; 1 ms
call @cycle ;

mov !pins,#loud ; loud
mov cycle_loops,#17 ; 3 ms
not leds ; leds on
call @cycle ;
not leds ; leds off

mov !pins,#medi ; medi
mov cycle_loops,#6 ; 1 ms
call @cycle ;

mov !pins,#soft ; soft
mov cycle_loops,#11 ; 2 ms
call @cycle

mov !pins,#rest ; rest
mov cycle_loops,#24 ; 4 ms
call @cycle ;

djnz wavelets,:wavelet ; wavelet loop

mov !pins,#rest ; rest
djnz chirps,:chirp ; chirp loop
retp

confused_ground_jump ;- continuous (396 ms loop) ---------------------------------------------
mov oscil_loops,#36 ; 6.9 kHz

:chirp mov rubs,#6 ; 6 rubs

:rub_a mov !pins,#soft ; soft
mov cycle_loops,#62 ; 9 ms
not leds ; leds on
call @cycle ;
not leds ; leds off

mov !pins,#rest ; rest
mov cycle_loops,#35 ; 5 ms
call @cycle ;
djnz rubs,:rub_a ; rub_a loop

mov rubs,#6 ; 6 rubs
:rub_b mov !pins,#soft ; soft
mov cycle_loops,#14 ; 2 ms
not leds ; leds on
call @cycle ;

mov !pins,#medi ; medi
mov cycle_loops,#35 ; 5 ms
call @cycle ;

mov !pins,#soft ; soft
mov cycle_loops,#14 ; 2 ms
not leds ; leds on
call @cycle ;

mov !pins,#rest ; rest
mov cycle_loops,#35 ; 5 ms
call @cycle ;
djnz rubs,:rub_b ; rub_b loop

mov rubs,#24 ; 24 rubs
:rub_c mov !pins,#soft ; soft
mov cycle_loops,#7 ; 1 ms
not leds ; leds on
call @cycle ;

mov !pins,#medi ; medi
mov cycle_loops,#7 ; 1 ms
call @cycle ;

mov !pins,#loud ; loud
mov cycle_loops,#28 ; 4 ms
call @cycle ;

mov !pins,#medi ; medi
mov cycle_loops,#7 ; 1 ms
call @cycle ;

mov !pins,#soft ; soft
mov cycle_loops,#14 ; 2 ms
call @cycle ;
not leds ; leds off

mov !pins,#rest ; rest
mov cycle_loops,#35 ; 5 ms
call @cycle ;
djnz rubs,:rub_c ; rub_c loop

mov wavelets,#2 ; 2 wavelets

:wavelet
mov rubs,#3 ; 3 rubs (100 ms)

:rub_d mov !pins,#rest ; rest
mov cycle_loops,#228 ; 33 ms
call @cycle ;
djnz rubs,:rub_d ; rub_d loop

mov rubs,#5 ; 5 rubs
:rub_e mov !pins,#soft ; soft
mov cycle_loops,#62 ; 9 ms
not leds ; leds on
call @cycle ;
not leds ; leds off

mov !pins,#rest ; rest
mov cycle_loops,#35 ; 5 ms
call @cycle ;
djnz rubs,:rub_e ; rub_e loop

djnz wavelets,:wavelet ; wavelet loop

mov rubs,#12 ; 12 rubs (400 ms)
:rub_f mov !pins,#rest ; rest
mov cycle_loops,#228 ; 33 ms
call @cycle ;
djnz rubs,:rub_f ; rub_f loop

mov rubs,#5
:rub_g mov !pins,#soft ; soft
mov cycle_loops,#62 ; 9 ms
not leds ; leds on
call @cycle ;
not leds ; leds off

mov !pins,#rest ; rest
mov cycle_loops,#35 ; 5 ms
call @cycle ;
djnz rubs,:rub_g ; rub_g loop

mov rubs,#3 ; 3 rubs (100 ms)
:rub_h mov !pins,#rest ; rest
mov cycle_loops,#228 ; 33 ms
call @cycle ;
djnz rubs,:rub_h ; rub_h loop

mov !pins,#rest ; rest
djnz chirps,:chirp ; chirp loop
retp

;================================
org $400 ; memory page
;================================

damp_loving_field ;- 400 ms ---------------------------------------------
mov oscil_loops,#56 ; 4.4 kHz
:chirp
mov wavelets,#2 ; 2 wavelets
:wavelet
mov !pins,#soft ; soft
mov cycle_loops,#35 ; 8 ms
not leds ; leds on
call @cycle ;
not leds ; leds off

mov !pins,#rest ; rest
mov cycle_loops,#35 ; 8 ms
call @cycle ;

mov !pins,#soft ; soft
mov cycle_loops,#9 ; 2 ms
call @cycle

mov !pins,#medi ; medi
mov cycle_loops,#9 ; 2 ms
call @cycle

mov !pins,#loud ; loud
mov cycle_loops,#35 ; 8 ms
not leds ; leds on
call @cycle ;
not leds ; leds off

mov !pins,#medi ; medi
mov cycle_loops,#9 ; 2 ms
call @cycle ;

mov !pins,#soft ; soft
mov cycle_loops,#31 ; 7 ms
call @cycle ;

mov !pins,#medi ; medi
mov cycle_loops,#9 ; 4 ms
call @cycle

mov !pins,#loud ; loud
mov cycle_loops,#35 ; 3 ms
not leds ; leds on
call @cycle ;
not leds ; leds off

mov !pins,#medi ; medi
mov cycle_loops,#9 ; 6 ms
call @cycle ;

mov !pins,#soft ; soft
mov cycle_loops,#132 ; 30 ms
call @cycle ;

mov rubs,#11 ; 110 ms
mov !pins,#rest ; rest
mov cycle_loops,#44 ; 10 ms

:pause call @cycle ;
djnz rubs,:pause ; pause loop
djnz wavelets,:wavelet ; wavelet loop
djnz chirps,:chirp ; chirp loop
retp

fall_field ;- 800 ms ---------------------------------------------
mov oscil_loops,#53 ; 4.7 kHz
:chirp
mov wavelets,#2
:head
mov !pins,#soft ; soft
mov cycle_loops,#71 ; 15 ms
not leds ; leds on
call @cycle ;
not leds ; leds off

mov !pins,#rest ; rest
mov cycle_loops,#71 ; 15 ms
call @cycle

djnz wavelets,:head ; head loop

mov !pins,#soft ; soft
mov cycle_loops,#47 ; 10 ms
call @cycle

mov !pins,#medi ; medi
mov cycle_loops,#47 ; 10 ms
not leds ; leds on
call @cycle ;
not leds ; leds off

mov !pins,#soft ; soft
mov cycle_loops,#47 ; 10 ms
call @cycle

mov !pins,#rest ; rest
mov cycle_loops,#71 ; 15 ms
call @cycle

mov wavelets,#2 ; 2 wavelets
:wavelet
mov !pins,#soft ; soft
mov cycle_loops,#24 ; 5 ms
call @cycle ;

mov !pins,#medi ; medi
mov cycle_loops,#24 ; 5 ms
call @cycle ;

mov !pins,#loud ; loud
mov cycle_loops,#47 ; 10 ms
not leds ; leds on
call @cycle ;
not leds ; leds off

mov !pins,#medi ; medi
mov cycle_loops,#24 ; 5 ms
call @cycle ;

mov !pins,#soft ; soft
mov cycle_loops,#24 ; 5 ms
call @cycle ;

mov !pins,#rest ; rest
mov cycle_loops,#71 ; 15 ms
call @cycle

djnz wavelets,:wavelet ; wavelet loop

mov wavelets,#12 ; 600 ms
mov !pins,#rest ; rest
mov cycle_loops,#235 ; 50 ms
:pause call @cycle ;
djnz wavelets,:pause ; pause loop
djnz chirps,:chirp ; chirp loop
retp