Digital Sunset Studios

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About Me

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Hardware Projects: SYNTHESIZER & PCB DESIGN

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Overview

As well as software development I also like to combine hardware with software. This mostly takes the form in creating and designing synthesisers (electronic musical instruments). In case you're wondering, I do have friends (and in real life to!).

The majority of these instruments are built using C++, the Mozzi audio library, low cost Arduino development boards, and analog electronic circuits. These design I make open source (available via my blog and GitHub) and also publish instructions of how to make them for beginners.

If I make a small run of units, I'll often create PCBs using the Kicad software.

You can see a video example of the string synth here.

HELIOS ONE SYNTH

An Easy To Build Mono Synth

I wanted to design an instrument that was easy to build, cheap to make, and also fully playable and expressive. The result was the Helios Mk One synth, which is possible to build for around $20. Contructed using an Arduino Nano (programmed using C++) and the Mozzi audio library, you can build a simple MIDI controlled mono synth with a Filter, LFO and ADSR.

The code is open source, and a fully illustrated build guide is available. Many people have gone on to build this synth as their introduction to synth DIY after it was posted in Hackaday. Some have gone on to modify the code and add extra functions.

You can watch some video examples of the synth here. and read about the code and build process here.

ARDUINO SAMPLING DRUM PAD

Arduino Drum Pad With Build Guide

These drum pads allow you to upload your own audio samples and then trigger them using the drum pads. One potentiometer allows you to control the pitch of the sample, while the other control the volume. The switch allows you to choose between 2 samples (more is not possible due to the tiny memory size of the hardware). The drums were built using the Mozzi audio library and an Arduino nano.

You can see a video example of the drum pads in action here. Or read the full construction guide here.

SLEEP MEDITATION MACHINE

Dodow Clone

With this machine you sync your breathing to the pulse of the LEDs, which gradually slow down over either a user selectable 15 or 30 minute runtime. At the end of the cycle, hopefully you'll be relaxed enough to fall asleep.

Instructions for this build were published to Intructables where it was entered for their Arduino Contest 2017.

Web Dev Projects

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Overview

Here you'll find a variety of different web dev projects that I've created over the years, from responsive pages to API-driven applications.

In my career and studies I've used the following technologies: React, JavaScript, HTML, CSS, Postman, RESTful APIs, Node.js, Express.js, MongoDB, Bootstrap, jQuery, and Angular.

Doom Armour Calculator

Efficient Calculations

What better way to encapsulate the famously fun 1993 3d game but in a 2d webpage? And maths.

For one of my VR projects I needed an efficient way to calculate the amount of hit points removed from both your health total, and if you have any, your armour total.

Points should be removed from the armour amount first, and then the health. So if you have 100 health, 20 Armour, and a hit point is worth 30, you should be left with 90 health and 0 armour. Does that make sense??

The page is responsive & was created using pure HTML, CSS & JavaScript. You can try it out here.

You can see the full code over on GitHub.

Weather App

API Connected weather App

Cirrusly, why look out the window when you can use a computer? Unless I've mist something?

Here we're grabbing the weather results from the user selected location. As well as returning the weather, we're also offering advice on the appropriate atire (which is responsive depending on the returned tempturature).

We're making use of the openweathermap.org API to return these results.

You can see the full code over on GitHub.

Audiogram

Audio Recording Social Media App

The audio-sharing social-network. The world definitly needs more social media!

In this app, user is limited to 10 seconds recording time and doesn't have the ability to delete their messages. It also features a secure log-in and the option to post replies on other users recordings.

Interestingly the app 'Clubhouse' was released a year after this, but allowed the user to record 30 second messages. It was valued at $100 million, sadly this app has yet to be valued at anything.

This was our final project as part of the Ironhack Berlin Web Dev course. It was built using the following;

React, Node.js, Express.js, MongoDB, Bootstrap, HTML & CSS

You can see the full code over on GitHub.

Pets Of Berlin App

Location Based Pet Breeding App

Hopefully you won't find this app to boar-ing...

Help your guinea pig to find new friends and breeding partners. This website was built as our second project for the Ironhack Berlin web development bootcamp.

Create a secure account and then tag your location and let other users see your animals details.

It primarily uses the Google Maps API and was built using Node.js, Express.js, MongoDB, jQuery, Bootstrap, HTML & CSS

You can see the full code over on GitHub.

To Do List

Angular TODO List App

This is a classic 'TODO' list app that was created using Angular and using the JSON placeholder API to gather the TODOs.

You can see the full code over on GitHub.

Brexit Game

Phaser Fun

The game you can't win!

Designed to be overly-complicated, you need to decide if the anti-EU headline is true or false by collecting a 'yes' or 'no' tick, all the while balancing public anger and gullibility by collecting pints of beer. Every correct guess spawns an English flag which if you accidentally collect will end the game ("Avoid Nationalism!").

This game was created using the Phaser library and Javascript for the first project of Ironhack Berlin.

You can see the code over on GitHub.

VR Works

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Overview

Here you'll find some Information about some of my VR projects. They were created using the Unity game engine software, many tears, and programmed using C#.

VR DRIVIN'

A Fan Remake Of The 80's Classic Driving Game

Hard Drivin was released by Atari Games way back in 1989, and this is my attempt to bring it over into VR.

I was a big fan of the original, however I'd only ever experienced it at 12 frames per second on the Sega Mega Drive. Thanks to modern hardware, this version is currently running a lot quicker than 12fps.

The 3d models were all built within Unity and any more detailed graphics (roadsign text, hedges etc) were creating using Affinity Designer, then heavily compressed before being imported.

There's still much more work to be completed (like finishing the track!), however this demo certainly conveys the speed and the handling of the Arcade original.

Click the GIF to view the full length video.

FISH TANK VR

Interactable Aquarium Environment

Click the GIF for higher quality video.

This project wasn't a turtle disaster! Although if you don't think it's fintastic, let minnow...

A reddit user asked about a VR Aquarium experience, and seeing as there aren't many results I set about creating the Fish Tank VR demo.

The demo starts with a menu screen, which when prompted takes you into an elevator. From there you make your way across a brutalist enviroment towards and interactable aquarium. Using Push buttons, the user can learn about more about the fish contained within.

This is currently only a proof of concept, although I'd like to develop it into a full experience with more fish and larger aquariums.

The demo features buttons, animated doors, water caustics effects, volumetric light beams, dust particles (using Unitys particle system) and mostly baked lighting (using Bakery) to keep the frame rate high.

XR TERRA WORK

VR interactions and locomotion

Click the GIF for higher quality video.

XR Terra is an online training platform who offer live classroom training in VR. I took part in their VR Developer Foundations 4 week course, and this was the result. Using Unity, C# and VR toolkits and libraries we created a scene with VR interactions and locomotion, also utilising Animations, character controllers and movement.

In the video here (please click to play), you can see the interactable control panel which is also grabable, this triggers an animation that leads to the creation of an object. This object can then be assigned a material and then using another button, destroyed with particle effects. Another level controls the poistion of the sun, changing the scenes lighting.

You can also pick up and eat half an apple :-)

AUGMENTED REALITY

Interacting With The Real World

Although VR is my main focus, I'm also interested in experimenting with Augmented Reality within Unity's AR Foundation Package.

In the GIF shown here, I'm utilising the mobile phones camera to detect the ground plane, then tracking the position of the 3d model around this result.

2D SIDE SCROLLER

A Super Mario Clone

Not everything is in VR! While learning Unity it's almost compulsory to make a Mario-like 2D side scrolling game. Mine one's called 'Super Cherry Ghost.'

Built using the Corgi Engine within Unity, I was quickly able to create a functional prototype complete with paralax backgrounds and enemies.

Minesweeper

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The King

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About Me

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Overview

Hi, I'm Gary! Digital Sunset Studios is the name I work under for my various software projects. Here you'll find infomation and links to my Virtual Reality projects, hardware projects and Web Development projects.

In 2013 I first started playing with electronics, then after winning a Google programming scholarship I started to combine this with software programming.

After taking an intensive 9-week Web Dev bootcamp in 2019, I have been working as a full-time web developer. But at night, I put on my VR goggles and work on my various VR projects. I also like to create and program hardware synthesizers for fun.

I currently live in Leipzig, Germany.

Selected Quotes From My Blog:

Sentence 1

Software

Here's some of the software I use to develop with:

Webdesign: Javascript, HTML 5, CSS3, React, Node.js, Express.js, MongoDB, Bootstrap, POSTman, Github/Command Line, API's, Visual Studio Code

Hardware: Arduino IDE, C++, kiCad (PCB Design Software), Mozzi Audio Library, FortySevenEffects MIDI Library, Analog/Digital circuits

VR: Unity, C#, Visual Studio, Blender, Meta Quest Dev Hub. Unity Assets: Probuilder, Bakery GPU Lightmapper, VR Interaction Framework + more

Design/Creation: Affinity Designer, Affinity Photo, Affinity Publisher, Photoshop, After Effects, Adobe XD, Audacity, FL Studio, Vegas Movie Studio

Education

Schools I've attended:

Year	School	Course
2023	XR Terra	4-week XR Foundations Developer (VR)
2019	Ironhack, Berlin	9-week Web Development Bootcamp
2017	Udacity	Android Development, Scholarship funded by Google
2013/4	International Correspondence Schools	Bachelor of Technology (BTECH Level 3) Electronic Engineering
2009	BSI Language School Berlin	Intensive Language Course (German)
2007	St. Martin's College, London	Introduction To Maya (Short Course)
98/2001	Amersham & Wycombe College, Bucks	Bachelor of Technology (BTECH) Sound Engineeering with Music Technology (GNVQ)
1997/8	Amersham & Wycombe College, Bucks	GNVQ in Art and Design

Qualifications

Various qualifications I've gained:

Date	Course Name	Provider
June 2023	Augmented Reality 101	Zenva Academy
June 2023	Intro to Particle Systems for Games	Zenva Academy
March 2023	XR Foundations Developer	XR Terra
February 2023	Discover the XR Interaction Toolkit for VR	Zenva Academy
January 2023	The Complete 2023 Web Dev Bootcamp	Udemy
January 2023	Create Your First 3D Game in Unity	Zenva Academy
January 2023	Mobile Game Development for Beginners	Zenva Academy
January 2023	Learn the Entire Affinity Suite: Photo, Designer & Publisher	Udemy
January 2023	Unity Mini-Projects - C# Fundamentals	Zenva Academy
Sept 2022	Data Privacy Training Basic	Proliance
August 2021	Build The Game Of Life	Udemy
July 2021	Complete SEO Training 2021	Udemy
June 2021	Generative Music Box Project	Udemy
May 2021	Building Your First VR Experience With Unity	Udemy
Sept 2019	XD/DC - Adobe XD Workshop Tour	XD/DC
August 2019	SEO Training	Udemy
May 2019	Ironhack 9-Week Web Development Bootcamp	Ironhack
August 2019	Angular Front To Back	Udemy
July 2019	UX, UI and Design Thinking	Udemy
July 2017	Android Basics Nanodegree by Google	Udemy
March 2016	AlgebraX: Introduction to Algebra	EdX
November 2015	EE40LX: Electronic Interfaces: Bridging the Physical and Digital Worlds	EdX Berkeley

Thanks for the interest...

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