A general overview of how MIDI command structures work is the 1st  link below. Everyone should read through this tutorial.

Goals:

1) Up to 88 notes on a standard musical keyboard. "60" designates middle "C". Note selection by the Y coordinate. We should segment the field of view based on the height of  2 joined 4 hole lego blocks. Michael will help map out chord structures. Each major "Y" division could correspond to some of the 16 max MIDI channels. The remaining channels should be dedicated to colors (See notes below).

2) The width of the scanning "slot" should be based on the greatest width of a 4 hole lego block. The X coordinate tracked will initiate and terminate the notes (time sequence). Multiple blocks should be able to be played on different channels simultaneously.

3) Colors would ideally trigger which instrument "patch" to use (red as a guitar...). The size of the block scanned might yield another bit of information that could be used at Michael's discretion (velocity maybe?).

4) The MIDI controller is yet to be determined. If Michael wants to go for learning Fruity Loops Studio V5 or some similar setup (Fischer may be of help here!) we can try and drive whole loop segments. Please download the eval copy and play with it tonight, Michael!

Brett, Ashley, and Aaron should go through the code details tutorial on the 2nd link. Please printout any code references you might need to work on constructing the byte sequences for initiating sound with the Standard command format.

Matt, Jason, and Mark are the hardware and calibration guys. They will build the actual plexiglass scanjam under which the webcam is mounted (pointed upwards). This scanjam unit must be 1' in depth, have proportions based on phi, be portable, cheap, and robust. The range of required Lego colors should narowed down tonight. Please draw a dimensioned sketch of the scanjam and include how the blocks can be transported and laid out for operation. Laptop + scanjam + VAB must fit in a 2'x2' area.