{"id":5065,"date":"2026-02-09T11:57:32","date_gmt":"2026-02-09T19:57:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.reed.edu\/ed-tech\/?p=5065"},"modified":"2026-02-11T14:25:28","modified_gmt":"2026-02-11T22:25:28","slug":"visualizing-waveforms","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.reed.edu\/ed-tech\/2026\/02\/visualizing-waveforms\/","title":{"rendered":"Visualizing Waveforms"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">About the project<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>This exploratory learning project was inspired by a posting by a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=kmQIHN-jXXA\">YouTube video by Desktop Makes<\/a> who were examining how to create the physical visual representation of audio waveforms.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Instructional Technology Service staff and their student workers (aka mLabbies) chose a few inspirational quotes, and found an audio recording of each quote. Afterwards, 3d models of the waveform were created from the quotes, then printed out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The quotes<\/h2>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignleft size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"174\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.reed.edu\/ed-tech\/files\/2026\/02\/waveform-quote-text-e1770846533896-1024x174.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5082\" style=\"width:603px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.reed.edu\/ed-tech\/files\/2026\/02\/waveform-quote-text-e1770846533896-1024x174.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/blogs.reed.edu\/ed-tech\/files\/2026\/02\/waveform-quote-text-e1770846533896-300x51.jpg 300w, https:\/\/blogs.reed.edu\/ed-tech\/files\/2026\/02\/waveform-quote-text-e1770846533896-768x131.jpg 768w, https:\/\/blogs.reed.edu\/ed-tech\/files\/2026\/02\/waveform-quote-text-e1770846533896-1200x204.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/blogs.reed.edu\/ed-tech\/files\/2026\/02\/waveform-quote-text-e1770846533896.jpg 1505w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 709px) 85vw, (max-width: 909px) 67vw, (max-width: 1362px) 62vw, 840px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.americanrhetoric.com\/speeches\/mlkihaveadream.htm\">I have a dream<\/a> \u2013&nbsp;Martin Luther King, Jr.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/File:Gandhi_-_His_Spiritual_Message_to_the_World,_17_October_1931.mp3\">In the midst of untruth, truth persists<\/a> \u2013&nbsp;Mahatma Gandhi<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/File:Phrase_de_Neil_Armstrong.oga\">One small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind<\/a> \u2013&nbsp;Neil Armstrong<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.americanrhetoric.com\/barackobamaspeeches.htm\">And where we are met with cynicism and doubt and those who tell us that we can&#8217;t, we will respond with that timeless creed that sums up the spirit of a people: Yes, we can<\/a>  \u2013 Barack Obama<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<div class=\"h5p-iframe-wrapper\"><iframe id=\"h5p-iframe-2\" class=\"h5p-iframe\" data-content-id=\"2\" style=\"height:1px\" src=\"about:blank\" frameBorder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" title=\"Waveforms\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Learning outcomes<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>mLabbies used a variety of different software programs to create and modify 3d models, which would deepen their knowledge and experience computer aided design (CAD) and modeling practices for 3d printing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The mlabbies also expanded their expertise with using the 3d printers in the <a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.reed.edu\/digital-fabs\/\">Digital Fabs space<\/a> here at Reed College.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The (exploratory) process<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The project explored how to visually represent a waveform using some of the technologies available in the Digital Fab space here at= Reed College, which included a laser printer and 3d printers. The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=kmQIHN-jXXA\">Desktop Makes video<\/a> provided one approach to represent an audio waveform as the students explored how to create and physically display the models.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.reed.edu\/ed-tech\/files\/2026\/02\/waveform-examples.jpg\" alt=\"example of bad 3d print\" class=\"wp-image-5072\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>During the process, one of the students used the SciPy and DrawSVG Python libraries to generate waveform images from audio in the desired style.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.reed.edu\/ed-tech\/files\/2026\/02\/waveform_script.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"465\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.reed.edu\/ed-tech\/files\/2026\/02\/waveform_script-1024x465.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5161\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.reed.edu\/ed-tech\/files\/2026\/02\/waveform_script-1024x465.png 1024w, https:\/\/blogs.reed.edu\/ed-tech\/files\/2026\/02\/waveform_script-300x136.png 300w, https:\/\/blogs.reed.edu\/ed-tech\/files\/2026\/02\/waveform_script-768x348.png 768w, https:\/\/blogs.reed.edu\/ed-tech\/files\/2026\/02\/waveform_script-1536x697.png 1536w, https:\/\/blogs.reed.edu\/ed-tech\/files\/2026\/02\/waveform_script-1200x544.png 1200w, https:\/\/blogs.reed.edu\/ed-tech\/files\/2026\/02\/waveform_script.png 1931w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 709px) 85vw, (max-width: 909px) 67vw, (max-width: 1362px) 62vw, 840px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Another student created a print-in-place hinged 3d model that held the quotes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-1 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"850\" height=\"843\" data-id=\"5088\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.reed.edu\/ed-tech\/files\/2026\/02\/waveform-onshape1.png\" alt=\"open cad image 1\" class=\"wp-image-5088\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.reed.edu\/ed-tech\/files\/2026\/02\/waveform-onshape1.png 850w, https:\/\/blogs.reed.edu\/ed-tech\/files\/2026\/02\/waveform-onshape1-300x298.png 300w, https:\/\/blogs.reed.edu\/ed-tech\/files\/2026\/02\/waveform-onshape1-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/blogs.reed.edu\/ed-tech\/files\/2026\/02\/waveform-onshape1-768x762.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 709px) 85vw, (max-width: 909px) 67vw, (max-width: 1362px) 62vw, 840px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"730\" height=\"694\" data-id=\"5087\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.reed.edu\/ed-tech\/files\/2026\/02\/waveform-onshape2.png\" alt=\"open cad image 2\" class=\"wp-image-5087\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.reed.edu\/ed-tech\/files\/2026\/02\/waveform-onshape2.png 730w, https:\/\/blogs.reed.edu\/ed-tech\/files\/2026\/02\/waveform-onshape2-300x285.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 709px) 85vw, (max-width: 909px) 67vw, (max-width: 984px) 61vw, (max-width: 1362px) 45vw, 600px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"589\" data-id=\"5086\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.reed.edu\/ed-tech\/files\/2026\/02\/waveform-onshape3-1024x589.png\" alt=\"open cad image 3\" class=\"wp-image-5086\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.reed.edu\/ed-tech\/files\/2026\/02\/waveform-onshape3-1024x589.png 1024w, https:\/\/blogs.reed.edu\/ed-tech\/files\/2026\/02\/waveform-onshape3-300x172.png 300w, https:\/\/blogs.reed.edu\/ed-tech\/files\/2026\/02\/waveform-onshape3-768x442.png 768w, https:\/\/blogs.reed.edu\/ed-tech\/files\/2026\/02\/waveform-onshape3-1200x690.png 1200w, https:\/\/blogs.reed.edu\/ed-tech\/files\/2026\/02\/waveform-onshape3.png 1449w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 709px) 85vw, (max-width: 909px) 67vw, (max-width: 1362px) 62vw, 840px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"452\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.reed.edu\/ed-tech\/files\/2026\/02\/waveform-gandhi-1024x452.jpg\" alt=\"3d print of model with hinge\" class=\"wp-image-5076\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.reed.edu\/ed-tech\/files\/2026\/02\/waveform-gandhi-1024x452.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/blogs.reed.edu\/ed-tech\/files\/2026\/02\/waveform-gandhi-300x132.jpg 300w, https:\/\/blogs.reed.edu\/ed-tech\/files\/2026\/02\/waveform-gandhi-768x339.jpg 768w, https:\/\/blogs.reed.edu\/ed-tech\/files\/2026\/02\/waveform-gandhi-1536x677.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/blogs.reed.edu\/ed-tech\/files\/2026\/02\/waveform-gandhi-1200x529.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/blogs.reed.edu\/ed-tech\/files\/2026\/02\/waveform-gandhi.jpg 2016w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 709px) 85vw, (max-width: 909px) 67vw, (max-width: 1362px) 62vw, 840px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>While working with an Ultimaker S5 and Bambu printer, the students were able to explore how to create 3d models that could be printed in different colors.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.reed.edu\/ed-tech\/files\/2026\/02\/waveform1-1024x416.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5073\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Along the way, as many who have explored 3d printing, a few technical issues came up. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"826\" height=\"504\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.reed.edu\/ed-tech\/files\/2026\/02\/waveform-snafu-examples4.jpg\" alt=\"failed print image 4\" class=\"wp-image-5079\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.reed.edu\/ed-tech\/files\/2026\/02\/waveform-snafu-examples4.jpg 826w, https:\/\/blogs.reed.edu\/ed-tech\/files\/2026\/02\/waveform-snafu-examples4-300x183.jpg 300w, https:\/\/blogs.reed.edu\/ed-tech\/files\/2026\/02\/waveform-snafu-examples4-768x469.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 709px) 85vw, (max-width: 909px) 67vw, (max-width: 984px) 61vw, (max-width: 1362px) 45vw, 600px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Filament didn\u2019t stick to the printing bed. Different 3d material was used that required different print settings. Printing a moving hinge required test prints and modifications to the 3d model. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"353\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.reed.edu\/ed-tech\/files\/2026\/02\/waveform-snafu-example2-e1770333208580-1024x353.jpg\" alt=\"failed print image 1\" class=\"wp-image-5069\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.reed.edu\/ed-tech\/files\/2026\/02\/waveform-snafu-example2-e1770333208580-1024x353.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/blogs.reed.edu\/ed-tech\/files\/2026\/02\/waveform-snafu-example2-e1770333208580-300x103.jpg 300w, https:\/\/blogs.reed.edu\/ed-tech\/files\/2026\/02\/waveform-snafu-example2-e1770333208580-768x265.jpg 768w, https:\/\/blogs.reed.edu\/ed-tech\/files\/2026\/02\/waveform-snafu-example2-e1770333208580-1536x530.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/blogs.reed.edu\/ed-tech\/files\/2026\/02\/waveform-snafu-example2-e1770333208580-1200x414.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/blogs.reed.edu\/ed-tech\/files\/2026\/02\/waveform-snafu-example2-e1770333208580.jpg 1647w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 709px) 85vw, (max-width: 909px) 67vw, (max-width: 1362px) 62vw, 840px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-2 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"547\" data-id=\"5071\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.reed.edu\/ed-tech\/files\/2026\/02\/waveform-snafu-example3-1-1024x547.jpg\" alt=\"failed prints image\" class=\"wp-image-5071\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.reed.edu\/ed-tech\/files\/2026\/02\/waveform-snafu-example3-1-1024x547.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/blogs.reed.edu\/ed-tech\/files\/2026\/02\/waveform-snafu-example3-1-300x160.jpg 300w, https:\/\/blogs.reed.edu\/ed-tech\/files\/2026\/02\/waveform-snafu-example3-1-768x410.jpg 768w, https:\/\/blogs.reed.edu\/ed-tech\/files\/2026\/02\/waveform-snafu-example3-1-1536x820.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/blogs.reed.edu\/ed-tech\/files\/2026\/02\/waveform-snafu-example3-1-1200x640.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/blogs.reed.edu\/ed-tech\/files\/2026\/02\/waveform-snafu-example3-1.jpg 2016w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 709px) 85vw, (max-width: 909px) 67vw, (max-width: 1362px) 62vw, 840px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"945\" height=\"929\" data-id=\"5067\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.reed.edu\/ed-tech\/files\/2026\/02\/waveform-example-snafu.jpg\" alt=\"failed print image 2\" class=\"wp-image-5067\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.reed.edu\/ed-tech\/files\/2026\/02\/waveform-example-snafu.jpg 945w, https:\/\/blogs.reed.edu\/ed-tech\/files\/2026\/02\/waveform-example-snafu-300x295.jpg 300w, https:\/\/blogs.reed.edu\/ed-tech\/files\/2026\/02\/waveform-example-snafu-768x755.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 709px) 85vw, (max-width: 909px) 67vw, (max-width: 1362px) 62vw, 840px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>And printing small text in a 3d format can be a bit challenging; mLabbies explored having the text embossed on a surface, or&nbsp;embedded into a surface, both which required separate ways to design and print the 3d model. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"142\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.reed.edu\/ed-tech\/files\/2026\/02\/waveform-text-examples2-e1770846562144-1024x142.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5074\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.reed.edu\/ed-tech\/files\/2026\/02\/waveform-text-examples2-e1770846562144-1024x142.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/blogs.reed.edu\/ed-tech\/files\/2026\/02\/waveform-text-examples2-e1770846562144-300x42.jpg 300w, https:\/\/blogs.reed.edu\/ed-tech\/files\/2026\/02\/waveform-text-examples2-e1770846562144-768x107.jpg 768w, https:\/\/blogs.reed.edu\/ed-tech\/files\/2026\/02\/waveform-text-examples2-e1770846562144-1536x213.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/blogs.reed.edu\/ed-tech\/files\/2026\/02\/waveform-text-examples2-e1770846562144-1200x167.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/blogs.reed.edu\/ed-tech\/files\/2026\/02\/waveform-text-examples2-e1770846562144.jpg 2016w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 709px) 85vw, (max-width: 909px) 67vw, (max-width: 1362px) 62vw, 840px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"405\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.reed.edu\/ed-tech\/files\/2026\/02\/waveform-text-examples-1024x405.jpg\" alt=\"another 3d print example with text\" class=\"wp-image-5075\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.reed.edu\/ed-tech\/files\/2026\/02\/waveform-text-examples-1024x405.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/blogs.reed.edu\/ed-tech\/files\/2026\/02\/waveform-text-examples-300x119.jpg 300w, https:\/\/blogs.reed.edu\/ed-tech\/files\/2026\/02\/waveform-text-examples-768x304.jpg 768w, https:\/\/blogs.reed.edu\/ed-tech\/files\/2026\/02\/waveform-text-examples-1200x475.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/blogs.reed.edu\/ed-tech\/files\/2026\/02\/waveform-text-examples.jpg 1387w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 709px) 85vw, (max-width: 909px) 67vw, (max-width: 1362px) 62vw, 840px\" \/><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>About the project This exploratory learning project was inspired by a posting by a YouTube video by Desktop Makes who were examining how to create the physical visual representation of audio waveforms.&nbsp; Instructional Technology Service staff and their student workers (aka mLabbies) chose a few inspirational quotes, and found an audio recording of each quote. &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.reed.edu\/ed-tech\/2026\/02\/visualizing-waveforms\/\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading<span class=\"screen-reader-text\"> &#8220;Visualizing Waveforms&#8221;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":5097,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[113,43],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5065","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-3d-printing","category-general-instructional-technology"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.reed.edu\/ed-tech\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5065","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.reed.edu\/ed-tech\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.reed.edu\/ed-tech\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.reed.edu\/ed-tech\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.reed.edu\/ed-tech\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5065"}],"version-history":[{"count":45,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.reed.edu\/ed-tech\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5065\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5196,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.reed.edu\/ed-tech\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5065\/revisions\/5196"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.reed.edu\/ed-tech\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5097"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.reed.edu\/ed-tech\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5065"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.reed.edu\/ed-tech\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5065"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.reed.edu\/ed-tech\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5065"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}