1 Electrical and Computer Engineering Guitar Virtuos Justin D’Alessando (EE) Jacob Dionne (CSE) Adam Montalbano (CSE) Jeffrey Newton (EE) Team Kelly Preliminary Design Review

2 Electrical and Computer Engineering Background  In 2007, Guitar Hero grossed approximately $936 million in sales Since this date sales have been on the decline Users are becoming bored with repetitive game play and lack of an end result What if users could obtain equal entertainment value as well as a sense of achievement for their monetary and time investment?

3 Electrical and Computer Engineering Solution  A fully interactive guitar learning system that can be used on a personal computer User plays along with a visual representation of desired song and learns how to play it on a real guitar o User interface shows how the song should be played o Software reads in and records what is being played by the user o Software compares what is being played to what should be played and user receives feedback

4 Electrical and Computer Engineering Top Level Design

5 Electrical and Computer Engineering Division Of Labor  Jacob Dionne (Team Coordinator) Data I/O Pre-programmed song bank Playback and practice modes  Justin D’Alessandro Vibration sensors Web site design  Jeffrey Newton Finger position hardware Digital logic design  Adam Montalbano Graphical User Interface (GUI) Results analysis Microcontroller programming (if applicable)

6 Electrical and Computer Engineering System Requirements  Create a user-friendly interface that incorporates entertainment as well as educational value Software must be easy to use Must be interactive and attention-capturing  Display notes being played by user as well as the expected notes from the song bank in real-time Provide quality feedback to user concerning the accuracy of their playing  Captivate and excite user Software should be enjoyable to use  Cost should be comparable to a beginner guitar kit

7 Electrical and Computer Engineering Detecting Vibrating Strings  A note is not played until the user strikes the string with a pick  Two options to detect these vibrations: Optical transmission Electromagnetic means

8 Electrical and Computer Engineering Vibration Sensor Operation  We will use piezoelectric vibration sensors!  High sensitivity, good frequency response, excellent linearity, and analog output  A small AC and large voltage (up to 90V) is created when the film moves back and forth  Dimensions: 1.78cm X 0.70cm  Will ideally be mounted underneath strings

9 Electrical and Computer Engineering Determination of Finger Placement  Most notes which are played on a guitar are determined by finger position along the neck  Accurate determination of this finger position is key to feedback provided by our system  Many different methods have been considered to accomplish this goal

10 Electrical and Computer Engineering Finger Placement Solution  We will use a series of strategically placed buttons to determine finger position  When buttons are pressed, the output signal of the button goes high  Output from buttons enters a digital logic circuit where the finger positions will be calculated and output to a software program  Output of this portion of the system will work very closely with vibration sensors

11 Electrical and Computer Engineering Digital Processing Logic  Multiple solutions are still being considered, including inexpensive microcontrollers as well as a series of multiplexers  Logic will take output of buttons and vibration sensors as inputs simultaneously  If string is not vibrating, then finger position does not matter  Digital logic will output notes which were played into software program  A simple timer can be used to ensure that the notes are output to software at an appropriate pace

12 Electrical and Computer Engineering Data I/O and Song Bank  Software takes input from hardware system Data from buttons and sensors mounted on guitar will be forwarded to software interface Software decodes this information, compares input to data from a predetermined song file, and outputs results to user  Pre-programmed song bank Software will have a collection of songs of varying difficulty that user can choose from Selected song data will be output to the GUI

13 Electrical and Computer Engineering Additional Software Features  Playback mode Software is to record what has been played by user and have the ability to play it back afterwards  Practice mode User will have the ability to isolate any section of a given song and alter the timing More difficult sections may be slowed down so that user can learn them more effectively before playing at full speed

14 Electrical and Computer Engineering Results

15 Electrical and Computer Engineering Graphical User Interface (GUI) Time (based on tempo of song) Top guitar string Bottom guitar string

16 Electrical and Computer Engineering Marketing Strategy  Target market: beginner-level guitar players familiar with basic layout of guitar Teenagers (14-17 years old) College students (18-22 years old)  Makes playing guitar easy and fun!  Easy to learn software  Simple hardware interface that is inexpensive and easy to set up  Learn your favorite songs!

17 Electrical and Computer Engineering Cost  Two alternatives for guitar Pre-built guitar o Target cost for guitar should be less than or equal to that of a relatively inexpensive guitar (~$100-$200) o Difficult to sell because user would essentially be paying for a second guitar Detachable button interface for any guitar o No guitar cost required o Easier to sell but much more difficult to implement o Will attaching the interface to the user’s guitar damage the guitar?

18 Electrical and Computer Engineering Cost (continued)  Buttons # of buttons needed = (24 frets)*(6 strings) = 144 Cost per button = ~$0.30 Target cost for buttons = 144*($0.30) = ~$43  Vibration Sensors # of sensors needed = 6 (for each of 6 strings) Cost per sensor = ~$3 Target cost for sensors = 6*($3) = ~$18  Total cost ~$161-$261 for pre-built guitar alternative ~$61 for button interface only These estimates do not account for parts that may be needed as our design unfolds (i.e. – in logic design for interface, microcontrollers)

19 Electrical and Computer Engineering Design Concerns  Vibration sensors attached directly to the strings could affect playability  Setting up a digital logic circuit that can handle 150 inputs (144 buttons + 6 vibration sensors)  Wiring issues  Complexity of graphics programming  Button sizing for placement beneath strings

20 Electrical and Computer Engineering MDR Goals  Read input from at least one string on the guitar  Display various notes being played in real-time on a basic GUI