Home ➲ scratch disk ➲ hmm… lots of trafic today
welcome to everyone new.
please submit your ideas as they come to you.
if you think you can help out on the hardware or software side, let us know.
flash is gone.
looking forward to the main hardware details being finalized so we can put together our development system.
thanks everyone.
Sphere It. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Scott Says:
February 1st, 2007 at 10:34 pm
Hey, I’m interested in helping out with this project. I’d be able to help out with the software.
I’m comfortable with C, C++, Java, Perl, Ruby and Bash. I’ve worked with DirectX, OpenGl, and Assembler. I’ve built a few Linux Kernel Modules, and I’ve also recompiled the kernel with my own changes to the scheduler. I’ve worked on team projects before, including a SourceForge project that has a released product(GridChat).
NovySan Says:
February 1st, 2007 at 10:44 pm
You’ve been dugg. That explains the traffic.
Joe Says:
February 1st, 2007 at 10:48 pm
>>hmm… lots of trafic today
In case you couldn’t tell from the referring site data, thought I’d let you know that you’re on the front page of Digg.com
http://digg.com/linux_unix/Linux_Guitar_Project_is_not_a_solo_act
fydo Says:
February 1st, 2007 at 11:16 pm
Hey! This is an awesome idea for a project!
An idea: Have a screen display visualizations while you’re playing
Good luck in the future with this project!
James Says:
February 1st, 2007 at 11:46 pm
It would be cool if it could playback accompniment and metronome too.
Would make a great guitar for students to practice with.
Create “Guitar Lessons” that can be downloaded and played off USB or transfered to it.
external video that can display tablature or Score, so can hook up to TV or Monitor.
Great Idea !!
Ryan Says:
February 2nd, 2007 at 3:38 am
Hi – Just heard about your project, I’m very enthusiastic! I have some suggestions. I worked at a guitar shop, worked on them minimally – currently work on laptops at the new Geeksquad facility.
I love the idea, but I don’t see everything localized to the instrument going well(which is what I understand this idea to be – localized that is). First, too much weight, heat and power in one area. Perhaps, if it had a laptop sized
motherboard, with USB ports and D-sub external video port. Pickups would
have direct input through the boards audio hardware, perhaps (with a bypass, if possible the ability to run the guitar dry ie without processing, would prove QUITE valuable)
Using external video makes sense to me. I imagine it to have the most common necessary interfaces for audio. Wireless keyboard and mouse,(those receivers are rather small nowadays).
I could realistically imagine a guitar laptop hybrid – hook up video and sound, ready to go.
it could be a great DIY project. A motherboard and laptop sized hard drive would add weight and heat, but a lot less than having a touchscreen onboard. I haven’t even thought about software and cooling.
Anyway, just my two cents, I could go on, but I think you get the picture. Just an idea, much respect to you, I wish I had that kind of time,dedication and devotion.
Ideas and concepts are about all I can offer. If you do dig it though, I could definitely make diagrams, generalized ones of course.
Let me know what you think, I’d honestly like to know if you think it’s a lame idea or not.
Truth is I just read about this project only moments ago, and wanted to share my brainstorm
(they don’t occur frequently).
Good luck with the whole thing, I’ll definately be watching your progress, I’m also quite tired of most USB recording devices available, I think you could offer an awesome alternative.
Peace
intruder Says:
February 2nd, 2007 at 6:08 am
Have you considered using the roland hex synth pickup? that might simplify some of the “retuning” etc mentioned in the article. The outboard roland synths do exactly this.
jrkirkish Says:
February 2nd, 2007 at 6:10 am
For the love of god, please make it look like a normal guitar. Take a basic strat shape and put the electronics in that.
Also, use the Line six variax as a template; that thing is soooo easy to use – just 3 knobs and a lever switch. Simplicity is key. I cannot stress that enough. The only ports should be USB and maybe an s-video out.
here’s what I envision when I hear about this – Somebody with a NORMAL LOOKING guitar (that’s key) with a cable running out to a breakout box. the breakout box has s-video (maybe VGA) and USB ports. Hook up a monitor (maybe use bluetooth for kb and mouse) and you’ve got a little guitar production center. A little multi-track studio, a utilitity to change amp and guitar modeling paramaters, effects, all that stuff. maybe on the breakout box put an XLR in for a mic, if you want to sing and play at the same time and record that.
Just some rumerations… I’d love to see where this project is in 2 years.
meka Says:
February 2nd, 2007 at 11:53 am
I think that the general idea is great, just one objection. Why making touch screen when all guitar players got used to pedals? I think it would be much better to implement … I don’t know … USB interface to effect pedals.
Kevin (kepla) Lawton Says:
February 2nd, 2007 at 4:39 pm
Love the concept. The physical design looks promising – enough like a ‘regular’ leccy guitar to be recognisable and acceptable to most people, I think, but thank god its not yet another ghastly str*t clone !
I’ve experience both in building computer systems and making guitars so I’d love to offer my help with the hardware, though currently engaged in a MIDI guitar project of my own. WOuld suggest using small-sized PC electronics with low power requirements, like – for example – VIA C3 or Eden processor on a Mini-ITX motherboard. This would have more than enough computing power for this application but wouldn’t give rise to overheating problems and is quite affordable too.
I guess you are planning on remote powering the guitar via its connecting cable as batteries would be heavy and only give limited playing time – yes ?
Like the idea of using contrasting woods – holly and ebony, for example. How about walnut and maple – another nice combination ?
Good mluck with this – please do let me know how I can help.
Bob Burling Says:
February 2nd, 2007 at 11:36 pm
Have been into guitar playing/music and computers for 40 years now and in the last 10 have entwined the two, primarily through midi.
This project has to be one of the most exciting developments in the combined music/computer field that has come on the scene since midi. Not sure if I can offer anything at this stage but encouragement.
I will be watching the project with great interest.
While a production model is great, I think the suggestion of DIY upgrades to existing gutars has probably as big if not bigger pootential market.
Wesley Parish Says:
February 5th, 2007 at 10:51 am
FWLIW, here is an idea I had about 1993:
* Six times six independent pickup elements, one per position per string, instead of the three pickup position maximum of the standard guitar pickup setup;
    * One input channel from the plug going to the amplifier;
    * One output channel from the plug going to the amplifier;
    * Thirty-six minus one links per pickup element to each other pickup
element;
    * One NOT CMOS gate per pickup element link to Input Channel;
    * One NOT CMOS gate per pickup element link to Output Channel;
    * One NOT CMOS gate per pickup element link to another pickup element;
    * One CMOS RAM cell for each NOT CMOS gate.
That’s what I thought would make a nice change from the standard single magnet/independent coil pickup setup; and in connection with a suitable motherboard, it would allow dramatic changes in configuration on the fly.
I envisaged an LCD screen and two keypads – six keys (vertical) six keys (horizontal) – to
setup to handle setting up the various permutations a six-time-six pickup setup would permit. While the configuration could also be controlled by an external computer – X Window System figured in my thoughts at this point.
Of course, if one wanted to be really fancy, you could turn the individual coils into humbucking coils, and/or have the coils tapped at various positions, with or without the humbucking added in.
At that point you’re either a genius and entranced by the harmonic and sonic possibilities offered by such a setup, or you’re hopelessly confused.
And that’s without all the complications of post-pickup electronic effects added in.
YMMV. Share and Enjoy!
gercheq k Says:
February 5th, 2007 at 3:40 pm
my effects processor can record whatever I play, hope yours will be more skilled…
Also check this out =)
http://www.intel.com/cd/corporate/pressroom/emea/eng/248418.htm
Kevin Schroeder Says:
February 5th, 2007 at 4:08 pm
What I’m thinking would be extremely useful would not so much be a guitar that you need to buy that has all of this stuff in it, but rather a piece of hardware that I could plug into the 1/4 inch jack of my existing guitar with an Analog-Digital converter.
Then, inside the hardware you could have effects, speaker simulators, distortion, etc. that could be output via USB, 1/4 inch jack, XLR or, my favorite, WIFI.
This would keep any signal interference to a minimum because the analog signal would only travel about 6-12 inches into the module after which it would be digital. This would give you a very clean signal and one that is not prone to interference.
Using a USB or WIFI connection would also allow the guitar to be controlled via MIDI.
ddw Says:
February 5th, 2007 at 6:01 pm
You may wish to optionally incorporate the Buzz Feiten tuning system as used by Washburn and Tom Anderson electric guitars.
Viz How It Works – http://www.buzzfeiten.com/howitworks/howitworks.htm
Features – http://www.buzzfeiten.com/howitworks/features.htm
Artists – http://www.buzzfeiten.com/artists/featuredartists.htm
Hope this helps.
Best wishes on the project.
ddw
bigredradio Says:
February 5th, 2007 at 9:00 pm
This seems like an interesting idea. However, I hope the purpose is not just an odd mod-case project. I would get in contact with the Jokosher guys for recording possibilities. Personally, I would like some sort of on-board virtual amp simulator or stomp boxes. That way I could plug into my amp or PA System clean and control everything from the guitar. Use regular 1/4″ inputs so that it does not require midi.
Ubuntu seems a little bloated for this purpose. Why not use Damn Small Linux, or some other variant that is designed for embedded systems?
Good luck with the project.
bigredradio Says:
February 5th, 2007 at 9:04 pm
Ah, as far as guitar designs….
Go with something interesting like this:
http://sandiegomusicstudio.com/shop/product_view.asp?storeID=44H7KFQD6VFS8GVPE3SB6M4EWN2679H3&pr=44831&special=true&priv=1
Owen Says:
February 11th, 2007 at 3:10 am
Here is my idea. Rather then imbed the motherboard within the guitar, create a pedal board with the computer in side of it. Expand on that idea further make that pedal board into a music stand with a touch screen monitor. While were at it let’s put a mic coming off the screen so you can record your voice in to the computer as well. You could use some kind of DAW program to record and edit tracks via the touch screen. Also bring up guitar tabs and use it just like a real music stand. Or change amp or effects parameters via the touch screen. The case is a pedal board so you can start/stop and record. Access different preset effects, also a wah/volume pedal to manipulate different effects with your foot. Create a custom OS brew of linux that makes these features easy to use. As for the guitar make it like the Manson guitar with the Chaos Pad touch screen on the body. YouTube Manson guitar to see it in action. You can manipulate effects via the touch pad on the body. Also install a sustainer in the neck pickup position so you can infinite sustain and use the touch pad at the same time. Pop in a midi pickup so you can make it sound like anything and you have more then just a guitar.
Nerdtek Says:
February 11th, 2007 at 9:20 pm
I’ve discovered something that might be better suited than the SBC or Single Board Computer solution. There’s also SOM or System On Module. These appear to be more compact, and have lower power requirements which would be perfect for this particular application. Plus a low resolution LCD could be utilized for a display.
Rick Niles Says:
February 12th, 2007 at 9:44 pm
Important feature to me: Each string should be recorded on a separate channel is some sort of raw format. (i.e. with no effects added.) This would give the most flexibility for post processing. Honestly, I think a model with nothing more than a good raw capture per string with the rest of the processing done off-guitar might be a good alternative.
I’ve also always wanted a Classical/Electric guitar. Is there no new techology that would allow for a pickup for nylon/plastic strings?
Also after all this make sure any speaker you put on it is high-quality. Nothing worse that all this hard work and techology coming through a cheap $2 little speaker.
Allow for alternate tunings of course.
Bob Mars Says:
February 26th, 2007 at 8:22 pm
Your project is truely awesome and exciting!!
I have 4 suggestions off the top of my head:
1.) Neck: one might consider something like a Warmoth pro neck. 25″ scale, compound radius, half scalloped, with 24 or 26(?) frets.
2.) Pickups: optical type like the Hoag optical pickups. Those guitars sound very nice to me.
3.) Effects: PIC ucontrollers. The idea here is to use maybe two pics to perform most of the effects, reverb, echo, distortion, etc, and use the linux box to move things around as you have already stated. These could be made to stand alone or work with the linux box, which would be very very versatile.
4.) Onboadrd Amp: I would truely be nice to have a small built in amp so a person could just plug a pair of head phones or small speakers in and practice away. It would make the guitar very portable. I think a nice candidate would be the LM386. One could install two of them for stereo.
I hope you find something here useful. I sincerely wish you all the best!
Feel free to contact me if I can be of any assistance.
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