Inspiration
We all know the Etch-a-Sketch toy that allows users to create pictures with the use of the two drawing pegs. We wanted to take this concept, and transform it into a musical tool, thus creating the arPEGio.
What it does
The arPEGio can be used to play music, tune instruments, and help with ear training. The user can use the control knobs to change the note being played, and use a button to pause or play the sound. The display tells the user what note they are playing, and if they need to go sharper or flatter to achieve the closest note. It can be used for tuning instruments by playing the desired note and matching your instrument to it, and can be used for ear training, where the user can try to identify the notes that are playing.
How we built it
We used an Arduino UNO, connecting with a buzzer for the sound, a potentiometer for user control, an LCD for displaying information, and a button for pause/play control. Using C++, we programmed our system to take in the changing values of the potentiometer and convert that to frequencies played by the buzzer. Comparing to the known frequencies of an octave of notes, we then programmed the display to show what notes were playing.
Challenges we ran into
Our team struggled trying to use a rotary encoder to tune the frequency of the buzzer. It took us a long time to realize that the rotary encoder we were using was an incremental rotary encoder, and therefore it didn't have much resolution and would not function well when the knob was suddenly rotated. Instead, we opted for a potentiometer, which worked much better. Our theory is this is because it's an analog device, and therefore is able to detect minute changes in rotational angles better than the incremental rotary encoder.
Accomplishments that we're proud of
We are proud of completing our first hardware-based project! We gained many new skills and knowledge through this hackathon, as it forced us to read through documentation, seek mentor advice, and apply what we've learned. For us, being able to complete this hackathon on time is a great achievement!
What we learned
We had a steep learning curve, as this is our first hardware project. We learned to use the Arduino microcontroller for the first time, as well as writing code to the microcontroller. Another major takeaway is to utilize existing resources wisely (open source libraries). Moreover, we have learned the fundamentals to hardware design like troubleshooting circuits and code.
What's next for arPEGio
We hope to make arPEGio an instrument with which users can express their creativity to the maximum. As such, we'd like arPEGio to have a fuller control panel for more usability. From the control panel aspect, we'd like to include more features such as volume control, sheet music display, vibrato, sustain, octave jumping, and connection to a PC via a midi output. We'd also like the maximize the information displayed to the user, and allow them the ability to see what they feel is most important. For example, an artist composing their own music does not need sheet music to be displayed, but would benefit from knowing the volume, notes, and modes in which they are playing. As such, arPEGio could be used for a diverse market of users, such as artists, students, hobbyists, and teachers.
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