digitally controlling pots with arduino

Stompboxes circuits published in magazines, books or on DIY electronics websites.
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theblackman
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Post by theblackman »

being a programmer i've been looking for something like this for a long time


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Post by HydrozeenElectronics »

Wow that was pretty cool, I wonder what one of them costs?

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Post by RnFR »

pretty cool. but he should've used the tone control! probably would've yielded far more interesting results.

is this what is being used in the WMD Geiger Counter?
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Post by theblackman »

yeah i didnt like the sound of what he did but i saw the potential. you could pretty easily make an ooh wah/zvex/vanishing point style controller with this. it also can read from a variety of sensors. so if you know a bit of computer programming the sky's the limit.

I wonder if it's fast enough to do something like an EH POG/HOG??

I know there are a lot of microcontroller projects like this, but this seems to be the most accessible for hobbyists like me!

@RnFR : not sure what a WMD geiger counter is..

@HydrozeenElectronics : they cost around $20.00AU which is probably around $17US. cheap as chips :)

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Post by HydrozeenElectronics »

theblackman wrote:yeah i didnt like the sound of what he did but i saw the potential. you could pretty easily make an ooh wah/zvex/vanishing point style controller with this. it also can read from a variety of sensors. so if you know a bit of computer programming the sky's the limit.

I wonder if it's fast enough to do something like an EH POG/HOG??

I know there are a lot of microcontroller projects like this, but this seems to be the most accessible for hobbyists like me!

@RnFR : not sure what a WMD geiger counter is..

@HydrozeenElectronics : they cost around $20.00AU which is probably around $17US. cheap as chips :)
That's a sweet deal, thanks :D

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Post by lolbou »

theblackman wrote:they cost around $20.00AU which is probably around $17US. cheap as chips :)
But you need a special software to get these programed? And some assembly langage skills?
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Post by UZILSD »

lolbou wrote:
theblackman wrote:they cost around $20.00AU which is probably around $17US. cheap as chips :)
But you need a special software to get these programed? And some assembly langage skills?
In Italy is costs 26€ http://www.robot-italy.com/product_info ... cts_id=878.

The programming language is Processing/Wiring, that is a simplyfied JAVA specialized in electronic art, interactive design, electronic installations and stuff like that.
That is a LOT easier than programming a microcontroller in its own assembly language.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Processing ... anguage%29
http://www.wiring.org.co/

It's a cool thing, but it doesn't really interests me to the point to try it. I think that is great if you plan to do some performative gimmick such as ambiental sensors controlled audio processing, but I'm not much into that stuff.

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Post by theblackman »

lolbou wrote:
theblackman wrote:they cost around $20.00AU which is probably around $17US. cheap as chips :)
But you need a special software to get these programed? And some assembly langage skills?

nah it's a c based library, i think you can program it in java as well. the arduino is primary designed to be easy to use for artists and hobbyists. i found beavis on beavis audio made a simple step sequencer for it that could be easily moddable to do the same as a lot of guitar pedals that have sequncers in them.

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Post by beavis »

Arduino sequencers are a load of fun. As for programming, the language is simple and approachable, nothing like C or assembler.

I built a simple synth/sequencer based on the arduino with just a few parts:
Image
check out at: http://www.beavisaudio.com/projects/dig ... unkConsole
Here's a long article on a project I created to use an Arduino to active as a programmable filter, this one uses an LDR to a filter:
Image
http://www.beavisaudio.com/projects/DSWF/

Maybe that will help some?
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Post by JiM »

Yeah !
Arduino is coooool, cheap, and easy !
The language is in fact straight C, with a bunch of convenient librairies for controlling inputs/outputs for a lot of different things. You don't have to mess with complicated things like pointers, interrupts, or memory management (but if you want, you still can).

That's the great thing with such platforms : it's Free Hardware. Like Free Software. Like FreeStompBoxes.
No goop, open source, schematics provided. You can copy it as long as you acknoledge the original authors. :thumbsup

The official website with board info, free development tools (eventually based on GCC compiler), wiki ... http://www.arduino.cc
Some alternative boards : http://www.freeduino.org, http://www.sanguino.cc
I got mine from there (i like the compact size) : http://www.moderndevice.com/RBBB_revB.shtml
More related stuff : http://www.sparkfun.com, http://www.seeedstudio.com/depot/, http://www.adafruit.com

You can even do without a board ! http://www.uchobby.com/index.php/2007/0 ... readboard/
http://www.arduino.cc/en/Main/StandaloneAssembly

PS : i've also breadboarded Beavis' DSWF, it's FUN !
I only give negative feedback.

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Post by theblackman »

awesome thanks!

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Post by Emanuele »

beavis wrote:Arduino sequencers are a load of fun. As for programming, the language is simple and approachable, nothing like C or assembler.

I built a simple synth/sequencer based on the arduino with just a few parts:
Image
check out at: http://www.beavisaudio.com/projects/dig ... unkConsole
Here's a long article on a project I created to use an Arduino to active as a programmable filter, this one uses an LDR to a filter:
Image
http://www.beavisaudio.com/projects/DSWF/

Maybe that will help some?
This would be ace to make a sequenced filter with a real inductor.. :block:

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Post by gena_p1 »

may be PWM is noise source?

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Post by Jack Deville »

arduino is neat. a friend and i finished up a project for a pinebox car on tuesday.

the arduido monitors outputs from a LIS302DL (i believe that's the part he used) and transmits data wirelessly to a computer, which then updates facebook and twitter with the status of the car (ie: car going uphill, car going fast, car going slow, car is upside-down etc.). we added a few "ground effects" leds that respond to the cars position using arduinos easy to use PWM.

only downside to arduino is cost and speed. the controller is fast, but i haven't found alot of documentation regarding execution speed and methods that the compiler/DE employs when writing to the controller. i assume its efficient, as it is a nice platform, but i don't like to make assumptions. that nearly always leads to problems. the language and syntax is very user friendly though. VERY user friendly. that's a major plus to the system.

as far as digital pots go, there are many choices and ways to implement them into stompboxes/other electronics. they're cheaper than "normal" pots, but they take up board real estate, and require some form of control (more real estate, power and design). i hate to be so negative. for my last application, i found a more efficient solution.
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