Hi,

This may be a little obscure, but For a college project I am designing a self tuning guitar based on frequency detection of each string. I will use six hs-422 Hi-tec servos mounted in the body to adjust the tension of each string according to its frequency error.
I have checked that the torque associated with the servos match and exceed that required to adjust the string tesion.
Considering I am just in the planning stage of design I haven't quite figured out where to start!
The direction of a servo arm depends on the pulse width of an input signal sent via a conrol input.

Initially I need to design a frequency detection system that will determine the frequency of a string (perhaps after the string is struck). This frequency then needs to be compared with a set variable frequency. the difference between the two should then be used to send a signal to the control input of the servo and "tell" it to either increase or decrease the tension of the string according to the difference found.

I know this project will provide me with hours of fun (and stress probably), as my interests are in music and electronics! I have designed and built guitar pedals in the past and this project would serve as the proverbial icing on the cake.

Any help with any aspect of the project would be hugely appreciated as I hope to get stuck in as soon as possible!

crocklip wrote:

Hi, This may be a little obscure, but For a college project I am designing a self tuning guitar based on frequency detection of each string. I will use six hs-422 Hi-tec servos mounted in the body to adjust the tension of each string according to its frequency error. I have checked that the torque associated with the servos match and exceed that required to adjust the string tesion. Considering I am just in the planning stage of design I haven't quite figured out where to start! The direction of a servo arm depends on the pulse width of an input signal sent via a conrol input. Initially I need to design a frequency detection system that will determine the frequency of a string (perhaps after the string is struck). This frequency then needs to be compared with a set variable frequency. the difference between the two should then be used to send a signal to the control input of the servo and "tell" it to either increase or decrease the tension of the string according to the difference found. I know this project will provide me with hours of fun (and stress probably), as my interests are in music and electronics! I have designed and built guitar pedals in the past and this project would serve as the proverbial icing on the cake. Any help with any aspect of the project would be hugely appreciated as I hope to get stuck in as soon as possible!

What a wonderful project, looing forward to hearing all the details!!

Just off the top of my head, if string 1 is adjusted, say tension increased, would that have loading implications for the other 5 strings?

I say this cause I have a floating style bridge (floyd rose) and all strings have an affect on the others..

I assume you might use a fixed bridge though?
_________________
Recording Studio Suntans

I am going to use an epiphone SG thats been lying around at home colllecting dust. Fortunately this has a fixed bridge.
At first I thought of loading my Ibanez EDR470EX with the system but then there was the problem of the floating bridge and the loading implications!

So I'm going to try and keep it as simple as possible. After all I do have to design the Cicuitry too!

crocklip wrote:

I am going to use an epiphone SG thats been lying around at home colllecting dust. Fortunately this has a fixed bridge. At first I thought of loading my Ibanez EDR470EX with the system but then there was the problem of the floating bridge and the loading implications! So I'm going to try and keep it as simple as possible. After all I do have to design the Cicuitry too!

Yeah that makes sense.

So you need to strip out the circuit of an off the shelf guitar tuner and work it up for your servos?

I guess there are some circuits to be found on the inernet.. no?
_________________
Recording Studio Suntans

This is interesting:

http://www.qrsmusic.com/Press/pr02032501.htm
_________________
Recording Studio Suntans

AC wrote:

This is interesting: http://www.qrsmusic.com/Press/pr02032501.htm

that's awesome

That is just awesome... if it works it could be worth millions.