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Step 19Future Fixes and Revisions
There are a few little bugs to work out that still need to be fixed. The posted schematic and PCB will be kept up-to-date to reflect changes I make. The biggest problem is a small amount of noise generated by the IR range finder. I've managed to get the noise level very low using a huge power supply filter capacitor and single pole low-pass filter at the input op amp, but I may upgrade to a double pole filter. I also want to add a very short "attack" delay to eliminate "switch bounce" when the laser is "plucked."
Another big change that I am considering is to provide a separate oscillator for each "string." This would allow the Prism to be "open tuned", so that it can play chords. As I wrap up this project I'm looking into ways of simplifying the design to fit such a change in the same space. Hopefully, I'll be able to yank out the old board and pop in the new one...
I should also add that the Prism doesn't get along well with sunlight. Don't even bother playing it outside during the day, or in a brightly lit room. The ambient light will cause the phototransistors to stay "on" all the time, preventing any tones from being generated. Perhaps when I get some time I'll figure out a solution, but in the meantime stick to darkened dance clubs, bars, and basements...
If I get the time, I'd also like to add the following improvements to the Prism Laser Guitar:
1. Adjustable sustain and decay, so the last note played slowly fades rather than abruptly ends
2. Make the whole thing surface mount so that it fits in a smaller space
3. Add user-feedback LEDs (LFO frequency, selected waveform, etc)
4. Add harmonic or under/overtone generator?
5. Built-in delay effect? (similar to change #1 I suppose)
6. Possibly find an alternative to the IR Range Finder?
Another big change that I am considering is to provide a separate oscillator for each "string." This would allow the Prism to be "open tuned", so that it can play chords. As I wrap up this project I'm looking into ways of simplifying the design to fit such a change in the same space. Hopefully, I'll be able to yank out the old board and pop in the new one...
I should also add that the Prism doesn't get along well with sunlight. Don't even bother playing it outside during the day, or in a brightly lit room. The ambient light will cause the phototransistors to stay "on" all the time, preventing any tones from being generated. Perhaps when I get some time I'll figure out a solution, but in the meantime stick to darkened dance clubs, bars, and basements...
If I get the time, I'd also like to add the following improvements to the Prism Laser Guitar:
1. Adjustable sustain and decay, so the last note played slowly fades rather than abruptly ends
2. Make the whole thing surface mount so that it fits in a smaller space
3. Add user-feedback LEDs (LFO frequency, selected waveform, etc)
4. Add harmonic or under/overtone generator?
5. Built-in delay effect? (similar to change #1 I suppose)
6. Possibly find an alternative to the IR Range Finder?
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