Project Proposal:

Project Title: BE5 Multi

Project Description: 
   My project is an on-board 5-sample looper for the guitar. It will be built onto the interchangeable pickguard that most guitars utilize so that it can be easily dropped in to any guitar. It will include 5 switches to control the loops and an one switch to control all the loops together.

Drawing:

Parts List:

• 6 SPDT panel mount switch *
• 6 normal-off panel mount buttons *
• 6 green panel mount LEDs from Mouser Electronics http://www.mouser.com/Search/m_ProductDetail.aspx?Lumex%2fSSI-LXR3612GD%2f&qs=sGAEpiMZZMsUguuR3b6UZi3FgsitOqB%252b7rKl%2fpAndtg%3d
• 5 red panel mount LEDs from Mouser Electronics http://www.mouser.com/Search/m_ProductDetail.aspx?Lumex%2fSSI-LXR3612SRD%2f&qs=sGAEpiMZZMsUguuR3b6UZi3FgsitOqB%252bSaynhRYTKyg%3d
• Ibanez GRX20L Electric Guitar (this is my personal guitar to be cannibalized)*

*(sourced from home, will retrieve on April 4th)

Weekly Goals:

1. Learn Ableton and build Loop session to accept teensy Midi and
applicable controls and write Arduino code

2. Build prototype circuit on breadboard and begin debugging/troubleshooting

3. Finish debugging/troubleshooting and begin to finalize circuit on blank PCB

4. Mount circuit on PCB and mount project on the guitar.

5. Finalize aesthetics and practice performing

References and Previous Art:

   There is a similar device to mine called the Guitar Wing by Livid Instruments. I clips onto the bottom horn of the guitar and is a fully programmable MIDI controller tethered to the computer. My project has some of the functionality of this device but is more streamlined and built in to the instrument. In addition, my project has the potential to be DSP controlled and break its tether with the computer. Here is a link to Livid Instruments' website: http://shop.lividinstruments.com/guitar-wing/
   In the same way, my project will be similar to the ET II final projects of Travis Fodor and Malakai Linden, but as with the Livid device, my project is currently only loop-focused and has potential to be powered by internal DSP rather than MIDI and computer connectivity.

Having drawn up a sketch of my final project last week, this week I have complied a list of specifications for it.

5 samples

• record each individually 
• play and stop individually
• even when off will continue to be synched with the overall clock 

Onboard controls

• 3 pole switch for each sample
• indicator light for play and record o overall 2 pole switch for output
• overall volume control 

Overall control

• Turn on and off all loops together o Vary output volume of all loops
  

Integration

• Tied to DAW (Ableton) via usb cable
  
• Output of all samples summed and spliced onto 1⁄4” guitar output jack 
  

Aesthetics

• Switches, LEDs, knob flush with pickguard
  
• Teensy and circuit mounted on back side of pickguard (routing will have to be done within the guitar for now, later versions will have slimmer layout so that this will not be necessary) o USB connector mounted near guitar output so that the computer tether can be run with the main instrument cable