Welcome What Visitors to 2002 Said Event Floorplan List of Exhibits
- by Research Group List of Exhibits - by Industry Sector Mid-Year Project List Prizes 2002 Photo Gallery Contact Details
UQ Innovation Expo 2003 ITEE Innovation Expo 2002 ITEE Innovation Expo 2001 ITEE Public Web ITEE School Alumni| UQ Innovation Expo 2003 » Mid-Year Student Projects » Michael Sheppard |
Digital Stringless Guitar
Student: Michael Sheppard
Supervisor: Mark Schulz
Category: Engineering Thesis Project - Computer Systems
Recording studios have virtually become completely digital and therefore the computer music language of MIDI has become widely adopted for controlling purposes. According to the multimillion dollar artist Moby, “Eventually records will be made utilizing just a laptop and a MIDI controller". To a certain extent this is a large component of what he actually did for his incredibly successful “Play” album.
This thesis investigates the design of a completely electronic MIDI guitar controller. It avoids the hassles and problems faced by pre-existing MIDI guitar pickups by starting completely with a digital signal. This means touch sensors and light beams in place of frets and strings respectively.
Starting with a digital system has proved to be the most effective way and this is reflected by the fact that keyboard MIDI controllers completely flood the market due to their ease of use and accuracy. The digital MIDI guitar controller is designed to be as versatile as a keyboard MIDI controller, yet employ the benefit of playing the instrument like a guitar instead of a piano.
