• 15Dec

  Australia

  Progress Update Comments Off

  So it’s been a while, huh.   This time, I was moving to Australia…

  Also in the last couple of weeks, we finally got a PlayStation 3 to do some testing on, and it doesn’t work.  That is to say, it didn’t work.  We’ve figured out what was going wrong, and now I’m happy to report that the OpenChord.org codebase is now compatible with the PlayStation 3!  I’ve only tested it out so far on Guitar Hero 5, but it should work with any Guitar Hero or Rock Band games.

  Also, we’re still working on the clip-on version – that’s what we’re doing our usage testing on right now.  (I’ll let you know when I’m getting 5 stars on Expert mode…) We’re trying to get things figured out playability and electromechanically still, so it doesn’t break midway through your songs, and we still need to find a good case.  But we’re also looking for a name!  Check out the poll on the left, and if you have some better ideas, let us know in the comments!
• 19Nov

  Circuit Boards, etc.

  Development, Progress Update Comments Off

  We finally got in the circuit boards we ordered a while ago, built those, then lo and behold, the even newer circuit boards came in!  These extra-new ones are compatible with both the Wii and USB (although it requires reflashing the firmware to change which type of a controller it is…)  Still, they’re super-pretty, and smaller, so they fit in smaller cases.  We still need to find a good case for the new clip-on model, but maybe our big problem is using a clip that’s too small, so it keeps slipping off the guitar…
• 09Nov

  New Instructions

  Site Updates Comments Off

  We just put up a new set of instructions on building your own on the site – Check them out – They need a little work, a few more pictures and such, but they should give you a good idea of how to proceed if you want to build yourself a guitar controller!
• 05Nov

  Upcoming release

  Development, Progress Update Comments Off

  We’re still working on the exact manufacturing details, but we’re getting close to being able to release a new product – a device that clips onto your guitar and gives it all the functionality of the V1.  We’re still in the open testing phase to work out how to make it the best it can be, but here are the details so far -

  The new product requires no drilling, cutting, or otherwise destructive modification to your guitar.  All you need to do is attach a few copper stickers to the fretboard of your guitar and then clip it on with the included guitar capo.

  

  Wires attached to the strings

  

  Prototype clipped to the guitar

  

  Prototype clipped to the guitar

  
  

  

  Prototype clipped to the guitar

  

  Closeup of where the prototype contacts the guitar

  

  The prototype next to the guitar

  
  

  

  Copper tape attached to all the frets

  

  Copper tape attached to the first fret

  
  

  The product then turns your guitar into a video game controller just like the V1, allowing you to practice fingering, notes, and chords with guitar games for the Wii, Playstation 3, and PC.  And since the device isn’t built into a guitar, it will be significantly cheaper.

  Also,  if you have any great ideas for the name, we’d love to hear them!  Shoot us a line at contact@openchord.org
• 26Oct

  Looking for Kit Testers

  Development, New Release Comments Off

  So we’re starting to get circuit boards printed up, and frankly, we don’t need a bunch of circuit boards lying around.  What we do need is testers.  An ideal tester for us would be someone with at least basic soldering knowledge, and the ability to program AVR microcontrollers, either through In-System Programming or via regular serial or parallel programming.  If you’re interested in getting an at-or-below cost kit from us to build your own OpenChord guitar, please contact us at develop@openchord.org!
• 12Oct

  Xbox 360

  Development, Progress Update Comments Off

  So after doing some research, it looks like we’re not going to be able to offer a version of the V1 for the Xbox 360.  It basically has to do with a proprietary security chip that Microsoft has built into their controllers in order to thwart would-be 3rd-party developers from coming out with competing hardware.

  However, the USB version seems to be coming along nicely; we just sent off an order for some prototype circuit boards and we’ll see if those work, then it’s just a matter of figuring out some supply stuff and figuring out the enclosure.   So hopefully we’ll at least have kits available soon, and maybe a full product!
• 09Oct

  PCB, Etc.

  Development, Progress Update Comments Off

  So the USB communication seems like it’s gotten to a working point at this point.  We’re actually starting to get to a point where we’re starting to make things more and more permanent.  As of today, in the SVN repository, there is an initial prototype circuit board for the USB version.  The Wii version is mostly the same; a circuit board for that should be forthcoming as well.  Hopefully we’ll be able to make a few ourselves and test it out, then maybe a small production run.  This means that we’ll be hopefully offering kits soon!
• 05Oct

  USB + External Implementation

  Progress Update 1 Comment

  In the last few weeks, this is what’s been done -

  1) USB functionality is coming along.  Right now, the guitar will connect to a computer (and hopefully a Playstation 3..) and register button presses, but it has a problem with randomly disconnecting.  This may be cause by electromagnetic interference, but may be a problem with the AVR chip itself. If that’s the case, things get more and more difficult to fix.

  2) Proof of concept for an external version.  By externally attaching wires with adhesive, the guitar doesn’t have to be built into the guitar body itself anymore.  This means that it will be possible to make a version that simply clips on to the outside of an existing guitar.   Which means we can start making kits and products that don’t cost like $200.  Cool!

  Here’s some pictures of the

  

  

  

  
  
  
• 04Sep

  Leaving for Japan

  Site Updates Comments Off

  So, I’m headed out to Japan for the next few months, then I’m off to Australia.  However, I’ll still be working on the project while I’m out of the USA.  Still, for the next two weeks, I’ll be on a rural island off the coast of Japan, so communications are going to be kinda spotty.

  Still, before I go, I figured I’d give you an update about where things stand -

  The Wii version is almost to a point I’d call a solid working version.  Either the chip needs to be upgraded from 8Kb to 16Kb, or I need to optimize the wii communication library, but as it stands, the code and controller work with 3 modes of playing.

  I spent this last week trying to get a USB version to work.  And, by all means, it should work… For some reason, the USB communication was going along just fine, and then all the sudden it stopped working right.   However, once I get that sorted out, a Playstation 3 version should be basically ready to go.

  Also, while I’ll be out of contact for the next 2 weeks, I’ll be working on documentation and such, since that area is severely lacking…

  Finally, and most excitingly, I’ve got ideas for a version that doesn’t need to be built into the guitar, but can be clipped onto it instead.  I’ll have more details and design sketches hopefully when I get back from the island; it was something I was hoping to get done this week, but then the USB stuff just stopped working…

  So that’s where things stand.  See you in 2 weeks!
• 28Aug

  Videos!

  New Release, Progress Update, Videos Comments Off

  So, I should probably just have gone and gotten a new camera, but after struggling with things for a week or two, I’ve finally gotten some videos taken and edited so the sound doesn’t sound TOO bad.

  Here, we’re showing off the ability of the V1 to practice chords -
  

  And here’s a a video showing off how you can map individual notes and scales to the guitar -
  

  Although we don’t show it (since we got that code working after we took the video…), there’s another fret combination (first 3 strings on the 4th and 5th frets) that allows you to change between the original “play with the frets” mode, chord mode, and notes mode.

  There’s still some updating of the software we’d like to do, since right now, you can re-assign the chords or notes that you play as color buttons, but they reset to the default when you restart the controller.  It shouldn’t be difficult, but right now, we’re using 97.7% of the current chip’s memory, so we’re going to have to upgrade our hardware first.  Still, that’s just a simple swapping of a better chip, so things are coming along!

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