I had a module in my second year at University doing a course in Music Production, which required the creation of a bespoke project using MaxMSP software.

This software is based around visual coding, allowing you to create new interesting and unique audio tools from scratch. I approached this as a challenge to create some of my own effects, but I also wanted to involve something that involves real world controllers to allow live manipulation of effects from the Guitar body. My tutor suggested using Arduino, and this is where my Arduino project started. I also opted to use the project in my Live Performance module too, which meant i had rather strict time constraints in place for getting it working, and reliably at that.

This was my first time using Arduino and the corresponding software, and so the project began with a lot of time spent playing around with Arduino set-ups and how to achieve simple tasks such as making a button press output a number. After a good while using Google (and the great online Arduino help communities) to my advantage, i managed to do some seemingly amazing things, for example getting my Nintendo Touchscreen input working, which was a great moment.

Bespoke Interaction: Touch and Response

The project's power lies in its unique input methods:

1. Nintendo Touchscreen Integration: The highlight of the project is a salvaged resistive touchscreen mounted on the guitar pickguard. By tracking X and Y coordinates, the player can "draw" effects changes in real-time, effectively using their hand like a Kaoss Pad while playing.
2. Max4Live Integration: Unlike standard MIDI controllers, this project deep-links Arduino data with MaxMSP. Using the serial object in Max, the Arduino's raw sensor data is mapped to bespoke audio devices inside Ableton Live, providing a level of precision that standard software cannot match.
3. Haptic Feedback: The project explores "tactile performance," where the physical placement of knobs and buttons on the guitar body allows for muscle-memory based effects manipulation during high-intensity live sets.

Performance Reliability: The University Challenge

Because this project was used for a Live Performance module, it had to be 100% reliable:

• Serial Optimization: The project code focuses on high-speed serial communication to ensure zero latency between a finger touch on the guitar and a change in the audio signal.
• Robust Construction: The electronics are housed within the guitar's internal cavities, protected from stage vibrations and electromagnetic interference from the guitar's pickups.

A lot of the time creating this project was spent learning how to use the Max software to create the effects I wanted. For anyone involved in Audio, i would recommend MaxMSP as it allows for a lot of creativity and hands you a pretty blank canvas (literally). The benefit of using Max is it works with Ableton Live (using Max4Live) and this makes it great for integrating for live use.

I wouldn't say that anything i have achieved in the project was extremely difficult and most people capable of using Google correctly should be able to find out how to do similar things with enough ease. As with any project, it just takes a lot of time and practice getting your head around the basics. I'm very happy with how the project ended up, and thankfully i managed to get it working in time for the end of module hand-in, as well as for use in the live performance.

Here is a shorter video showing a quick teaser of what the Guitarduino can do:

Here is a video with some Audio examples and me explaining things in a bit more depth:

Thanks for viewing my project.