Emerging Tech·134 discussions

How Does A CRT Guitar Work?

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Tags: Operating Systems

Greetings, can somebody tell me how they think a guitar like this works or if my theory is correct?

So, I’m sure you’ve all seen the CRTelecaster by Ei Wada. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zPKxNTt-8A4&ab_channel=ELECTRONICOSFANTASTICOS%21)

I would love to craft one and they’re not selling such a product as of yet. I’ve done extensive research and I believe it’s not far from the Barcode Synth by James Bruton (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ywpl4en4MI0&ab_channel=JamesBruton)

He even goes into the coding of such an instrument. Now, it’s clear the noise is coming from the barcodes generated from the inputs. However, the “guitar” clearly is using some sort of touch/slide bar to my knowledge. My guess would be the higher you go, the tighter the barcode is presented, leading to a higher pitched note. You could have four different tuned “strings” or slide bars, and have them connected to something similar to the Barcode Synth Build, generating sound. Would it be possible to code something like a laptop touch bar to present said barcodes? Link: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1450221-REG/neonode_nnabc2950xu01_13_3_airbar_touchscreen_sensor.html?ap=y&smp=y

A part I’m not understanding would be from this quotation of the instrument: ” The static electricity emitted from the screen is caught by the “coil pick”, and the sound is produced from the guitar amplifier. ”

If anybody has any information or ideas, please let me know. I have searched the internet for nearly everything and would love to start this project. Also, if you think you can code or wire such a device, I’d love to hire anybody willing to help. Thanks!

Topic

My answer.

In reply to How Does A CRT Guitar Work?

Is too long to type in but you are on the right track. To write a dissertation here is going to not be helpful so I’ll share my thoughts on this.

Start with your CRT and something that can put on the patterns you see in those videos, then the coil pickup off to some amplifier. See how that sounds and think about how YOU can work with that.

There it is. SHORT ANSWER: CRT, patterns, coil pickup to amp and speaker.

Reply

In reply to My answer.

I’m a bit confused to what the coil pickup is though. Do you know?

Coils, in electronics are widely written about.

In reply to Reply

Let’s google a bit here and here’s just one of many about a guitar coil pickup. (Hint, not a truck, it picks up electrical signals.)

https://www.guitarworld.com/gear/how-does-a-guitar-pickup-really-work

Furthermore

In reply to Coils, in electronics are widely written about.

Okay, thank you. I’m not sure this is much of an answer though. It seems there’s some sort of controls being used on the neck to alter the video barcodes. These are then being scanned.
I was told the neck could be touch sensitive or even LRD operated.
Any thoughts on that?

Remember

In reply to Furthermore

I won’t write a dissertation. This is why I’ll keep is short.

As to the video barcode, if I were to create such I’d look to some single board computers to see if I can generate the video with. Remember that CRTs of old took a now defunct signal you won’t find on most systems so you do have a challenge here.

1. VIdeo out from a small SBC: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5t1_XNc3vNw

Seems like a nice beginner project.

2. I’d forget about touch sensitive for now and just use push button inputs that your code reads to make the patterns.

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