myDAQ Drum Kit

[jwdevine]

Introduction

Drumming is the pastime of humanity. Whether it be using a drumset, your desk, or the your leg, everyone drums for fun or to burn energy. If you want to sound cool and you don’t have a drumset, what are you to do? The portable drum kit is the answer! A cheap, 4x2 button array with adjustable speeds is the perfect, portable solution. For those who don’t want to put much effort in their drumming, the keys will keep time for you; simply press and hold a button and you will get drum sounds at a tempo of your choosing. Easy, cheap and fun noisemaking in the palm of your hand!

Materials

· 1x myDAQ

· 1x Speaker/Headphones

· 8x Arcade Buttons

· 1x Missle Switch Cover

· 1x Switch

· 1x Box or some way to hold the buttons and switch

· 1x 2.2k Ohm Resistor

· 11x pieces of wire

Estimated Cost: $10 + myDAQ + Speaker/Headphones

Software Instructions

First, find the array labeled "Sound File Inputs" and enter as many sounds as you'd like. There are default sounds located in a folder next to the main DrumKit VI, use those if you don't want to import your own sounds. Make sure you start at the top, not skipping spaces when setting the file locations of your .wav sounds. Next, set your delays for both when your missle switch is off and when it is on; remember, a higher delay is a slower tempo and vice versa. Press the run arrow. Now all of the sliders labeled "Button [number] Sound" have dynamically adjusted to the number of sound files you have placed in the array. Move the sliders to the desired sound for each button. The sliders can be adjusted at any time (even when that button is pushed). Now you're ready to make music!

Hardware Instructions

Cut out holes in the top of your box: 8 for the buttons and 1 for the switch. Place arcade buttons from the inside of the box and use the built-in screw mechanism to secure them. Secure the switch and switch cover using the screw on rings supplied. Use one wire to wire up all the leads labeled “3” on the buttons then bring the wire out of the box and connect it to the myDAQs far right “5V” port, be sure to place the resistor somewhere in series. Then use eight wires to connect each switch’s “COM” lead to Digital (DIO) ports 0 through 7. Wire the switch to the far left “+15V” port and the “AI 0+” port. Label outputs, inputs, and the buttons; plug in the myDAQ to your computer, open LabVIEW, and get jamming!

Usage

Push the buttons, make sound!

Video

Coming Soon!

-Jimmy Devine