Guillermo Socorro PY 376 - Electronics for Scientists eLab
Abstract
The project will consist of using an Arduino Uno microcontroller to create a guitar tuner. The original project would receive an input signal from an Audio Jack directly from an electric guitar. However, a function generator will be used to emulate a sine waveform signal. The microcontroller determines the input frequency and compares it to the frequency of guitar chords E, A, D, G, B, & E. LEDs are used to indicate whether the input frequency is above (RED right), below (RED left), or at the desired value (GREEN). The Liquid-Crystal Display (LCD) is used to display pertinent information such as what chord is being played, the input frequency, and the desired frequency.
Apparatus Circuit Sketch
Due to the recent difficulties posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, my project will exist solely as a Tinkercard circuit. This is also the reasoning behind using a function generator, as Tinkercard does not have an Audio Jack as a readily available device.
Steps Flow Chart
Demo Video
Conclusion
Many problems were faced when trying to create this project. The recent restrictrions on air travel and the understandable priority that is given to essential products did not allow the necessary devices for this apparatus to arrive in time. However, the Tinkercard simulation, along with small adjustments, resulted to be quite fruitful. The project successfully tunes guitar chords within a single octave, displaying correctness through the LEDs line of display. Additionally, the LCD works smoothly displaying the guitar chord, its ideal desired frequency, and the input frequency being played.
