Episode 39 - Automate Guitar Hero [Discussion]

[travislopes]

David Randolph's back to Systm with a vengeance, out from the studio and dipping into his previous life building interactive museum displays... to cheat at Guitar Hero (http://www.guitarhero.com/). Or, to look at it in a different light, David's figured out how to automate Guitar Hero by wiring one of Gilderfluke & Co's (http://www.gilderfluke.com/) spiffy "Show Control Systems" the BR-miniBrick8 (http://www.gilderfluke.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=18) into a Guitar Hero Guitar. And the tricky part, of course, programming it to play Foghat's (http://www.foghat.com/) "Slow Ride." Wondering what exactly a Show Controller (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Show_control) is? Think tiny gadget that can turn other devices on and off... or trigger them... or, you know, control them! They're a integral part of the museum exhibits David used to make for a living! (http://www.evergreenexhibitions.com/exhibits/lost_spacecraft/index.asp)

[computoman]

This was a good show for a premise on what the neat things you can do with a show controller. I can see why the compact unit will be so popular in the entertainment industry. Those of us who can not afford the mac computers and controllers will probably still play the never failable air guiitar while listening to the good old radio. As a family project will probably could just take the old piece of junk that can run the ipcop or an old 486 laptop and use the parallel port from it and a few bucks in parts to do the same thing to control some switches. Maybe hook it to a remote controller for a remote controlled model truck with a battery powered wireless camera. it should not be hard to program in basic. Now that would be real fun.

[will_stutler]

i have only just started watching this show, so i don't know how much my thoughts matter about it, but why on earth would any one pay so much money just to cheat at a flippin game

IMHO guys i think that you should start doing CHEAP/FREE piratical stuff
like the USB thing you guys did last week.....or painting of the laptop thing you did a few weeks ago

[esalonia]

Great job with the show. That looks like it was a lot of hard work to get it all wired up and working properly. Seems a little expensive and time consuming to beat the game, but the concept and seeing it work, is nice, none the less. Keep it up.

[guardian653]

Neat idea--abet an expensive one... Still anything that has some amount of programming is a plus in my book.

(Is it just me or has there been a lot more commercials inserted into System lately?)

[toadx]

Excellent show! I loved it. I always want to see technical projects like this on Systm rather than watching you guys do stuff like paint a laptop.

[ddreier]

I think this was a great show, I liked seeing what you can do even if it's out of the reach of the average consumer.

I'm also looking foward to seeing more with that "Show Controller" especially the DMX part, as that's something I'm interested in atm.

[-mad-berry]

As Bert(pixel perfect) always says:

"It's not the result that matters, it's how I got there"

Thanks for the intro into show controllers.

[mad]Berry

[md2389]

Honestly, I'm just glad they brought back Dave. Its nice to see something a little more complicated this time around. :)

[themattman]

Dave Randolph is back!

[computoman]

Being a brand new dad can be daunting and time consuming, Give Pat a break.

[lasthand]

still no laptop pics or wireless truck....sigh hey but we got dave out of retirement early

[fir3ball]

cool episode, expensive for one to do, but a cool way to teach about show controllers, never learned how to set one up so that was cool. would have liked to see star power being used or see the combo score at the end of a perfect GH cheat.

i like the laptop painting, like the technical stuff more. just disappointed sometimes when they're short episodes.

[neutrino15]

While I have come to expect over the top hacks fro systm (wifi truck), this hack could have been done for MUCH less money, and in a better way.


Parts I Would Use:
--Arduino Board [proc/io] ($30)
--Some relays from radio shack.. ($3 per relay)

You can program on any OS, arduino supports USB [and bluetooth!].. The only downside is that you have to know a bit of C.. No painting notes here. One could easily write a program that reads some sort of time/note script.

On a blatently obvious note, since the arduino has inputs too, you can have a button to start the program (no timing issues)

[computoman]

The good old parallel and serial ports can be programmed in basic, python, pascal, or c and you do not need an arduino board. All you need is a few cheap parts from jameco or some other distributor.
Old computers are great for stripping voltage regulators, stepper motors and other parts., In most cases (pardon the pun) they are free,

[triple110]

Would it not have been cheaper to use a MIDI device for this?

[neutrino15]

valid methods.

I thought a big part of the hack was being detached from the computer after you progged it. The arduino could be hidden inside the guitar, usb port could be drilled in the side of it, a button to start execution could be drilled somewhere else.. a "real" hack.

[lordbyron]

i but why on earth would any one pay so much money just to cheat at a flippin game



I have to agree! And even more so why would you want to cheat a Guitar Hero, why even play if your going to have a controller doing it for you.

I guess you can argue that it was just a concept to explain the show controller, but how often does the average person use one?

[m3wse]

I can see the idea, but I probably would have explained it in terms of an AVR or PIC Micro mentioning the show controller. Really neither are difficult to program if you use C...

[triple110]

I have to agree! And even more so why would you want to cheat a Guitar Hero, why even play if your going to have a controller doing it for you.

I guess you can argue that it was just a concept to explain the show controller, but how often does the average person use one?

"Hacks" aren't always purposeful. Maybe I'm of a different culture/mindset that is not always concern with practicality as with "can it be done". This episode could also be looked at as a precursor for other hacks like programming a simple LED light show or some other creative use (I'll leave that to your own imagination). This also allows for greater exploration and feedback on a concept. Just look at the responses in this thread and you will see people suggesting other methods of achieving the same goal using different tools that may or may not be more efficient or add new features to an existing idea.

[pk386]

Man I was thinking the whole episode how easy it would be to close loop that project with some light senors (AKA photo-transistors) and some interfacing circuitry to the brick he spoke of.


lol I can see a dowel rod hanging in front of the TV with wires taped to it now...

[kardall]

My question would be:

You had to plug in the power to start the program right...

When the song loads, and the guitar fretboard loads on the screen, wouldn't that be a prime time to "start" the program?

If it's possible, do you think it would be possible to mod that setup, to include a push-switch to "enable power" to the board. That way it'd start running the program then, rather than waiting for the load screen.

Otherwise, very cool.

[lordbyron]

This episode could also be looked at as a precursor for other hacks like programming a simple LED light show or some other creative use (I'll leave that to your own imagination).

Well if it was a precursor to a LED light show then why not do the LED light show, hmmmm.....? I think you may be thinking to much into it. I can understand showing concepts, hence the hack for guitar hero, but spending over $400 to do it seems like a waste.


Just look at the responses in this thread and you will see people suggesting other methods of achieving the same goal using different tools that may or may not be more efficient or add new features to an existing idea.

You are correct, but you missed my point, its spending so much money to hack it was the point!

[dysan]

I am interested in doing this project but I have been looking for the
show notes with information on how to build it. There are no detailed
plans or schematics of the relay board and/or the soldering of the
guitar controller board. Would it be possible to have that uploaded
somewhere. Also there was no mention of the whammy bar, what happened with that?

Love the show.

Thanks In Advance