Arduino Mega Guitar Pedal

PedalSHIELD MEGA is a programmable guitar pedal that works with the Arduino MEGA 2560 and MEGA ADK boards. It includes a 1.3 inches OLED screen, a True Bypass footswitch, 2 programmable push-buttons and an analog input/output stage. The project is Open Source & Open Hardware and aimed for hackers, musicians and programmers that want to learn about DSP (digital signal processing), guitar effects, and experiment without deep knowledge on electronics or hardcore programming.

https://youtu.be/bhdZ3ekHsBg

You can program your own effects in C/C++ with the standard Arduino IDE tool and get inspired using the library of effects posted on the pedalSHIELD MEGA online forum.

Circuit Explanation:

This shield that is placed on top of an Arduino MEGA has three parts:

1. Analog Input Stage:It takes the digitalized waveform from the ADC and does all the DSP (Digital Signal Processing) creating effects (distortion, fuzz, volume, delay, etc).

2. The output stage: Once the new effected waveform is created inside the Arduino MEGA board, this last stage takes it and using two combined PWMs generates the analog output signal. 

If you want to understand all the details of the circuit, please read the pedalSHIELD MEGA Circuit Analysis.

Specifications.

• Based on Arduino MEGA 2560 / ADK (16MHz, 8KB RAM).
• Analog stages using TL972 rail-to-rail operational amplifier.
• ADC: 10bits.
• Output Stage: 16 bits (2x8bits PWMs running in parallel)
• OLED Screen: 128x64 resolution, 1.3 inches (also compatible with 0.96"), I2C.
• Interface:
  • 2 Configurable push buttons.
  • 1 Configurable switch.
  • 1 programmable blue led.
  • True Bypass Foot-switch
  • OLED Display.
• Connectors:
• Input Jack, 1/4 inch unbalanced, Zin=0.5MΩ.
• Output Jack, 1/4 inch unbalanced, Zout=0.1Ω.
• Power supply: power taken from the Arduino MEGA board (12V DC
• pedalSHIELD MEGA Review by BlitzCityDIY
• https://youtu.be/Hg7QrgVbAZ8
• How to Program it:

• To make the programming as easy as possible, the standard Arduino IDE is used. All the effects are programmed on C/C++ (mainly C) using the standard Arduino functions. All tools and programs are free-of-charge/Open Source. The OLED screen uses the U8glib libraries (in the forum there is a tutorial explaining how to install the Ug8lib and use them with some examples.)

  Basic knowledge of C is needed to understand the codes. The best way to illustrate how to program it is showing a simple example:

  Clean Volume/Booster Pedal:

• The real code used look like this:

• #include "U8glib.h"
  U8GLIB_SH1106_128X64 u8g(U8G_I2C_OPT_NO_ACK);  // Display which does not send ACK
   
  //defining hardware resources.
  #define LED 13
  #define FOOTSWITCH 12
  #define TOGGLE 2
  #define PUSHBUTTON_1 A5
  #define PUSHBUTTON_2 A4
   
  //defining the output PWM parameters
  #define PWM_FREQ 0x00FF // pwm frequency - 31.3KHz
  #define PWM_MODE 0 // Fast (1) or Phase Correct (0)
  #define PWM_QTY 2 // 2 PWMs in parallel
   
  //other variables
  int input, vol_variable=10000;
  int counter=0;
  unsigned int ADC_low, ADC_high;
   
  void setup() {
   
        u8g.firstPage();
   do {
      u8g.setFont(u8g_font_helvR18r);
      u8g.drawStr( 0, 30, "BOOSTER");   
      u8g.drawStr( 0, 60, "  EFFECT");
      } while( u8g.nextPage() );
   
    //setup IO
    pinMode(FOOTSWITCH, INPUT_PULLUP);
    pinMode(TOGGLE, INPUT_PULLUP);
    pinMode(PUSHBUTTON_1, INPUT_PULLUP);
    pinMode(PUSHBUTTON_2, INPUT_PULLUP);
    pinMode(LED, OUTPUT);
    pinMode(6, OUTPUT); //PWM0 as output
    pinMode(7, OUTPUT); //PWM1 as output
     
    // setup ADC
    ADMUX = 0x60; // left adjust, adc0, internal vcc
    ADCSRA = 0xe5; // turn on adc, ck/32, auto trigger
    ADCSRB = 0x00; // free running mode
    DIDR0 = 0x01; // turn off digital inputs for adc0
   
    // setup PWM
    TCCR4A = (((PWM_QTY - 1) << 5) | 0x80 | (PWM_MODE << 1)); //
    TCCR4B = ((PWM_MODE << 3) | 0x11); // ck/1
    TIMSK4 = 0x20; // interrupt on capture interrupt
    ICR4H = (PWM_FREQ >> 8);
    ICR4L = (PWM_FREQ & 0xff);
    DDRB |= ((PWM_QTY << 1) | 0x02); // turn on outputs
    sei(); // turn on interrupts - not really necessary with arduino
    }
   
  void loop()
  {
    /*This effect does not have oled screen updates, when using the "map" function the
    code goes too slow to be used the oled in real time.*/
     
      //Turn on the LED if the effect is ON.
    if (digitalRead(FOOTSWITCH)) digitalWrite(LED, HIGH);
       else  digitalWrite(LED, LOW);
  }
   
  ISR(TIMER4_CAPT_vect)
  {
    // get ADC data
    ADC_low = ADCL; // you need to fetch the low byte first
    ADC_high = ADCH;
    //construct the input sumple summing the ADC low and high byte.
    input = ((ADC_high << 8) | ADC_low) + 0x8000; // make a signed 16b value
   
  //// All the Digital Signal Processing happens here: ////
   
  counter++; //to save resources, the pushbuttons are checked every 100 times.
  if(counter==100)
  {
  counter=0;
  if (!digitalRead(PUSHBUTTON_2)) {
    if (vol_variable<32768)vol_variable=vol_variable+20; //increase the vol
      digitalWrite(LED, LOW); //blinks the led
      }
   
      if (!digitalRead(PUSHBUTTON_1)) {
    if (vol_variable>0)vol_variable=vol_variable-20; //decrease vol
    digitalWrite(LED, LOW); //blinks the led
      }
  }
   
    //the amplitude of the input signal is modified following the vol_variable value
    input = map(input, -32768, +32768,-vol_variable, vol_variable);
     
    //write the PWM signal
    OCR4AL = ((input + 0x8000) >> 8); // convert to unsigned, send out high byte
    OCR4BL = input; // send out low byte
  }

pedalSHIELD MEGA Hardware Design.

As an Open Source project, the design was done using KiCad (free/open ECAD tool). All the project files, schematics, and Bill of Materials are public. The circuit can be broken down into 6 simpler blocks: Power Supply, Input Stage, Output Stage, User Interface, OLED Screen and Arduino Connectors:

The main functionality is simple; 1 op-amp will prepare the signal to be digitized (Input Stage) and also 1 op-amp will recover the signal from the Arduino MEGA microcontroller (Output Stage). One 10bit ADCs is used to read the guitar signal and two PWM signals (16bits) are used to generate the output signal.

• Input Stage: The weak guitar signal is amplified for better acquisition using 1 op-amp (this part of the circuit is very similar to the MicroAmp guitar pedal design, check it for more details). The trimmer V_R1 adjusts the gain of this amplifier from 1 to 21, so the guitar level can be optimized and any guitar will work. The signal pass through 3 low pass filters (formed by R3&C2, R5&C4, R6&C5) that will remove the excess of high harmonics that can create aliasing during the ADC signal acquisition (fc=5KHz).
  

• Output State: Uses a Sallen & Key 3rd order low pass filter which removes harmonics above 5KHz (Anti-aliasing filter). Two PWM 8-bit signals are used in parallel improving the bit resolution (2x8bits=16bits). If you want to read more about the PWM audio generation read the forum topic dedicated to the PWM configuration options. There is a fantastic research done by OpenMusic Labs referring to this topic.
  

• Power Supply: The pedal uses the +5V from Arduino MEGA to feed the rail-to-rail operational amplifier and achieve design simplicity and maximum signal swing without clipping. A resistor divider R7&R8 generates 2.5V for virtual ground and the cap C6 remove ripple on the power line.
  

• User Interface: The player can use 2 configurable push-buttons, 1 configurable toggle switch, 3PDT true-bypass footswitch, and a programmable LED.

• Oled Screen: A 1.3 inches Oled display is used to show values, images and details of the effect played. It uses I2C bus to communicate with the Arduino MEGA controller. 2 Pull-up resistors are placed in the case that the display needs it, but by default, they are not needed.

• Arduino MEGA Connectors: pin headers will link the shield with Arduino MEGA transferring the signals and power supply.

Buy PedalSHIELD Mega Online

There are 2 options in the online shop:

There are 2 options in the online shop:

Order only the PCB.

1. It uses easy-to-find standard components and you can build the kit yourself. The bill of materials is public with all the references and the Mouser part numbers.
2. Order the Full Kit: This kit includes the PCB, Cover and all the components to build pedalSHIELD at home.
3. All the transactions are done through PayPal for maximum security.
4. If you have any question, contact us.

PedalSHIELD Mega Bill material / Parts

pedalSHIELD MEGA Bill of Materials.
Reference	Qty	Value	Description	Mouser Reference
Capacitors
C5,C2, C7, C8, C9	5	6.8n	ceramic cap	SR211C682MARTR1
C3, C6, C10	3	4.7u	electrolytic cap	ECE-A1EKA4R7
C1, C11	2	100n	ceramic cap	SR211C104KARTR1
C4	1	270p	ceramic cap	D271K20Y5PH63L6R
Resistors
R12,R13, R10, R9, R6, R4, R3	7	4.7K	Resistor, 1%,1/4W	MFR-25FRF52-4K7
R5, R7, R8,	3	100K	Resistor, 1%,1/4W	MFR-25FRF52-100K
R1, R2	2	1M	Resistor, 1%,1/4W	MFR-25FRF52-1M
R11	1	1M2	Resistor, 1%,1/4W	MFR-25FRF52-1M2
Others
RV1	1	500K	resistor trimmer	3319W-1-504
D1	1	Led 3mm blue	blue led 3mm	SSL-LX3044USBC
U1	1	TL972 pdip-8	op-amp rail-to-rail	TL972IPE4
socket	1	dip 8 socket	socket dip8	1-2199298-2
SW1	1	3DPT foot-switch	3PDT foot-switch	107-SF17020F-32-21RL
SW2	1	Toggle switch	SPDT toggle switch	612-100-A1111
SW3, SW4	2	Push-button	off-on push-button	103-1013-EVX
Conn1,2,3,4,5,6,7	2	40 pin header	2.54 pitch pin header	710-61304011121
J1, J2	2	1/4 Jack audio	stereo 6.35mm jack	NMJ6HCD2
OLED Display	1	1.3 inches, 4 pins	I2C OLED Display 1.3”