<![CDATA[ChipMusic.org - Repurposing a NES controller?]]> 2015-04-11T06:36:14Z PunBB https://chipmusic.org/forums/topic/16156/repurposing-a-nes-controller/ <![CDATA[Re: Repurposing a NES controller?]]> Made a very short demo vid

http://youtu.be/9q1rD7xBD10

]]> https://chipmusic.org/RJL 2015-04-11T06:36:14Z https://chipmusic.org/forums/post/228616/#p228616 <![CDATA[Re: Repurposing a NES controller?]]> Going to post a vid tomorrow,  eating some left over pizza and hitting the hay!

]]> https://chipmusic.org/RJL 2015-04-10T07:29:54Z https://chipmusic.org/forums/post/228554/#p228554 <![CDATA[Re: Repurposing a NES controller?]]> Well, Lets hear it smile

]]> https://chipmusic.org/TylerBarnes 2015-04-10T07:27:21Z https://chipmusic.org/forums/post/228553/#p228553 <![CDATA[Re: Repurposing a NES controller?]]> So I finally got around to working on this project and I've built my first prototype.  I call it the Noise Entertainment System and it is basically the toy organ circuit with a light sensitive photocell to control the overall pitch.  The buttons are not tuned to any scale,  just random notes that change depending on light conditions.

I have a lot of little changes that I want to make to the next version:

Brighter leds underneath the Nintendo logo
Smaller switch
Smaller jack?
More resistance between each button to make the pitch change more noticeable between buttons
Overall neatness improved upon

I also want to add a LFO circuit to the next version that I make,  though it was quite a challenge fitting all the components inside the tiny controller...

Here it is:


]]> https://chipmusic.org/RJL 2015-04-10T07:25:02Z https://chipmusic.org/forums/post/228552/#p228552 <![CDATA[Re: Repurposing a NES controller?]]> Here's a 555 based circuit.  There's a 30 minute video explaining how it works as well.

http://hackaday.com/2014/12/14/sqonkbox … ore-140610

]]> https://chipmusic.org/RatShack 2015-03-05T04:37:15Z https://chipmusic.org/forums/post/226730/#p226730 <![CDATA[Re: Repurposing a NES controller?]]> Here are some quick calculations for the resistors in series.

In this photo,
R1 = 10000
R3 = 32,588
R4 = 8,190
etc...
C2 = 10nF
R1 = 10000

The calculations are rough, so the freq does move around about 1 hz either direction, but the duty cycle stays pretty close to 50%.

]]> https://chipmusic.org/Jazzmarazz 2015-03-05T04:25:24Z https://chipmusic.org/forums/post/226729/#p226729 <![CDATA[Re: Repurposing a NES controller?]]> Yeah,  i was wondering what those black sticker like things were on the other side...never seen that before...

]]> https://chipmusic.org/RJL 2015-03-05T03:26:18Z https://chipmusic.org/forums/post/226727/#p226727 <![CDATA[Re: Repurposing a NES controller?]]> .

]]> https://chipmusic.org/Apeshit 2015-03-05T03:23:34Z https://chipmusic.org/forums/post/226726/#p226726 <![CDATA[Re: Repurposing a NES controller?]]> 8 should do it.

A4 (440Hz), R2 = 113.9775
B4 (493.9Hz), R2 = 96.082
etc...

]]> https://chipmusic.org/Jazzmarazz 2015-03-05T03:20:59Z https://chipmusic.org/forums/post/226725/#p226725 <![CDATA[Re: Repurposing a NES controller?]]> 8 trimpots,  I'm guessing?  I will probably use a breakout box anyways...

]]> https://chipmusic.org/RJL 2015-03-05T03:20:52Z https://chipmusic.org/forums/post/226724/#p226724 <![CDATA[Re: Repurposing a NES controller?]]> The frequency calculation is well known. Just put in some values until you get the freqs you need.
The problem I can see is that you will need a lot of trim pots to get those absurd values. Also that the duty cycle will shift slightly, but the effect may actually be interesting.

http://www.ohmslawcalculator.com/555-astable-calculator

]]> https://chipmusic.org/Jazzmarazz 2015-03-05T03:16:30Z https://chipmusic.org/forums/post/226723/#p226723 <![CDATA[Re: Repurposing a NES controller?]]> Yes,  I believe I've used that circuit before!   I got it from Forrest Mims toy organ schematic.  I even made a "polyphonic" version by doubling the circuit,  but It was only arbitrary notes like you said....(also had photoresistors controlling pitch for fun)

I'm liking this idea!

Now i just need to figure out which resistors to use to generate the chromatic scale,  I'm guessing I'd need some trimpots,  too.  I will Google this, I'm sure it's out there somewhere.

]]> https://chipmusic.org/RJL 2015-03-05T03:05:54Z https://chipmusic.org/forums/post/226722/#p226722 <![CDATA[Re: Repurposing a NES controller?]]> Thats odd, but don't worry. I believe they were/are nothing more than pull-ups for the latch pin on the 4021 (or something). And if you liked my idea, you would pull it out anyhow. Here is a quick and dirty keyboard mockup. in all honesty, it could probably fit inside the controller housing if you tried.

Note: This will not be traditionally tuned to any notes. It will just make different noises depending on the buttons pressed. It will also be monophonic if you couldn't have guessed. Have fun.

]]> https://chipmusic.org/Jazzmarazz 2015-03-05T02:51:24Z https://chipmusic.org/forums/post/226721/#p226721 <![CDATA[Re: Repurposing a NES controller?]]> No resistors

]]> https://chipmusic.org/RJL 2015-03-05T02:45:58Z https://chipmusic.org/forums/post/226719/#p226719 <![CDATA[Re: Repurposing a NES controller?]]> Thanks guys,  not sure what I want to make,  so I like hearing the ideas!  The 555 keyboard idea sounds cool!

]]> https://chipmusic.org/RJL 2015-03-05T02:39:16Z https://chipmusic.org/forums/post/226718/#p226718