| 1 |
nightmorph 10/01/26 03:55:23 |
| 2 |
|
| 3 |
Added: 20100125-misa-guitar-interview.xml |
| 4 |
Log: |
| 5 |
Added interview with the Misa Digital Guitar creator |
| 6 |
|
| 7 |
Revision Changes Path |
| 8 |
1.1 xml/htdocs/news/20100125-misa-guitar-interview.xml |
| 9 |
|
| 10 |
file : http://sources.gentoo.org/viewcvs.py/gentoo/xml/htdocs/news/20100125-misa-guitar-interview.xml?rev=1.1&view=markup |
| 11 |
plain: http://sources.gentoo.org/viewcvs.py/gentoo/xml/htdocs/news/20100125-misa-guitar-interview.xml?rev=1.1&content-type=text/plain |
| 12 |
|
| 13 |
Index: 20100125-misa-guitar-interview.xml |
| 14 |
=================================================================== |
| 15 |
<?xml version='1.0'?> |
| 16 |
<!DOCTYPE news SYSTEM "/dtd/guide.dtd"> |
| 17 |
|
| 18 |
<news gentoo="yes" category="gentoo"> |
| 19 |
<poster>nightmorph</poster> |
| 20 |
<date>2010-01-25</date> |
| 21 |
<title>Gentoo on the Misa Digital Guitar</title> |
| 22 |
<body> |
| 23 |
|
| 24 |
<p> |
| 25 |
Gentoo has turned up in lots of <uri |
| 26 |
link="/news/en/gmn/20080630-newsletter.xml#doc_chap4_sect2">interesting</uri> |
| 27 |
places <uri link="/news/en/gmn/20080424-newsletter.xml#doc_chap3">before</uri>, |
| 28 |
but Michael from Misa Digital has put Gentoo to work in something entirely |
| 29 |
different: a unique instrument he invented, a MIDI guitar that uses a touchpad |
| 30 |
and digital keys instead of strings! |
| 31 |
</p> |
| 32 |
|
| 33 |
<p> |
| 34 |
Behold the <uri link="http://www.misadigital.com">Misa Digital Guitar</uri>: |
| 35 |
</p> |
| 36 |
|
| 37 |
<fig link="/images/pr/misa.jpg"/> |
| 38 |
|
| 39 |
<p> |
| 40 |
The Misa runs Gentoo Linux on an AMD Geode processor, using the Linux kernel |
| 41 |
version 2.6.31. It sports MIDI and Ethernet ports for connectivity. |
| 42 |
</p> |
| 43 |
|
| 44 |
<p> |
| 45 |
I had the chance to ask Michael some questions about the guitar and his |
| 46 |
preferred choice of operating system: |
| 47 |
</p> |
| 48 |
|
| 49 |
<p> |
| 50 |
<e>Why Gentoo?</e> |
| 51 |
</p> |
| 52 |
|
| 53 |
<p> |
| 54 |
Since the guitar is an embedded system, I needed a really minimal distribution |
| 55 |
that would boot fast and had a small footprint. After investigating <uri |
| 56 |
link="http://www.linuxfromscratch.org/">Linux From Scratch</uri>, I realised I |
| 57 |
did not have the time to invest in building a complete system. I was told that |
| 58 |
the minimal install of Gentoo is like Linux From Scratch with a package manager. |
| 59 |
I probably made you cringe with that simplistic analogy but essentially it was |
| 60 |
right for me. Once I had the install up it took me no time to recompile the |
| 61 |
kernel and streamline it as much as possible. I'm not a Linux expert though, so |
| 62 |
I reckon someone else could shrink it even more. |
| 63 |
</p> |
| 64 |
|
| 65 |
<p> |
| 66 |
Yes, there are other solutions out there but they are surprisingly inaccessable. |
| 67 |
And the "live-CD" style distributions do not allow you to change the actual |
| 68 |
workings of the system. I figured it was best if I just used Gentoo because I |
| 69 |
have full control. |
| 70 |
</p> |
| 71 |
|
| 72 |
<p> |
| 73 |
<e>What were the two biggest challenges in crafting this instrument?</e> |
| 74 |
</p> |
| 75 |
|
| 76 |
<p> |
| 77 |
I would say the two biggest challenges are: 1) manufacturing and tooling the |
| 78 |
actual parts; and 2) sourcing components. |
| 79 |
</p> |
| 80 |
|
| 81 |
<p> |
| 82 |
When you are a lone developer with no company, trying to keep the idea "secret", |
| 83 |
no one wants to cooperate with you. For example if you need a particular |
| 84 |
electrical like a screen, ordering "one" of something is surprisingly difficult |
| 85 |
- and you can expect it in 4 to 6 weeks - really slow! And then when you get |
| 86 |
it, you realise it is not suitable, so you have to repeat the process. The only |
| 87 |
exception is a website called <uri link="http://www.digikey.com/">Digikey</uri>, |
| 88 |
which will have the parts at my doorstep in 1 week guaranteed. But they don't |
| 89 |
have everything. |
| 90 |
</p> |
| 91 |
|
| 92 |
<p> |
| 93 |
Working with Gentoo was a breeze, the Linux community in general is extremely |
| 94 |
helpful. |
| 95 |
</p> |
| 96 |
|
| 97 |
<p> |
| 98 |
<e>What can you tell us about the hardware?</e> |
| 99 |
</p> |
| 100 |
|
| 101 |
<p> |
| 102 |
There is no signal processing, it outputs digital signals via a <uri |
| 103 |
link="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Midi">MIDI</uri> connection. I had toyed with |
| 104 |
having an onboard sound generator but ultimately you limit the sound |
| 105 |
possibilities. By using MIDI, you are guaranteed support with practically every |
| 106 |
sequencer, synthesizer etc on the market - it is a standard that has been around |
| 107 |
for over 20 years. |
| 108 |
</p> |
| 109 |
|
| 110 |
<p> |
| 111 |
[The touchpad] is a 5 wire resistive touch sensor. These are the most durable |
| 112 |
screens available on the market. The LCD behind it is OEM and ordered from |
| 113 |
China. |
| 114 |
</p> |
| 115 |
|
| 116 |
<p> |
| 117 |
<e>What changes to Gentoo (as a distribution) would make it easier for you |
| 118 |
to run it on the guitar?</e> |
| 119 |
</p> |
| 120 |
|
| 121 |
<p> |
| 122 |
I thought Gentoo was a breeze to work with. And can I just say, the Gentoo <uri |
| 123 |
link="/doc/en/handbook/handbook-x86.xml">x86 install handbook</uri>? BRILLIANT. |
| 124 |
I used it so much that I think I actually know it off by heart now. |
| 125 |
</p> |
| 126 |
|
| 127 |
<p> |
| 128 |
<e>What's in store for the future?</e> |
| 129 |
</p> |
| 130 |
|
| 131 |
<p> |
| 132 |
I'd just like to see these instruments hit TV :) |
| 133 |
</p> |
| 134 |
|
| 135 |
<p> |
| 136 |
<e>Thanks for your time, Michael, and for crafting such a unique instrument! Be |
| 137 |
sure to watch a demonstration video of the Misa Guitar <uri |
| 138 |
link="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M2eiP12hQQY">in action</uri>.</e> |
| 139 |
</p> |
| 140 |
|
| 141 |
</body> |
| 142 |
</news> |
Archives