Virtual Reality Implementation and Testing of signal detection for remote activation of guitarist’s effects pedals on stage
Files
VandenEynde_26971800_2023.pdf
Open access - Adobe PDF
- 14.04 MB
Details
- Supervisors
- Faculty
- Degree label
- Abstract
- Audio effects are a key mechanism for guitar players. These effects are currently activated through a footswitch disposed on a pedal on the stage or by an external sound engineer. This solution greatly limits the artist’s mobility and the creative spontaneity during the concert. The goal of this work is to develop new trigger mechanisms for the activation of these effects. This way the guitarist gains mobility and creativity freedom by triggering the effects independently through body gesture. Three mechanisms, an electromyography (EMG) signal detection, a foot pressure sensor and an eye blink recognition, were implemented and tested during a virtual reality (VR) experiment including calibration, training and immersive mini-games. Insights garnered from participants opinions, performance metrics, and system usability evaluations shed light on the intricate interplay between user preferences and technical efficacy. The three mechanisms, while having each their own limitations such as setup difficulties and bulkiness, were successfully implemented. The VR environment could be developed and experienced by 4 participants. The evaluations showed that the foot pressure detection mechanism, despite being the most similar to the classical trigger method, was not the most valued by users. A real-life like concert stage was implemented in a VR environment to allow users to experience a real-life like scenario. In this environment, the three new trigger methods for guitar audio effects were implemented and tested. It emerged that the EMG signal detection was the most reliable solution. This work opens new prospects for the development of musical effects triggering methods allowing for more freedom and creative spontaneity to the artist.