This master’s thesis explores the principles of digital effects, which, in both analogue and digital forms, are an essential part of the equipment of most musicians, particularly guitarists and bass players.
Digital effects, also referred to as pedals in the industry, are small electronic devices that alter the sound of an instrument in their own unique ways. They can modify the colour of the sound, add new sounds, or transform the sound into something completely unrecognisable. The thesis primarily focuses on effects in live performances.
The industry often relies on a specific digital signal processor for signal processing. However,
the thesis presents a more universal solution that can be transferred to other devices. Thus, a relatively powerful processor was used, which allowed for increased algorithm complexity.
Additionally, a system can be built using just two components: a processor to run the algorithms and a codec to simplify signal capture and reconstruction. The research was conducted using the STM32H750B-DK development board by the Dutch manufacturer STMicroelectronics, which already includes all the aforementioned electronics. Furthermore, the development board features an RGB LCD touchscreen on the front, which was utilized as a user interface to configure effects and display their status.
The focus of the master’s thesis lies on the design and implementation of discrete-time systems.
The system developed as part of this thesis serves as a foundation for future implementation
into real-world effects that could be used on stage. It is a dynamic platform that also allows for further upgrades to explore the differences between effects and possibly to improve or even create new ones
|
