ECE 791/792 Project Proposal Project Title: Electric Saxophone Project Team: Michael Peña ECE Faculty Advisor: Frank Hludik ECE Courses Involved: 617, 618, 633, 634, 649, 651 Current Date: September 2011 Project Completion Date: May 2012

General Problem The saxophone has the smallest range of the ordinary woodwind instruments Practicing is loud and can be annoying to others. Beginners might be embarrassed because they cannot play well and don’t want others to hear.

Most popular solution As one can imagine this is uncomfortable and does not really help a beginning player as the player cannot see the keys.

Design Objectives The electric saxophone will be able to produce a sound wave electronically instead of acoustically. This will allow the saxophone to have an extended range as there will be no limitations due to the physics of acoustics. The range will extend two octaves below and one octave above. There will also be a headphone jack to allow the player to listen to the sound without disturbing others while practicing Original Range New Range

Optional Objectives Saxophones do not equate to other instruments. For example, a pianist is able to play any instrument imaginable when using an electric keyboard. If I finish my desired goals early, I would like to have the electric saxophone produce sounds from other instruments.

Plan Pressure sensor connected to an amplifier to output louder sounds with harder breath. Tonguing switch to add space between notes. This will equate to stopping the vibrating reed with the players tongue. Keys which will equate to the fingerings of the saxophone. Microcontroller which will monitor the keypresses and pressure sensor to output a saxophone waveform at the correct amplitude and frequency.

Block Diagram

Testing I will be taking the completed design to my friends in the UNH Band and have them rate how well it works

Budget CategoryPartsPrice Microcontroller Hardware attachments $40 $50 Saxophone $100 Circuitry Buttons/Switches Speakers Breath sensor Wires Battery Connection $10 $5 $15 $10 $1 Miscellaneous $50 Total $281

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