Model Boat Mayhem
Technical, Techniques, Hints, and Tips => Microprocessor control => Topic started by: C-3PO on March 25, 2025, 01:57:20 pm
-
(https://www.modelboatmayhemimages.co.uk/images/2025/03/25/WavTriggerPro.png)
I have played around with this topic on and off for a long time. My journey has taken me down multiple blind alleys/rabbit holes.
I have come to the conclusion that I found a great solution some years ago and should have stopped my search at that point.
The reason for my post is that the main component of that solution a Wav Trigger has been updated (October 2024) now Wav Trigger Pro and shrunk, the main board now measures just 1.75” by 1.50”
It is hard to convey the amazing functionality and quality sound of this board without seeing and hearing it in the flesh – it is truly amazing.
Mono and stereo WAV files (tracks) are played at CD quality 16-bit, 44.1kHz ( you can store and access 4096 tracks on a micro SD card) – makes the hairs stand up on the back of your neck!!!!
There are no delays, no glitching of the sound or sound aberrations, imperfections or distortions - just CD quality sound throughout
What is not obvious and makes this board stand out is that it can:
• Play and mix up to 24 tracks (wav files) independently and simultaneously
• Each track can have its own independent volume, panning and pitch control
And what's more the settings on a track by track basis can be updated/changed dynamically as the track(s) are playing in real time
To paint a picture…
You could have 2 engine ( or more!!) sounds changing speed & volume dynamically with the speed of the boat
You could sound a horn, play seagull sound, have dockside chatter, have aircraft sound dive bombing and you could still have capacity to play another 18 tracks all at the same time
There is a catch to this – you need to add an amplifier, and a method of triggering the sounds which could be a contact switch or more likely a small micro controller board that would interface with your radio receiver
The reason for my post it to see if anybody is interested in fleshing this concept out to a more accessible to all sound solution – I know there a quite a few people on this forum dabble in micro controller programming.
My vision is an open source, not for profit solution that others could deploy on their models with perhaps some backup help advice from a core group of modellers.
Anybody interested?
I will post a video of the board in operation in the next few days.
Regards
C-3PO
Jamie Roberston - the Wav Trigger Pro creator
Jamie has been with Walt Disney Imagineering over a 40+ year span, designing and installing systems for EPCOT Center up through Galaxy’s Edge.
As an Executive R&D Imagineer with six patents for the Walt Disney Company, he developed key technologies including the industry’s first interactive digital audio system for roller coasters and theme park rides, as well as the wearable system which gave voices to the Star Wars characters in the parks.
https://www.robertsonics.com/about (https://www.robertsonics.com/about)
-
I found this example of the Wav Trigger Pro by it's creator Jamie on YouTube
The pressing of the keyboard is triggering the playing of individual wav files (tracks) stored on the SD car on the Wav Trigger Pro
Regards
C-3PO
https://youtu.be/qbv-s17oHn0?t=149 (https://youtu.be/qbv-s17oHn0?t=149)
Another example - each note is a seperate wav file - you can see how they play together at the same time, the triggering ( via midi keyboard in this video) is instant
https://youtu.be/FAWjWgyu1Xg?t=240 (https://youtu.be/FAWjWgyu1Xg?t=240)
-
Although I have no knowledge of the technicalities I would be very interested in the end result
-
Hi philK,
I am in the process of creating a "model boat" related demo which I will publish on here.
Do you have a style of boat in mind e.g. Warship, Lifeboat, Working boat, Barge etc etc?
Regards
C-3PO
-
Hi 3PO
Don't know how I missed this for a couple of months... But a very interesting piece of kit..!
I'm busy with my 1/5th Aquarama build, I have the two of the Arduino Pro Mini's built in at the moment as two separate sound systems, and it's fine for a start. The speakers and amps are far more capable for whatever comes after the Arduinos. I have the ESP32 boards ready to be worked on, but now the Wav Trigger Pro looks and sounds very good too. For me it will be get the build finished, then look to upgrade to one of these 16bit systems and replace the Arduinos.
Have you got it working in the model boat context..? Triggering / selecting tracks from PWM inputs..? Am I reading the docs correctly in that the board would need something like an Arduino / ESP32 to act as an interface to a receiver..?
Very best regards
David.
-
Hi 3Cpo, I'll be following this project with interest.