Next generation PSG

[ed packard]

Heads up display (dashboard) for the PSG:

A common setup for today’s PSG player consists of the instrument, a volume pedal, some stomp boxes, a rack with preamp, effects unit(s), tuner, power amp, and two speakers; this just to get his sound.

Then the player adds a computer for using Band In A Box, Jammer, or some other program for back up; the computer is also used to play tracks from CD’s, and downloading/playing/modifying MIDI files.

The more technically aggressive player would use the computer for a recording/editing program, of which there are many, or perhaps for frequency spectrum analysis work to better understand the instrument.

There are those that use the computer for tab generation, and neck solving programs, and storing the details of their tunings/setups, and chord location maps.

The computer is generally located on an external table/box and to the side of the player = more “stuff” to carry and keep track of,. A mixer may also be involved, and a microphone. All this gear is tied together with cables.

It would be nice if the amount of hardware could be reduced and the amount of function be increased. One solution is to integrate the computer and the PSG via a rack mount. Placing the computer in front of and at the height of the PSG allows easy viewing of the computer screen while playing. With today’s software, the screen can show the Tuner, Fake sheets, chord charts, lyrics, tuning/setup information, software stomps, software preamps and effects racks, and about any other useful information at the push of a button or tap of a finger.

In the proposed scenario, the PSG plugs into the volume pedal, the volume pedal plugs into the sound card, and the output of the selected software programs is sent to a set of active speakers, or the club mix. This can be done via a wireless mic approach now. Soon, it will be able to do with more advanced digital wireless methods. You can connect to your present amp/speaker setup from the sound card output(s)via common cables now, or to active speakers via the same cables. Soon the active wireless speakers will be commonplace.

The computer becomes the control center for the player, is immediately in front of the player, and has flexibility far beyond hardware in racks. Add a MIDI pickup and associated software, and we have the PSG as the ideal controller for the “virtual instrument”. You can be as simple, or as complex as you wish with this set up, plus change it around without even a screwdriver.

This approach has been reduced to practice. The PSG used is the BEAST, a 30”scale 14 string, ten pedal, seven levers plus a lok, tuned to C69 … F6, G6, the 13th series and other musical necks available also. It works just as well with a single ten, or other PSG configurations.

A 5 Meg Ohm input impedance voltage follower is incorporated so that the pickups do not loose response from being loaded by the volume pedal and subsequent items. The output is a low impedance line driver, and feeds the input of the sound card in the computer.

Now call up the desired programs for the occasion. Some examples shown in photo form will be Emailed to those that request same. The computer tray configuration is still under consideration.

Anyone equipment makers interested in pursuing this approach can contact me and I will be happy to put them in contact with knowledgeable people in the wireless and applications world.

Photo #1 = the BEAST.
Photo #2 = the computer.
Photo #3 = the tuner from BIAB on screen with my tuning/setup information.
Photo #4 = some on screen software effects for setting.
Photo #5 = a chord location chart on screen
Photo #6 = a BIAB song being played in chord chart form
Photo #7 = a BIAB song guitar chart, with tab, being played.
Photo #8 = a recording/editing program with recorded PSG.
Photo #9 = An FSA screen of instrument performance data in graphic form.

[Ron Sodos]

Coming from a 40 hour a week I.S. guy I go to the steel to get away from computers. The thought of adding all that stuff to my rig would just add more stuff to go wrong. "Hold on guys I can't kick that song off yet. I have to reboot my steel"................

[ed packard]

Hey Ron ... know what you mean. Add the reboot problem to bad cables, breaking G#'s, scratchy volume pots, output tubes crapping out (as in Marty Robins "Don't worry 'bout me"), and the tune may never get kicked off.

I wonder if it takes longer to reboot than change a broken string?

I would guess that the same type thoughts occurred re pedals when first introduced, and the piano players thought the same about keyboards.

I had one of those cable/pedal rigs way back when ... could easily have made me turn off on PSG alltogether.

I can dig the part about working in it all day, and don't need to continue at night.

If it gets too hot in AlberQ come on over to Show Low and get cooled.