Guitar Hero Controller for Guitar Players Progress

[Super Cameraman]

So this is for playing frets on fire?

I've actually started doing this to my friends Xplorer controller for the 360. Does anybody know where I can find some pinouts for the GH2 Controller for the 360? I looked on google, but all I could find is the PS2 version...

I think the main problem is that the whole thing (fret buttons and strum bar) need a common ground. For GH3, the detachable neck controller has a single ground for the 5 fret buttons (I think) but I'm not sure about the strum bar..

Good luck with this though! Post some pictures along the way!

[khaag]

After 8 solid hours of working, I've managed to put a string on the GH X-plorer controller. (I'm not trying to hijack your thread here Super). Now here's the thing. It does work... somewhat. The buttons make connection but I think I mixed the wiring up somewhere along the way. When you press what would normally be the green, yellow, or orange separately, it plays all 3 simultaneously. And if you press what would normally be the red or blue buttons separately, it plays both red and blue again simultaneously. Now here's the kicker, when you press down on the d-pad, it plays green, yellow, and orange simultaneously. Also, when you strum with the pick, it plays green, yellow and orange again.

I have it wired all to a common ground, and the common ground in turn connected to the string. The positive terminals of each button and the strum-bar are connected to the new contact pads and the pick.

Does anybody have any ideas as to how I could fix this? I have no idea where to start...

Here's a quick recap of the button mixups:

Green --> Green+Yellow+Orange+Strum
Red --> Red+Blue
Yellow --> Green+Yellow+Orange+Strum
Blue --> Red+Blue
Orange --> Green+Yellow+Orange+Strum
D-Pad Down --> Green+Yellow+Orange+Strum
Strum with Pick --> Green+Yellow+Orange+Strum

[Super Cameraman]

It might not be a common ground. Theres a good chance there's some sort of grid thing like in a keyboard. I hacked a USB controller for the first one, but it didn't have a common ground, it had about 5 buttons with one thing in common, but the others all had separate "grounds".

Post some pictures if you can.

[Super Cameraman]

Hey I just thought of something. I don't really know much about electronics, but can't you use a transistor? I'm not really sure how to explain how you'd use it, but aren't they for switches? If you complete one circuit, the transistor does something.. I think. I'm really sorry, I knew this at one point, but now I forget. Can anyone remind how to use a transistor?

(Wow, I'm a noob....)

[khaag]

Can someone please elaborate? This might be what I need to do. (again, I'm not trying to hijack your thread Super )

[Super Cameraman]

No problem. I'm looking to solve this problem too! I want to hook it up to a USB controller, which is basically an Xbox controller.

I made a new thread here just for this problem.
http://forums.benheck.com/viewtopic.php?p=265828#265828

Are using a controller or a guitar controller?

[khaag]

I'm using all the orginal hardware in the guitar controller. Thanks Super, let's figure this thing out!

[Super Cameraman]

Do you actually understand how I did this? Or is that what you're confused about? If you'd like, I could post some more detailed instructions, not just showing what I did, but HOW.

[khaag]

Oh no, I understand the electronics portion of it, I'm just baffled as to what to do next to solve the simultaneous button pressing...

[Super Cameraman]

Could it be your fret setup? If the string is touching more then one contact, that's your problem.

Please post pictures!! I don't even know what it looks like!!!

EDIT: Hey, at least give me SOME credit on your blog!!

EDIT2: Well it seems there are pictures on your blog. That string is going to be really hard to press! The contacts are so recessed! I hope you already play a real guitar and calluses because if not, that's going to HURT!

EDIT again:

After going over your pictures, I have some questions. The ribbon cable on the top of the board, it has 8 wires right? I assume they are for Frets 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, Strum up, strum down, and ground? Are they? If they are, this should be a lot easier then it is.

Did you already put a post for the string? FYI, I used two hookeyes (screweyes?). The one on the neck turns to tighten the string.

Also, I suggest using actual guitar string. The thickness is up to you.

I think your problem is that the ground from the strum bar, isn't the same "ground" as the fret board. In which case, I sure hope someone responds to this topic: http://forums.benheck.com/viewtopic.php?p=265828#265828

[khaag]

http://kevinhaag.wordpress.com/2007/11/ ... -pictures/

There's some more pictures Super. You'll see how I fixed the "too far down" issue.

As for the 8 wires, yes there is. It's really weird though... there's 5 button wires, and 3 wires for ground. 1 ground goes to green and yellow, 1 goes to red and blue, and 1 goes to orange. Then all 8 wires connect to the main board. I connected the 3 grounds from there together with the grounds for the strum-bar up/down, and in turn wired that to the string.

[Super Cameraman]

Well I pretty much finished mine.

I win.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sDHD_1nImoY

[jeroen]

Must say this looks cool so far.