Halloween Give-away Projects - Page 3 - Electronic Circuits Projects Diagrams Free

Mr RB · 9th October 2009, 11:23 AM

Great I got the last couple of addresses through and airmailed the units out today. They will take from about 6 to 12 days to get there. All got loaded with the standard Slave1 serial firmware, apart from one got the Slave2 software as requested.

Sometime over the next few days I'll put up a simple tutorial on here showing how to convert some .WAV files to a TalkBot .BTL sound library, and how to download it into the TalkBot.

I've got my own halloween project underway, it's a variation of the Slave6 random sound player with 6 scary sounds to make a talking "dice" for playing games. It's got ghosty sounds and some Vincent Price style scary laughter. I also tweaked the firmware so the big skull on top (that you press to roll the dice) has red eyes that light up when it talks.

It speaks the dice "roll" and plays a scary sound, then the red eyes flash the dice roll number for about 2 minutes afterward (so drunk people won't argue what the roll was...) then it shuts down to 130uA standby to conserve battery power. Should be fun.

Slave6 firmware implements the Microchip appnote 16bit psuedo RNG to pick the "random" sound so it should make a pretty good dice.

giftiger_wunsch · 9th October 2009, 11:25 AM

Nice, I'll be interested in seeing what that looks / sounds like when it's done.

birdman0_o · 9th October 2009, 01:00 PM

Hey Roman, just wondering if you got my email. I'll post it here as it applies to this thread:

Quote:

I was just trying out your wav to digital converter program, but it didnt seem to work (im running vista) it had a error while loading a .wav file

"access violation at address 0048D9ED in module BTc.exe
Read of address 032FC508"

Thanks

Thanks again

Mr RB · 10th October 2009, 09:43 AM

Ouch! I've done no testing with Vista. Most of my code in that project is very simple and using static buffers for the large data buffer (to avoid any platform specific dynamic allocation problems). It's been well tested on Win98 and WinXP.

Can you give me more info? How large was the wave file?

birdman0_o · 10th October 2009, 06:01 PM

I don't have it on me right now but it was about 5 seconds (not too long right?)!

Mr RB · 11th October 2009, 08:35 AM

Nah that should be ok. Even up to 30 seconds or longer should be ok, the BTc Encoder software will only load the first 2 million samples from the wave. (edit) I just tested with a 39Mb .WAV file, it works ok it just reads the first 2 mega samples.

Sometimes on the net you will get COMRPESSED wave files, these are not compatible, but fortunately they are real rare. Just watch out that sometimes on those internet "get sound samples" type pages, a file is labeled as .WAV (or even has a .WAV externsion) but it is actually a .MP3 file or other type of file.

That can fool you because if you play the file in a popular program like Winamp it will just autoselect the right codec and play it ok, and it won't tell you the file is named wrong and is not really a .WAV file.

My BTc Program reads the .WAV header and reads the file data length as specified in the header, so if it is a funky file (not a proper8bit/16bit uncompressed .WAV) that might crash it. Please let me know if you find out any more.

wombweller · 11th October 2009, 06:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr RB

OK, the winners are;

Birdman - please PM me your address
Gaspode - have address
Mike2545 - please PM me your address
Allvol - have address
Giftiger - please PM me your address
Wombweller - please PM me your address

Special mention;

Blueroom - ill send you - have your address
3v0 - ill send you - have your address

mohd.S.H - you DO NOT get one - thanksssssssss

So please PM me with your mailing addresses if you have not done so already. It's a few more units than i expected so I'll need to solder up some more serial leads, should be ready by tomorrow.

Also! If anyone does NOT want the standard Slave1 PIC firmware installed, please choose a different firmware from this list (and make it snappy);
TalkBotBrain.com Source Files

I suggest you consider Slave4 that will play 4 sounds controlled by 4 switches, or maybe Slave6 that will randomly choose any one of the sounds when a single switch is pressed.

Of course anyone who can program ICSP the PIC 16F628 and can understand my C source code can modify the source code to suit, or you can just control it by serial 19200 baud. Anway please let me know!

Great news Mr.RB

I can't wait to get it going.

For my project (moving eye portrait) I will probably only use two servo outputs and maybe a couple of voices.Any info on controlling the servos from talkbot would be great. I only require minimal movement on the servos triggered maybe by IR.

Cheers

ElectroNerdy · 11th October 2009, 08:29 PM

Here's a robot costume I made two years ago. I had the green LED's alternate blinking for the antennas, and two red LEDs for the eyes. I also had a voice changer that was in "Robot" mode so I had a automated kind of voice. My siblings and friends were jealous because I always got an extra handful of candy.

I scared a bunch of kids because when I turned the volume up high it caused feedback making this scary noise. One kid dropped his halloween bag and didn't bother to get it! He just kept running! I retreated and he finally got it.

wombweller · 11th October 2009, 09:00 PM

Hi all

Think I'm having the dreaded Vista blues!!

I'm getting an error whilst trying to put in WAV. files in to the encoder

even the sample SL. files won't run.

if anyone can advise.

Cheers

wombweller · 11th October 2009, 09:07 PM

Hold on!!

Fixed it, I hope!!

Open up the editor exe. via 'Run as administrator' allow the prompt then all should be ok.

I'm sure this will be the same for all Vista users.

Cheers

gabeNC · 11th October 2009, 10:48 PM

this will work...

format c:\
install xp

giftiger_wunsch · 11th October 2009, 11:14 PM

Indeed, my solution for any vista-related problem would generally involve a flamethrower. It's an abyssmal operating system aimed at people who don't know how to use a computer and think they need scores of useless processes wasting memory and processor power 24/7 to perform unnecessary functions. Having said that, unless you clear out a load of the junk by hand, XP does the same thing on a slightly smaller scale.

lon_fish24 · 12th October 2009, 03:16 AM

sir, can you give me a simple schematic diagram of talkbot using PIC or processor of ZILOG...

Mr RB · 12th October 2009, 08:39 AM

Wow the joys of Vista huh.

Thanks for sorting that out anyway!

So I should put a notice on my web site that to run the BTc Sound Encoder (BTc.exe) that Vista users should do this procedure;
1. Select "Run as administrator" option
2. Open Btc.exe
3. Click "allow" when the prompt appears?

Is that right? Sorry I don't have easy access to Vista to test it.

Also Wombweller, with controlling the servos, which system were you going to use; reprogramming the TalkBot PIC C code, or controlling it by serial with another micro? Both ways are farily easy but of course with the first option you need a PIC programmer.

giftiger_wunsch · 12th October 2009, 08:43 AM

Ohhh that's your website

I have visited it before but didn't know that the RB in your name stood for Roman Black

I liked your binary clock design.

Have I missed a post somewhere? Everyone seems to have grabbed this converter program and started using it and all I've heard about it are the problems it has under vista

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9th October 2009, 11:23 AM	#31
Mr RB	Great I got the last couple of addresses through and airmailed the units out today. They will take from about 6 to 12 days to get there. All got loaded with the standard Slave1 serial firmware, apart from one got the Slave2 software as requested. Sometime over the next few days I'll put up a simple tutorial on here showing how to convert some .WAV files to a TalkBot .BTL sound library, and how to download it into the TalkBot. I've got my own halloween project underway, it's a variation of the Slave6 random sound player with 6 scary sounds to make a talking "dice" for playing games. It's got ghosty sounds and some Vincent Price style scary laughter. I also tweaked the firmware so the big skull on top (that you press to roll the dice) has red eyes that light up when it talks. It speaks the dice "roll" and plays a scary sound, then the red eyes flash the dice roll number for about 2 minutes afterward (so drunk people won't argue what the roll was...) then it shuts down to 130uA standby to conserve battery power. Should be fun. Slave6 firmware implements the Microchip appnote 16bit psuedo RNG to pick the "random" sound so it should make a pretty good dice.

9th October 2009, 11:25 AM	#32
giftiger_wunsch	Nice, I'll be interested in seeing what that looks / sounds like when it's done. __________________ Good riddance, ETO .

10th October 2009, 09:43 AM	#34
Mr RB	Ouch! I've done no testing with Vista. Most of my code in that project is very simple and using static buffers for the large data buffer (to avoid any platform specific dynamic allocation problems). It's been well tested on Win98 and WinXP. Can you give me more info? How large was the wave file? Last edited by Mr RB; 10th October 2009 at 09:44 AM.

10th October 2009, 06:01 PM	#35
birdman0_o	I don't have it on me right now but it was about 5 seconds (not too long right?)! __________________ Mike My website: www.ElectroBird.net

11th October 2009, 08:35 AM	#36
Mr RB	Nah that should be ok. Even up to 30 seconds or longer should be ok, the BTc Encoder software will only load the first 2 million samples from the wave. (edit) I just tested with a 39Mb .WAV file, it works ok it just reads the first 2 mega samples. Sometimes on the net you will get COMRPESSED wave files, these are not compatible, but fortunately they are real rare. Just watch out that sometimes on those internet "get sound samples" type pages, a file is labeled as .WAV (or even has a .WAV externsion) but it is actually a .MP3 file or other type of file. That can fool you because if you play the file in a popular program like Winamp it will just autoselect the right codec and play it ok, and it won't tell you the file is named wrong and is not really a .WAV file. My BTc Program reads the .WAV header and reads the file data length as specified in the header, so if it is a funky file (not a proper8bit/16bit uncompressed .WAV) that might crash it. Please let me know if you find out any more.

11th October 2009, 08:29 PM	#38
ElectroNerdy	Here's a robot costume I made two years ago. I had the green LED's alternate blinking for the antennas, and two red LEDs for the eyes. I also had a voice changer that was in "Robot" mode so I had a automated kind of voice. My siblings and friends were jealous because I always got an extra handful of candy. I scared a bunch of kids because when I turned the volume up high it caused feedback making this scary noise. One kid dropped his halloween bag and didn't bother to get it! He just kept running! I retreated and he finally got it. Attached Thumbnails

11th October 2009, 09:00 PM	#39
wombweller	Btc Hi all Think I'm having the dreaded Vista blues!! I'm getting an error whilst trying to put in WAV. files in to the encoder even the sample SL. files won't run. if anyone can advise. Cheers Attached Thumbnails __________________ Mark www.wombwell-on-the-net.co.uk

11th October 2009, 09:07 PM	#40
wombweller	cracked it Hold on!! Fixed it, I hope!! Open up the editor exe. via 'Run as administrator' allow the prompt then all should be ok. I'm sure this will be the same for all Vista users. Cheers __________________ Mark www.wombwell-on-the-net.co.uk

11th October 2009, 10:48 PM	#41
gabeNC	this will work... format c:\ install xp

11th October 2009, 11:14 PM	#42
giftiger_wunsch	Indeed, my solution for any vista-related problem would generally involve a flamethrower. It's an abyssmal operating system aimed at people who don't know how to use a computer and think they need scores of useless processes wasting memory and processor power 24/7 to perform unnecessary functions. Having said that, unless you clear out a load of the junk by hand, XP does the same thing on a slightly smaller scale. __________________ Good riddance, ETO . Last edited by giftiger_wunsch; 11th October 2009 at 11:14 PM.

12th October 2009, 03:16 AM	#43
lon_fish24	talkbot sir, can you give me a simple schematic diagram of talkbot using PIC or processor of ZILOG...

12th October 2009, 08:39 AM	#44
Mr RB	Wow the joys of Vista huh. Thanks for sorting that out anyway! So I should put a notice on my web site that to run the BTc Sound Encoder (BTc.exe) that Vista users should do this procedure; 1. Select "Run as administrator" option 2. Open Btc.exe 3. Click "allow" when the prompt appears? Is that right? Sorry I don't have easy access to Vista to test it. Also Wombweller, with controlling the servos, which system were you going to use; reprogramming the TalkBot PIC C code, or controlling it by serial with another micro? Both ways are farily easy but of course with the first option you need a PIC programmer.

12th October 2009, 08:43 AM	#45
giftiger_wunsch	Ohhh that's your website I have visited it before but didn't know that the RB in your name stood for Roman Black I liked your binary clock design. Have I missed a post somewhere? Everyone seems to have grabbed this converter program and started using it and all I've heard about it are the problems it has under vista __________________ Good riddance, ETO . Last edited by giftiger_wunsch; 12th October 2009 at 08:43 AM.