Purdue students' device creates "wah" effect without physical pedal

For their senior project in 2011, students from Purdue's School of Mechanical Engineering developed the Ghost Pedal, a wireless device that uses sensors attached to the guitar player's foot to create the distortion effect.

The Ghost Pedal team includes Garrett Baker, Will Black, Matthew Boyle, Brett Hartnagel, Christine Labelle, Adam Pflugshaupt, Nick Sannella and Robbie Hoye.

A full news release is located at http://otc-prf.org/news/purdue-studen...

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  Science & Technology

[noamchoco]

The narrator sounds like Siri

[f3l18ipsk8ermm]

this is cool but they didnt even show a good example of it! it was just that stupid lady talking while the guitar was quietly playing in the background

[Andreas Brix]

I absolutely agree! I'm not sure if this could replace a pedal i would use (and I'm mostly a bassplayer), but i could be cool to be able to turn my pedals on and of like that while moving around on a stage ;)

[sideslick1024]

With this, I can now incorporate my pacing into something useful, i.e. making noise!

[DropdaLTDtoB]

look, will everyone stop being really down and negative about this, this is absolute genius!!!! i don't use a wah, but this was really well thought out. the feature of stopping the effcet to move around on stage was a really great idea. nice work dudes!!!!!!!!!

[Chandler Prince]

Indeed, I couldn't think of the company's name.

[sideslick1024]

Why don't they make it an expression pedal-type device, akin to the Source Audio Hot Hand and its corresponding Expression/Midi controller?

As another piece, they could use the switch by itself as a foot switch, rather than an expression pedal.

The possibilities here are pretty much endless, and I want one!

[sideslick1024]

Sorry for barging into this reply-thread, but Source Audio has a device on the market (called the "Hot Hand") that fits like a ring for expressive effects.

Is that what you meant by hand-controlled?

If not: Now you know of the Hot Hand, an awesome expression-device!

If so: Backup has arrived, LOL.

[Jason Fishburn]

If you only play in your basement or garage, then no, you don't need this. Sheesh...

Just because you don't find it useful in your context doesn't mean it's not useful at all. And I'm guessing that the size of the box around your ankle (and maybe several other specifications) will be different if it's mass-produced. Relax and think before you post kids.

[jozozo100]

seems interesting but I'd never buy it

[konauno]

Big fucking deal, wait till you see what I make!

[PumpkinPieces33]

I like how the guitarist barely moved in the video. Why not just stand at a wah pedal if you're just going to sit there looking at your guitar? Cool technology... but I'm not sure how useful and progressive it is in terms of guitar effects.