OpenStomp Coyote-1 open-source guitar pedal now shipping

It's only been a couple months since we first noticed that the OpenStomp Coyote-1 guitar pedal project had started development, but it looks like it's ready to go -- the web store is up and taking orders for US and Canadian customers. Your $350 gets you an 80MHz eight-core Propeller processor, a 16x2 line LCD screen, two footswitches, four knobs, an additional input / output jack, video out, an RJ11 expansion port, and a microUSB interface, all in a purple steel chassis. Not bad for the money, especially since the available source and fully-documented hardware means this thing should be taken in all sorts of interesting directions -- anyone going to throw down for this bad boy?

[paragraph @ Aug 25th 2008 10:47PM]

Neat project, but since i'm just a hobbyist and only play guitar to relax i just own a little Multi-Pedal. It cost me $100 second hand, but it does the job.

I have to say though,if/when this thing gets a big fan base it'll definitly be something to watch.

The only thing i request (if you're listening) is a foot pedal for Wah-Wah etc.

[Ryan Trevisol @ Aug 25th 2008 10:52PM]

Oh heavens no, Analog is where it's at when it comes to guitar. I've owned several recent modelers, and while the Vox Tonelab was promising, it still sounded processed. I just can't feel what I need to feel through a processor.

[Nick @ Aug 26th 2008 4:53AM]

Lugging around a 3'x2' pedalboard full of expensive/boutique effects (along with a bunch of cables and adapters) gets old real quick. This looks promising.

[Ryan Trevisol @ Aug 26th 2008 7:37AM]

Not remembering which program you need for the next song or switching to the wrong program in the middle of the song is worse.

Plus, spending 20-30 hours programming an effect which may or may not work, and then having to deal with the secret handshake of trying to get different effects to come on in different combinations for actual usage of the pedal is not my idea of fun.

The first time I built a pedal (TS Clone), it was hard, but it took me 3 hours including painting and finishing the enclosure. I now have one of the best sounding, most versatile overdrives I've ever heard, and I can spend time actually playing.

I just wonder with this thing, how many lines of code would it take for this thing to mimick the effect of a $.03 resistor or a $.05 capacitor?

[Nick @ Aug 26th 2008 8:14PM]

Ryan -

The chances of no one sharing their code on this is rare, so self programming for hours is unlikely manditory. Missing a patch is far better then having a cable or PS crap out in the middle of a set, which has happened to me, and you fuddling around like a moron trying to plug straight into the amp/recreating your signal flow on stage. I currently use a VOX Tonelab SE for my effects and can't be happier with the sound - it's not 100% of what it could be, but I'm throwing it in a trailer at least once a week, plus practices and it has yet to stumble on stage. One wire in, one wire out. Did the huge pedal board thing and was happier with the sound, but the PITA factor got to me. If this thing drops to the 250$ range and starts getting developers onboard, sign me up.

[Mitochondria @ Aug 25th 2008 10:56PM]

Yeah this is kinda pricey. I suppose it's probably because its a smaller company, but even then, I already own two things that can do that. My Boss BR and the software that came with my tone port.

No I'll tell ya what I want. A machine where you can play an effect through it, and it can copy that effect instead having like 4 different pedals.

[nova62400 @ Aug 25th 2008 11:24PM]

I saw a plug-in that did that, a couple years ago, running in ProTools I think. You could use a low latency interface and a laptop with it for live I guess, though it would cost a lot.

[Mile @ Aug 25th 2008 11:01PM]

Will this work on all Guitar Hero's or just the Wii one?

[Adam @ Aug 25th 2008 11:04PM]

Teehee.

[brandon @ Aug 25th 2008 11:26PM]

You suck at life............

[Chris @ Aug 26th 2008 1:44AM]

Wow...fail to the max...

[Paulie Danger @ Aug 26th 2008 2:01AM]

I was wondering how long it would take until someone tried to turn it into a GH/RB mod.

[sinerasis @ Aug 25th 2008 11:02PM]

damn, i would except for the price... maybe after there is a little following with some samples or something... $350 is too much for me to go in for an unknown :(

i was really looking forward to it though

[Adam @ Aug 25th 2008 11:04PM]

Forgive me, but what can it do?

Also, some OT obervations: your site doesn't automatically throw iPhone users to the optimized version, and the "remember me" functionality does not appear to work.

[Kiltman67 @ Aug 25th 2008 11:18PM]

The pedal allows you to create your own effects unit by patching together various effects, switches, inputs and outputs. I suspect it might be a bit of a let down though as it doesn't seem to do much more than many modern high end rackmounts, all the effects seem to be prebuilt modules rather then allowing you to create your own from the ground up. I'd rather see an effects pedal that allowed you to store Max/MSP programs, though I think you can technically do something similar with one of those VST rackmounts.

It seems pretty similar to the Nord Modular synth, minus actually creating any sound of course.

[tb @ Aug 25th 2008 11:42PM]

you could maybe program a pitch tracking and synth, a la boss syb5

[tsm @ Aug 25th 2008 11:45PM]

Being into microcontrollers and other digital electronics, I really like the idea of this, but for less than 350 I'm pretty sure you can get a used Boss GT-x, which has more effects than I knew what to do with when I had one.

[ozzdzz61 @ Aug 26th 2008 12:06AM]

How cool would that be to load a flash drive with effect progs, get an adapter and roll with it!!!

[CaptSaltyJack @ Aug 26th 2008 1:37AM]

Partial fail, and here's why: just like graphic design work is often done on Macs (though it doesn't have to be, of course), professional musicians also tend to gravitate towards Macs. It just plain sucks that the OpenStomp Workbench software is only for Windows.

[Taylor @ Aug 26th 2008 2:32AM]

I guess most Mac-using musicians wouldn't use an open-source pedal though, probably more likely to apply the effects in Logic/Audition

[Add @ Aug 27th 2008 4:33AM]

No expression pedal for 350$ ? Not very interesting.

[Mr. Mojo @ Aug 26th 2008 5:49AM]

Line 6 has something similar (program your own effects, with library and mini-usb) for half the money.
Ohyeah, and Windows AND Mac-support :-P

They allow you to choose if you want to share your effects or "lock" them in your module.
The advantage: it's compatible with all Tonecore-pedals and you can sell your specific effect if you want to.
Also: the modules can come out. So you get another empty pedal for your Tonecore-modules on stage.

[thesb @ Aug 26th 2008 8:23AM]

As much as I really want to like things like this, being kicked in the nuts by digital effects has gotten old. I've spent so much money over the years on digital gadgets, only to find myself going to back to analog. Give me a half dozen pedals and a tube amp over some dsp gizmo any day. I'm not saying that it can't possibly sound good, since it's so subjective. However, the fact that it will be open source and fully documented is fantastic.

[idl3mind @ Aug 26th 2008 9:48AM]

M-Audio Black Box FTW

[Najakwa @ Aug 26th 2008 10:48AM]

Here's open source, build your own pedals from scratch or get the schematics for free from someone else. There are internet communities totally dedicated to it. It gives you total creative power over your sound. Do I spend more time on this than playing guitar? Most definitely, but you'd be amazed at what you could make with one day and a few components from Mouser. Way, cheaper than buying a Boss pedal and just as rock-solid.

[Mr. Ford @ Aug 26th 2008 12:32PM]

$350????? That's crazy! For that much money, I could buy one of the new discounted 360's AND Guitar Hero III. Why would I want to spend this much money, only to have to buy the guitar to go with it? On top of that, I still have to learn to play. With about 10% of the effort, you could just get good at the game. Trust me, your friends will be just as impressed, and you won't have to spend your mid-life crisis explaining how you failed at being a musician. *read* "Dude, we totally could have made it big."

[fischju @ Aug 26th 2008 1:41PM]

How long until it can play the guitar for me? Or until there is a guitar hero like game?