Tone Generator

[Superpants]

I have a simple quiz buzzer system I built (based on relaylogic), which currently uses an internal sounder for the ‘Buzz’. I have endedup using it outside for a gameshow type event I was running, but the buzzerreally wasn’t loud enough, so I’d like to find a suitable method of outputtinga tone into a PA (hiding a microphone close to the box was fairly ineffective,and difficult to conceal).

 

Ideally I need a basic tone generator that can output somesort of buzz noise on a line level output when triggered externally, either bya contact closing or supplying a voltage. Also ideally this should be poweredfrom 24V as that is the supply voltage of the rest of the kit, but a suitablevoltage regulator could drop that down.

 

I would be happy with a kit to be soldered up, but haven’tyet found anything suitable- I’d welcome any ideas as to where to findsomething appropriate? (I’d prefer not to go down the Arduino route as it’s abit of an overkill!).

 

[dbuckley]

A 555 timer will do the job, but will sound shit.

 

An MP3 playback board with a trigger would probably be the best combination of cheap / easy / sound good. You can sample an appropriate sound you like and put in into a file on the player board/

[themadhippy]

How about the classic ding dong https://www.maplin.co.uk/p/ding-dong-door-bell-kit-n44fl

[Superpants]

Thanks- that sounds like a good option and will give the ability to change the 'buzz' to suit the application. Are there any specific boards you can recommend as being reliable?

 

 

 

 

 

 

How about the classic ding dong https://www.maplin.c...-bell-kit-n44fl

 

That might work as well, and is cheap enough to experiment with.

[cedd]

I've used some of the simple MP3 player boards from MDFLY electronics to great effect. You just put an SD card in them with the tracks named to their own convention and then when you close a contact on the board it plays the associated track. They're pretty cheap, have way more functionality than you need but are actually very simple to use. In the future it'd let you have a different sound per person without much added complexity at all. Simply put a relay per player across the terminals and when the relay closes, the appropriate sound plays. It also means you can easily change the sound to whatever is most suited for the type of quiz, simply by using a different MP3 file.

http://www.mdfly.com/audio-boards/

[Superpants]

Thanks Cedd that looks like the ideal solution- I'll get a couple on order to experiment with. I like the idea of future upgradability too.

 

 

 

 

 

[Owain]

In the future it'd let you have a different sound per person without much added complexity at all.

Ideal for QI or University Challenge stylee