Thread: Singing Pumpkins

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I've had a couple people ask how I'm making my singing pumpkins so I thought I'd start a new thread. Note that it's still coming together, so these are by no means my final attempt. As always comments are greatly welcome.

First, you will need VSA by brookshiresoftware, a KIT 74 (parallel or serial doesn't matter), and a WAV or MP3 of the music you want to play. I'll use This is Halloween as an example but you need to record just the vocal portion of the track. I used Audacity for this which is a free audio software tool. Follow this thread for some good tips:

This is Halloween track

The reason for this is VSA will pick up the music and vocal tracks and the end result will not look like the pumpkins are singing. Here comes the fun part. Once you have this plain vocal track (don't worry nobody but you will ever here it) Load it into VSA and run the wavemotion analysis. Now you should have distinct pulses that match the original song. Simply load the original WAV/MP3 back into VSA and you should now have the original song with distinct pulses.

You'll have to play it a couple times and make minor changes but for the most part, it should be very close. This is 75% of the work. The rest is wiring the KIT 74 to lights and cutting up the pumpkins which I haven't gone into great detail at home yet.

The KIT 74 will support up to 8 pumpkins, skulls, etc.

Z

here is a link on how to build the KIT 74 - which looks scarier than most of my halloween props!
Kit 74
On the other hand, have seen them assembled for just a few bucks more than buying the kit!
assembled kit

I bet there will be a lot of singing pumpkins/skulls this year. What a great idea, looking forward to the variations. going to keep a watch on this one.

So if Scareisburg is correct... then here is my dumb idea of the day... why not help each other out... Instead of each of us sitting in front of our computers and singing halloween, and drawing a bunch of blue boxes.... when someone get a wicked combo set up why not post the finished VSA file online . then the rest of us can buy the VSA software, kit 74, download the same MP3 file (from itunes or some other legal site) and get running in hours instead of days? I realize that we all like to be different, but heck we all have FCG, buckys, etc and as each of us would build a different light/skull display... there would be differences and tweeks. again dumb idea, but we share so much other stuff that we all copy... just think the coolest poster would have their work running on haunts across the country! just an idea - thinking out loud.
-gdg-

I hate to sound like an idiot, but you have to sound like what you are. I'm not to sure I can build the kit74 or create the sound.n I guess I am a little slow. Is ther a way or place you can buy a kit already assembled. I don't have unlimited funds, but maybe a trade. I am a industrial sales rep and sell alot of things usefull in building props.Check out my company web site www.bostwick-braun.com and our ecat. Maybe a opportunity for some of us. Thanks, Rick

Rick, modified my post above to include a place to buy board... I am sure that there are other stores that carry this

Originally Posted by gravedigger greg

So if Scareisburg is correct... then here is my dumb idea of the day... why not help each other out... Instead of each of us sitting in front of our computers and singing halloween, and drawing a bunch of blue boxes.... when someone get a wicked combo set up why not post the finished VSA file online . then the rest of us can buy the VSA software, kit 74, download the same MP3 file (from itunes or some other legal site) and get running in hours instead of days? I realize that we all like to be different, but heck we all have FCG, buckys, etc and as each of us would build a different light/skull display... there would be differences and tweeks. again dumb idea, but we share so much other stuff that we all copy... just think the coolest poster would have their work running on haunts across the country! just an idea - thinking out loud.
-gdg-

I would appreciate the file!
It will take me weeks to figure this all out.

Well I am not quite to the programing point, but inching closer, My props are run off of ECT or motion sensors, which I hate (the latter) I am going to try a 3 channel light organ and see if that will give me a somewhat decent results, If not I may jump into the programing fray. If I do I'd be happy to share. The kit 74 looks pretty stright forward. The VSA software can be used for other applications like servos, How much is the VSA software?

What is the Amp rating per channel for Kit 74?

At QK they say the board cannot handle the 10A per channel the relays are rated for. (That is understandable, 2 active 10Amp draws on a single outlet would probably trip the circuit breaker.) They say unmodified Kit 74 can handle 2-3Amps, but it sounds like that is for the whole board, not per channel. Does anyone know?

Hey This sounds really cool but does some one know of any software for mac users?