Proffieboard Lightsaber Soundboard (Open Source): What You Should Know

Proffieboard, developed by Fredrik Hubinette (Profezzorn Labs), is a featured-packed, open source lightsaber soundboard with neopixel support. Launched in 2018, Proffieboard is descended from Profezzorn’s TeensySaber soundboard.

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As a small, feature-loaded, open source, and attractively priced lightsaber soundboard, Proffieboard is becoming increasingly popular among DIY installers, sabersmiths, and lightsaber enthusiasts in general. It’s unclear the extent that the Proffieboard may disrupt the lightsaber soundboard market, pioneered and long dominated by Plecter Labs lightsaber soundboards like: Nano Biscotte, Pico Crumble, PRIZM and Crystal Focus.

Profezzorn opened a group buy for Proffieboard in the Imperial Royal Arms forums on in August 2018 that closed in September 2018. As of late October 2018, many, but not all of the group buy orders have shipped. Lightsaber companies Korbanth and 89Sabers both made large purchases during the group buy–250 Proffieboards boards each company. Due to strong demand of the first group buy, Profezzorn may launch another Proffieboard group buy in the future.

Where to Buy Proffieboard
Since the August 2018 The Rebel Armory group buy for Proffieboard is closed to new orders, Proffieboards must be currently be purchased elsewhere. Some group buyers have been selling their Proffieboards in lightsaber groups on Facebook and in lightsaber message boards. You could try searching Etsy [affiliate link] or the marketplace eBay for Proffieboard [affiliate link]. Lightsaber companies Korbanth (United States) and The Saber Armory (By KR Sabers) (United Kingdom) have both sold Proffieboard, but the board is not always in stock.

Some Proffieboard Features
– open source board allows user to add features (GPLv3)
– support for remote control via bluetooth (with optional external add-on)
– supports SmoothSwing (a realistic motion algorithm)
– speedy 32-bit processor (supports advanced features like sound filters, synthesizing and MP3 playback)
– 16-bit digital output
– default sample rate of 44kHz (22kHz and 11kHz samples are supported and upsampled to 44kHz automatically)
– gapless playback, with 2.5ms cross-fade when you interrupt one sample to go to another
– polyphonic playback, currently configured for up to 5 simultaneous samples
– blade support includes: support for PL9823 or neopixel strings, arbitrary 1/2/3/4/5/6-color stars/strings, segmented string blades (with flash string), multi-blade (double-blade and crossguard setups) and simultaneous multiple blades
– support for accent LEDs (implemented as additional ‘blades’)
– crystal chamber support
– power-level indicator for neopixel blade
OLED PLI display
– MTP support (drag and drop files from Windows via USB connection)
– POV (persistance of vision) mode
– spoken error messages

Proffieboard Technical Specs
– BATT+ – 2.6 to 4.5 volt input, drives everything except the LEDs
– BATT- – negative pad for LEDs, needs to be at same level as GND when both are -connected. (Note: There are two of them, which can be useful when driving many powerful LEDs)
– GND – ground for electronics except LEDs. Note that the two GND pads are interchangable and connected through the board.
– Speaker +/- – hooks up to speaker
– Button 1/2/3 – Hook up to closing buttons, or potentially touch buttons.
– Data 1 / ID – Normally used to measure the blade ID restor, and if it’s a neopixel blade, feed out neopixel data. For a fixed non-neopixel saber, it could be repurposed.
– Data 2-5 – additional neopixel data outputs, or free for other purposes.
– LED 1-6 – Hooks up to negative side of LED (positive side of LED hooks up directly to battery.) These pads can handle up to 30 volts.
– SDA, SCL – these pins are used to communicate with the gyro and accelerometer chip.
– 5v – generated by the proffieboard, normally it’s only on when sound is playing.
– 3.3v – generated by the proffieboard.
– SWDIO, SWDCLK – can be hooked up to a ST-LINK device in order to let you debug programs running on the Proffieboard

Instructions and software for Proffieboard can be found on
https://fredrik.hubbe.net/lightsaber/v4/

COVER IMAGE: Proffieboard [IMAGE CREDIT: Fredrik Hubinette]

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