Signal processing project selection

[Karamel]

Hi everyone,

I am in two mind between two signal processing project. I am taking signals and systems course so, Nowadays, I must select one project either.

The first project name is sonar. I can only use basic computer microfon and basic computer speakers like in links.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Trust-11917-MC-1200-PC-Microphone/dp/B000185ALA
https://www.amazon.com/Logitech-S120-Multimedia-Speakers-Black/dp/B000R9AAJA/ref=lp_172471_1_16?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1475687096&sr=1-16

Thus, there is no any range problem or etc. I said that, these are signal processing projects. We dont care. In this project, speakers will send a tone and mic. will get it with reflection then, project is begining here, we will look at phase shifting and will eliminate all noises with using matlab.

Second project, musical note dedector, does not need any hardware. We will realize musical notes using only matlab and standart laptop mic. or wav, mp3 etc. sound files.

For example, I will generate a piano sound with my android phone (for example using this app https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.gamestar.perfectpiano)

We will recognize all notes with matlab via laptop on board mic. Firstly, we will listen it. Secondly, will realize which note or notes these are? lastly, we will say that, this note is C or these notes are C and D.

There is an important point. Our system must realize simultaneously 2-3-4-5 or more notes.


So, I have spoken too much sorry. At the end, we (me and my friend) must select either one but I have no any idea which one is hard? which one is better for us? or etc.

Can you suggest anything for these project or can you share your experiments which are about signal processing. Which one should I select?

Best Regards,
Karamel 

[Karamel]

I found a video which is aboud sonar. I looks easier than note dedection but I am wondering that what is FFT? 



we are freshman at this course, end of semester, I think, we will learn most of thing which are about signal processing. 

[Karamel]

FFT is fast fourier transform.

Actually, I understood that I will take fft the signal, input signal or mp3 etc., and this will give me some peak points? for example, for A note, it will 440hz or around this band. I will look that if it is edge of my band, it is note of A?

Is this approach true?

[snarkysparky]

The matlab tone detection is about 30 lines of code.  Dead easy if I understand correctly. So choose it if you want to get done.

[Karamel]

So, if i am not allowed fft code or convolution code in matlab, i must rewrite them. I am serching to the internet for fft. Actually, i dont fully understand anything. I must read oppenheim's book.   

[snarkysparky]

bank of Goertzel filters each centered on the notes if you can't fft.