arduino longside VVVV

... or how to use this "super fancy" micro controller with VVVV

what is arduino?

Arduino is an i/o board (= micro controller) plus a development environment (IDE) with processing/wiring like code.
The board can be used either to connect our all favourite software aka VVVV (and other ones like flash, pd, processing, maxMSP ...) or to create interactive standalone objects.
the board has 6 analog in pins, 13 digital in/out pins and a serial port or serial port over USB (serial or usb version available).
the kit for the board is 5eu and the pre-soldered board is 20eu. always plus VAT and shipping.

read the full propagandi at www.arduino.cc

So what the hell can i do with it?

• control all kind of sensors: potis, btns, temperature, tilt, piezo, accelerometer, ultrasound distance ...
• control all kind of activators: piezo, LEDs, led driver, shift register, step motors ...
• or easily do "standalone" objects without using the computer

Okay we know now that arduino is really "super fancy" but let's go to further. You have two options, either you have a look at each chapter to learn how to do it by yourself ... or chose the easy way and go straight to "arduino and firmata" where you will learn more or less nothing. Firmata will basically turn your arduino in a IO box, but this is often enough for the basic needs.

"hello world" aka send something from arduino to VVVV

send and recieve data from/to arduino

working with multiple signals

arduino and firmata

The picture below is taken from my board. I bought the kit, which was 2-3h of soldering. depending of your "soldering skills" :) decide to go either for kit or pre-soldered version.

download all patches/arduino scripts - updated 11 Nov 2006.

arduino+firmata_11.2006

The package is outdated (for the code). The vvvv-patches in the package still work!!
The arduino code has changed a bit, so better copy/paste the code from the tutorial pages to make it work.

for more on the arduino side follow

• www.arduino.cc - - main site
• www.arduino.ws - - arduino workshops
• reference - - code reference's
• forum - - arduino forum
• http://arduinotest.nfshost.com/ - The World-Famous Index of Arduino Knowledge
• 8-bit AVR Microcontroller AT90S8515 - - heavy technical stuff. everything about the heart of arduino board
• C Programming Reference — a web page from 1996 documenting the C language which is used in arduino
• buy the board - - info site about buying the board. delivery time should be between 2 and 3

days. they uses only UPS or TNT to deliver.

good luck MrBenefit

Update: there are many new arduino boards out there, for some you need to set the board type in the IDE, and others have an auto-reset function. But the basics are all the same. See the arduino website on how to upload code to YOUR board.

ps: if someone ever build a led driver with a micro controller or is good in shift register operations ... feel free to write a chapter or drop a note to me!