This is a theremin that responds to LIDAR sensor input OR to tweets that include the hashtag #tweetmytheremin.
It is based on John Bryan Moore's VL53L0X Raspberry Pi code (https://github.com/johnbryanmoore/VL53L0X_rasp_python), and in fact, most of the code is just that code! We included a copy of his README here as well, it is called README_VL530X_rasp_python.md.
You need:
- One Adafruit VL53L0X LIDAR sensor
- One Raspberry Pi
- A PiTop or another monitor
- Keyboard and mouse
- Speaker
Wire it up:
This image is taken from https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/downloads/pdf/adafruit-vl53l0x-micro-lidar-distance-sensor-breakout.pdf:
Plug in the speaker.
Turn on your Pi and open the terminal.
- To build on raspberry pi, first make sure you have the right tools and development libraries:
sudo apt-get install build-essential python-dev- Then use following commands to clone the repository and compile:
cd your_git_directory
git clone https://github.com/katiefg/tweetmytheremin.git
cd tweetmytheremin
make-
Next, make sure Twython is installed:
sudo pip3 install twython -
Open tweetmytheremin.py in the python folder and insert your consumer_key, consumer_secret, access_key and access_secret after where it says on line 17:
#Insert your auth keys here -
For more on how to get an these keys/secrets, go to this page. It may take a while for these to go through, so if you're in the Picademy Leicester cohort and want to test this out while you wait for your own keys, DM me on twitter.
- Open runthisfirst.rb in Sonic Pi, and run it. This will allow Sonic Pi to listen for your python code.
- Run VL53L0X_example.py. You should be able to hear noise from the speaker that changes the closer you bring your hand.
- Open runthisfirst.rb in Sonic Pi, and run it. This will allow Sonic Pi to listen for your python code.
- Run tweetmytheremin.py
- Tweet with the hashtag #tweetmytheremin or get someone else to do it, and include MIDI notes. You should see the notes print in Sonic Pi, and hear them on the speaker!