Improved Arduino Environment

While the Arduino programming environment (IDE) is great, there is one thing that many beginners find very frustrating:  how do I find that error in my code that won’t let me compile!!??

At this weeks Arduino U, Doug will introduce “MariaMole” by Alex Porto.  This Arduino programming environment works with the standard Arduino one to provide a lot of features common to more advanced IDEs.  For the beginner, one of the most useful features is that clicking on each of the error messages generated when you try to compile your sketch takes you straight to the line that has that error (well, nearly).

Maria mole is a Brazilian sweet similar to Marshmallow, but this IDE is definately NOT a light and fluffy confection!

Sorry, but Windows ONLY so far.  Mr Porto is building Maria Mole in his spare time, so if you like his IDE you can show your appreciation with a donation of code, cash, examples or hardware.  http://dalpix.com/mariamole

Visitors & novices are welcome at Arduino U:  $10 in the tin to support your local Arduino-geek-space.  Knowledgeable members are generally at your disposal to help you get started,  troubleshoot a particular electronics or code issue or simply  suggest resources.

Arduino Ninja’s – please come in and “show and tell” your latest creation!

Don’t Delay()!

If you’ve been working with Arduino for a little while and are starting to get frustrated with the limits of  “delay()”, bring your project in and we’ll look at some of the alternatives.  In particular, Doug will go through some different ways of debouncing a large number of inputs, including using an array of “structs” to reduce the number of individual variables that you need.

Visitors & novices welcome – $10 in the tin to support your local Arduino-geek-space.  Knowledgeable members at your disposal to help you get started,  troubleshoot a particular electronics or code issue or simply  suggest resources.

For sale will be beta V2.10 of two “perfect protoboard” Arduino Shield PCB’s at $4 each for non-members and $2.50 (cost price) for members.  Sick of proto-shields that limit your working area by provide tracks for LED’s and pushbuttons your just don’t need?  These ones have NOTHING except Arduino headers and strip board (in two different orrientations).  Perfect!  Numbers are currently limited, but additional batches can be ordered for future sale if there is enough interest.  All profits go to the Artifactory.

Arduino Ninja’s – please come in and “show and tell” your latest creation!

Perth’s premier maker space is threatened with suffocation: we pro-actively engage with the local council to resolve issues, but it takes months to find out what the issues are, if any. Meanwhile, we are told we can’t operate until we’ve resolved “any issues”. The ones we don’t know wot they are yet, or if they exist. Or if we resolved them already 13 months ago when this started. Argh.

Arduino U. is on again this Wednesday night! All welcome, visiting non-members $10 in the tin.

Further experiments with the Clacketty-Clack relay boards, Retic Control Box, Ultrasonic range finders, and MIDI-over-Radio…

Geek Haven, the Artifactory women geek group. is meeting this Thursday! All welcome, $10 in the tin for visiting non-members. Come share skills / crafts / tech / chat!

Event on Facebook: www.facebook.com/events/456714761083918

Arduinos, Arduinos and More Arduinos !!

Visitors & novices welcome – $10 in the tin to support your local Arduino-geek-space.  Knowledgeable members at your disposal to help you get started,  troubleshoot a particular electronics or code issue or simply  suggest resources.

Arduino Ninja’s – please come in and “show and tell” your latest creation!

This week, Doug will provide a couple of toys to play with, including an ultrasonic distance sensor (with a simple code example) and an DAC/ADC “module” direct from China based on an NXP PCF8591 chip.  There is also a new and improved version of the Retic Controller code (which may even get finished before next Summer!).

An evening of live Industrial Music!

Performers: MOTET | D-JEONG | OUROBONIC PLAGUE | SUB ORDNANCE | FURCHICK | SONIC SMUT | DJ ASCIIMOV | THE GOLDEN QUADRANGLE

Prompted by a need for a Final Recital exploring ways to preserve early electronic music as performable works, we gathered up all the old and new Industrial heads we could find for an Industrialpalooza!

$10 at the door, bring your own angle grinder. Refreshments from the Bar d’Factory.

See the Facebook Event

Loud and Proud! Noizemaschin!! turns 21! $10 for non-members, Bar d’Factory serves drinks and earplugs. Doors open 19:30

Lineup: Drohtnung – Underground Depressive Black Metal/Noise | Thaddaeus – Final performance of his residency, Thaddaeus closes in a doom-filled fashion | Brown – Noise set from Perth improvisors and purveyors of home-made instruments | Henry Gillett – Using detuned, degraded and decaying vinyl sample-based sound objects, Henry Gillett presents new sequenced and live processed works | Lomax – Live music and painting performance | Chad Wetton (Click Clock) – Solo vocal looping, effect processing and manipulation. | Yann Vissac – Beats and sound aplenty! | Last Tape w Dr Vellocet – Bass guitar and violin noise improv, joined by the guitar stylings of Dr Vellocet, all with much processing.

Converting a 12 string acoustic guitar into a 7 string extended range guitar.

A 12 string guitar is normally 12 strings doubled up in courses to the tune of the notes EADGBE, each pair of two strings being tuned to the same note. I have long wanted a seven acoustic guitar that was instead tuned to BEADGBE giving an extra low string that would allow an acoustic guitar to have the full range of the cello while keeping all the functionality of a standard 6 string.

Initially I thought I would have to rework the neck but the width was already perfect when I measured it out, so I went on to remove the nut (the thing at the top of the guitar that holds the strings) and replace it with a piece of camel bone I had pre-worked.

This old nut was glued in so careful wood chiseling was required. After that the bridge was removed, the bridge was in tightly however removing it with some needle nose pliers was possible with some effort. A new piece of camel bone was worked into the right shape and put into the slot the old bridge left behind.

There remains one issue as can be seen in the photo above, the original pins are not correctly aligned to allow seven strings to sit at a neat distance from each other. I will solve this by cutting slots into the bridge bone to allow the strings to sit evenly. After that the project will be completed and my new seven string guitar will be ready to go.

Yet more fascinating sound experiments in our cosy experimental bunker! $10 for non-members, Bar d’Factory serves drinks and earplugs. Doors open 19:30

Lineup: Pedro Vouris – Main man of experimentalism and award-winning composer makes pleasing sonic chaos for young and old | Quickquickquick – Analogue electronics and controversial sampling | Stainier Black Five and Malcolm Riddoch – Sub frequency experimentalism puts the Artifactory sub through its paces | Enargeia – Exciting noise-experience from Perth duo | Mr Government – Josten Myburgh and Safian Paul join forces to wage war on the government through the powers of spatialised feedback and structured electroacoustic improvisation | Fur Chick – Wacky toy noise! | Thaddeus – Resident artist brings us “resident artwork no. 2″. Actual title TBA. | Sam Gillies – New ideas and noise structures following an exhausting tour through Japan! | Dr Vellocet – plays with video gadgets and serves up tasty drinks.