3dprinting, IOT / Domoticz

LED String with 1D game

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I saw a game like this on the WHY2025, I wanted my own version.

Using Twang32, some other hardware and a tweaked sketch, I got this.

Up = move up
Down = move down
whack the stick to kill red leds (Metal part is a door spring)
(Tilting joystick also works as up/down)

Things changed:

  • Other hardware: MPU6050 for movement detection, Sound generation
    No clock on my LedString
  • Changed sketch, fastled, pins and libraries
  • Using IDE in 2025? .. downgrade ESP32 (expressive) to 2.0.11, and download Fastled to 3.9.0
    2025 libraries won’t work!
Computer, IOT / Domoticz

Antenna tweaking

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A while ago I was playing with LoRa (Long Range radio), I made a simple setup which worked good enough.

After that I installed Meshtastic

I also used OpenMqttGateway with LoRa.

I’ve been using antennas also with SDR(Software Defined Radio.

Some tests with SDR (Software Defined Radio)

Not happy with the performance, I bought a Nano-VNA.
(Vector network analyser)

Looks like 915 Mhz antenna

Due to the many options, I was lost at first. Maybe I have to ask Bigred.
Calibrating I get now, but I can’t easily calibrate an antenna with fixed cable.

Much to learn, but that’s what I want. 🙂

I bought a VNA/Antenna test board from Ali.

Feature:

  1. RF Demo Kit RF test board demo calibration board for learning Vector Analyzer and Antenna Analyzer test calibration.
  2. The board is fully integrated with 18 functional modules.
  3. Equipped with 2 UFL patch cords for convenient use.
  4. Each module is carefully selected for high quality and reliability.
  5. The board is small and lightweight, easy to carry.

Specification:

Product type: RF Demo Kit

  1. Filters:
    • A. Short low-pass filter (LPF): 30 MHz
    • B. FM high-pass filter (HPF): 100 MHz
    • C. Commonly used SAW band-pass filter (BPF): 433 MHz
    • D. Video ceramic notch (band-stop filter, BSF): 6.5 MHz
  2. RLC series and parallel circuits
    • Includes R, L, C and combination circuits
  3. Open/short and load calibration circuit
  4. Attenuation circuit

Package List:

  • 1 × RF Demo Kit Board
  • 2 × UFL patch cables

3dprinting, Computer, IOT / Domoticz, Tech

WHY2025

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In case of doubt .. MORE LEDS!

We went to WHY2025 a hackers camp in the Netherlands.

The first time I went was in 1997, with Bigred.
Many followed after that.
Tyrone, Bigred were also there from our old Crew.
Coline joined me several times since 2005.

I joined the Badge team, and was making spacers for the Badges in bulk using my 3D printer.
Also made some fancy cases.

Cases
Spacers

In case of doubt .. more leds!

Our campsite with 7m Led string
Must have more leds!

Nice weather, good friends. New friends. Booze. Food and Hacking.
We visited a lot of talks and enjoyed the music. (And fire)

I worked on: RSS feed on a epaper display, Midi monitor and the MQTT Pong website.

RSS Feed display

While waiting in line for the Badge:

A stone was passed from behind!
It was a ping request. We passed it forward, and 15 minutes later a TTL time exceeded stone came from the front of the line.
You gotta love those nerds!

Some other stones

The Badge:
This should have got much potential ..
Many misses, much to learn.

Sadly broken:

Our 7M Led string attached to Bigred’s Antenna.

Computer, IOT / Domoticz

BirdNet installation

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I bought Peterson’s Vogelgids, just for fun.
It’s an old version, but that’s on purpose.

Then I saw a little project named BirdNet Pi.
(I used the Android app already)

This is a Raspberry installation which recognises bird sounds. And gives you statistics about the detected birds.
Cool for identifying birds in my garden.

Next to do : Integration in Home Assistant

Bert Visscher has the same book.

Brewing / Fermenting / Booze

Ultrasonic ageing booze, while soldering

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While doing other stuff, I experimented with fake barrel ageing booze using my ultrasonic cleaner.

Using this method, you can give a barrel/wood taste to your liquids.

I used a Whisky barrel piece to give a nicer/better taste to generic Vodka.

Next to do, other woods and spirits. Like Cognac woodbarrel and plain white Rum.

I did 3 times 15 minutes, but should be longer!

Look at the colour change!
It smelled better, and the taste was great.
Smooth, round and far less harsh as the plain Vodka.

Computer, IOT / Domoticz, Music

Cynthcart (c64) midi control

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I bought a teensyrom a while ago.

UPDATE 20250712 : Display
UPDATE 20250904 : Added PitchBend and stabilized potmeters.

New C64 Cartridges

Tyrone and I wanted to control the settings using potmeters.
So I grabbed a Teensy 4.1 controller and some 10K potmeters, and worte some code

Code for 12 pots, pitch bend and display, don’t forget to set your USB mode to midi!
Schematic soon, also all tweaks and note sending.

Todo: Nice 3D printed Pitch Bend wheel, rest of display code and extra buttons!

Let’s use an old box to hold the pots!

3D printed wooden knobs (Yes wood filament)
Unstable release pot due too bad wires. Cynthcart has no decay and hold (hold is how long you are pressing key)

Knob 1 = volume now, and left of box has centering Pitch Bend.


CODE

#include <MIDIUSB.h>
#include <ResponsiveAnalogRead.h>

const int pitchbend = A14;
const int filterresonance = A0;
const int filtercutoff = A1;
const int voicemode = A2;
const int modulationmode = A3;
const int attack = A4;
const int release = A5;
const int pulsewidth = A6;
const int tremolodepth = A7;
const int tremolospeed = A8;
const int oscwave = A9;
const int oscvoice2 = A10;
const int oscvoice3 = A11;
const int volume = A12;

ResponsiveAnalogRead analogpitchbend(pitchbend, true);

ResponsiveAnalogRead analogfilterresonance(filterresonance, true);
ResponsiveAnalogRead analogfiltercutoff(filtercutoff, true);
ResponsiveAnalogRead analogvoicemode(voicemode, true);
ResponsiveAnalogRead analogmodulationmode(modulationmode, true);
ResponsiveAnalogRead analogattack(attack, true);
ResponsiveAnalogRead analogrelease(release, true);
ResponsiveAnalogRead analogpulsewidth(pulsewidth, true);
ResponsiveAnalogRead analogtremolodepth(tremolodepth, true);
ResponsiveAnalogRead analogtremolospeed(tremolospeed, true);
ResponsiveAnalogRead analogoscwave(oscwave, true);
ResponsiveAnalogRead analogoscvoice2(oscvoice2, true);
ResponsiveAnalogRead analogoscvoice3(oscvoice3, true);
ResponsiveAnalogRead analogvolume(volume, true);


// A0 -> A3, A6 -> A13
const int numPots = 12;


int lastfilterresonance = -1;
int lastfiltercutoff = -1;
int lastvoicemode = -1;
int lastmodulationmode = -1;
int lastattack = -1;
int lastrelease = -1;
int lastpulsewidth = -1;
int lasttremolodepth = -1;
int lasttremolospeed = -1;
int lastoscwave = -1;
int lastoscvoice2 = -1;
int lastoscvoice3 = -1;
int lastvolume = -1;


// CC 7 ff niet

// Custom mappings:
const int potPins[numPots]     = {A0, A1, A2, A3, A6, A7, A8, A9, A10, A11, A12, A13};  // Analog pins
const int ccNumbers[numPots]   = {0,1,2,3,4,5,6,8,9,13,14,15};             // CC numbers
const int midiChannels[numPots]= {1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1};                // MIDI channels (1–16)

int lastValues[numPots];  // Store last values to reduce redundant MIDI messages


void setup() {
  Serial.begin(9600);
  for (int i = 0; i < numPots; i++) {
    pinMode(potPins[i], INPUT);
    lastValues[i] = -1;
  }
  pinMode(pitchbend, INPUT);
}

void loop() {
  analogfilterresonance.update();
  if(analogfilterresonance.hasChanged()) {
    int analogValue = analogfilterresonance.getValue();
    int midiValue = analogValue / 8;  // Scale 0–1023 to 0–127
    if (abs(midiValue - lastfilterresonance) > 0){
    usbMIDI.sendControlChange(7, midiValue, 1);
    lastfilterresonance = midiValue;
    }
  }

  analogfiltercutoff.update();
  if(analogfiltercutoff.hasChanged()) {
    int analogValue = analogfiltercutoff.getValue();
    int midiValue = analogValue / 8;  // Scale 0–1023 to 0–127
    if (abs(midiValue - lastvoicemode) > 0){
    usbMIDI.sendControlChange(1, midiValue, 1);
    lastvoicemode = midiValue;
    }  
  }

  analogvoicemode.update();
  if(analogvoicemode.hasChanged()) {
    int analogValue = analogvoicemode.getValue();
    int midiValue = analogValue / 8;  // Scale 0–1023 to 0–127
    if (abs(midiValue - lastvoicemode) > 0){
    usbMIDI.sendControlChange(2, midiValue, 1);
    lastvoicemode = midiValue;
    }
  }

  analogmodulationmode.update();
  if(analogmodulationmode.hasChanged()) {
    int analogValue = analogmodulationmode.getValue();
    int midiValue = analogValue / 8;  // Scale 0–1023 to 0–127
    if (abs(midiValue - lastmodulationmode) > 0){
    usbMIDI.sendControlChange(3, midiValue, 1);
    lastmodulationmode = midiValue;
    }
  }


  analogattack.update();
  if(analogattack.hasChanged()) {
    int analogValue = analogattack.getValue();
    int midiValue = analogValue / 8;  // Scale 0–1023 to 0–127
    if (abs(midiValue - lastattack) > 0){
    usbMIDI.sendControlChange(4, midiValue, 1);
    lastattack = midiValue;
    }
  }


  analogrelease.update();
  if(analogrelease.hasChanged()) {
    int analogValue = analogrelease.getValue();
    int midiValue = analogValue / 8;  // Scale 0–1023 to 0–127
    if (abs(midiValue - lastrelease) > 0){
    usbMIDI.sendControlChange(5, midiValue, 1);
    lastrelease = midiValue;
    }
  }


  analogpulsewidth.update();
  if(analogpulsewidth.hasChanged()) {
    int analogValue = analogpulsewidth.getValue();
    int midiValue = analogValue / 8;  // Scale 0–1023 to 0–127
    if (abs(midiValue - lastpulsewidth) > 0){
    usbMIDI.sendControlChange(6, midiValue, 1);
    lastpulsewidth = midiValue;
    }
  }


  analogtremolodepth.update();
  if(analogtremolodepth.hasChanged()) {
    int analogValue = analogtremolodepth.getValue();
    int midiValue = analogValue / 8;  // Scale 0–1023 to 0–127
    if (abs(midiValue - lasttremolodepth) > 0){
    usbMIDI.sendControlChange(8, midiValue, 1);
    lasttremolodepth = midiValue;
    }
  }


  analogtremolospeed.update();
  if(analogtremolospeed.hasChanged()) {
    int analogValue = analogtremolospeed.getValue();
    int midiValue = analogValue / 8;  // Scale 0–1023 to 0–127
    if (abs(midiValue - lasttremolospeed) > 0){
    usbMIDI.sendControlChange(9, midiValue, 1);
    lasttremolospeed = midiValue;
    }
  }


  analogoscwave.update();
  if(analogoscwave.hasChanged()) {
    int analogValue = analogoscwave.getValue();
    int midiValue = analogValue / 8;  // Scale 0–1023 to 0–127
    if (abs(midiValue - lastoscwave) > 0){
    usbMIDI.sendControlChange(13, midiValue, 1);
    lastoscwave = midiValue;
    }
  }


  analogoscvoice2.update();
  if(analogoscvoice2.hasChanged()) {
    int analogValue = analogoscvoice2.getValue();
    int midiValue = analogValue / 8;  // Scale 0–1023 to 0–127
    if (abs(midiValue - lastoscvoice2) > 0){
    usbMIDI.sendControlChange(14, midiValue, 1);
    lastoscvoice2 = midiValue;
    }
  }


  analogoscvoice3.update();
  if(analogoscvoice3.hasChanged()) {
    int analogValue = analogoscvoice3.getValue();
    int midiValue = analogValue / 8;  // Scale 0–1023 to 0–127
    if (abs(midiValue - lastoscvoice3) > 0){
    usbMIDI.sendControlChange(15, midiValue, 1);
    lastoscvoice3 = midiValue;
    }
  }







// PITCHBEND!
  analogpitchbend.update();
  if(analogpitchbend.hasChanged()) {
    int pitchBend = map(analogpitchbend.getValue(), 0, 1023, 0, 16383); // Map to MIDI Pitch Bend range
    sendPitchBend(pitchBend, 0);
  }
  /*
  int potValue = analogRead(A14);         // Read pot (0–1023)
  int pitchBend = map(potValue, 0, 1023, 0, 16383); // Map to MIDI Pitch Bend range
  //pitchBend = pitchBend + 8192;


  if (abs(pitchBend - lastPitch) > 250) { // Send only on significant change
    sendPitchBend(pitchBend, 0); 
        Serial.println(pitchBend);

    lastPitch = pitchBend;
  }
  */


  delay(5);  // CPU-friendly update rate
}

void sendPitchBend(int value, byte channel) {
  byte lsb = value & 0x7F;
  byte msb = (value >> 7) & 0x7F;

  midiEventPacket_t pitchBendPacket = {0x0E, 0xE0 | (channel & 0x0F), lsb, msb};
  MidiUSB.sendMIDI(pitchBendPacket);
  // Needed? 
  MidiUSB.flush();
}

CODE for display

#include <MIDIUSB.h>
#include <Adafruit_GFX.h>
#include <Adafruit_SSD1306.h>

#define SCREEN_WIDTH 128 // OLED display width, in pixels
#define SCREEN_HEIGHT 64 // OLED display height, in pixels
#define OLED_RESET 4
Adafruit_SSD1306 display(SCREEN_WIDTH, SCREEN_HEIGHT, &Wire, OLED_RESET);

// A0 -> A3, A6 -> A13
const int numPots = 12;

// A14 - Pitch bend!
int lastPitch = -1;

//A4 A5 I2C display


// Custom mappings:
const int potPins[numPots]     = {A0, A1, A2, A3, A6, A7, A8, A9, A10, A11, A12, A13};  // Analog pins
const int ccNumbers[numPots]   = {0,1,2,3,4,5,19,7,8,9,13,14};             // CC numbers
const int midiChannels[numPots]= {1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1};                // MIDI channels (1–16)

int lastValues[numPots];  // Store last values to reduce redundant MIDI messages

void setup() {
  for (int i = 0; i < numPots; i++) {
    pinMode(potPins[i], INPUT);
    lastValues[i] = -1;
  }
  display.begin(SSD1306_SWITCHCAPVCC, 0x3C);
  display.setTextSize(2);
  display.setTextColor(WHITE);
  display.clearDisplay();
  display.display();
}

void loop() {
  for (int i = 0; i < numPots; i++) {
    int analogValue = analogRead(potPins[i]);
    int midiValue = analogValue / 8;  // Scale 0–1023 to 0–127

    if (abs(midiValue - lastValues[i]) > 1) {
      usbMIDI.sendControlChange(ccNumbers[i], midiValue, midiChannels[i]);
      lastValues[i] = midiValue;
    }
  }
  int potValue = analogRead(A12);         // Read pot (0–1023)
  int pitchBend = map(potValue, 0, 1023, 0, 16383); // Map to MIDI Pitch Bend range

  if (abs(pitchBend - lastPitch) > 5) { // Send only on significant change
    sendPitchBend(pitchBend, 0); // Channel 1
    lastPitch = pitchBend;
  }

  displayInfo();


  delay(5);  // CPU-friendly update rate
}

void sendPitchBend(int value, byte channel) {
  byte lsb = value & 0x7F;
  byte msb = (value >> 7) & 0x7F;

  midiEventPacket_t pitchBendPacket = {0x0E, 0xE0 | (channel & 0x0F), lsb, msb};
  MidiUSB.sendMIDI(pitchBendPacket);
  // Needed? 
  MidiUSB.flush();
}

void displayInfo(){
 byte x0, y0, x1, y1;     // start/end coordinates for drawing lines on OLED
  display.clearDisplay();
  display.setCursor(0, 0);
  display.print("Attack / Release");

  // draw attack line
  x0 = 0;
  y0 = 63;
  x1 = map(attackParam, 0, 127, 0, ((SCREEN_WIDTH / 4) - 1));
  y1 = 20;
  display.drawLine(x0, y0,  x1,  y1, SH110X_WHITE);

   // draw release line
  x0 = x1;  // start line from previous line's final x,y location
  y0 = y1;
  x1 = x0 + map(releaseParam, 0, 127, 0, ((SCREEN_WIDTH / 4) - 1));
  y1 = 63;
  display.drawLine(x0, y0,  x1,  y1, SH110X_WHITE);

  display.display();

}