Main Content

The brain is a Raspberry Pi 3 which runs the step sequencer program, written in python. The monome is connected to the Pi via USB. An Arduino Uno is also connected to the Pi via USB. The Arduino controls 8 servos, each with a “mallet” attached. (These mallets are actually Lego bricks clumsily taped onto coffee sticks.) The Arduino is programmed to receive serial commands* from the python program. A command is one byte or 8 bits, each bit representing ‘on’ (play the note) and ‘off’ (do nothing) states of each servo. The monome is totally controlled by the python program. The program sends serial commands that, for example, tell the monome which buttons need to light up or turn off. It also receives serial data from the monome - like, which buttons are getting pressed and depressed.”

Link to article