So, I heard about this supposedly cool, little micro-controller, embedded Linux computer thing, on some IEEE forums in October of 2013. Strangely it sounds like a dessert?... "Raspberry Pi". At first I was like "...eh, another Arduino clone. I don't really want to waste my time learning another operating system for a lame, little hardware gadget?...", then I started hearing more about it from Make magazine, and other Hardware sites I frequent. Finally, the Linux based home automation software I use was being ported to the Raspberry Pi, and that did it, my curiosity peaked.
After a little research, I realized this little credit card sized PCB was a full-fledge Linux desktop, and could run as a micro-server quite adequately. Plus... it had this GPIO - "General Purpose Input/Output" port (hmmm, That sounds interesting?). I decided I had to have one to play with... I could buy this little wonder for $25 US from the creators, a UK non-profit (RaspberryPi.Org), and wait almost 3 weeks for it to get to me, plus the shipping would probably be crazy-expensive?... OR I could just order it off of Amazon.com for $40, not pay for shipping, and get it in under a week... No Brainer?! (Be nice to me Amazon!!!)
[Top]Click on the graphic below to download the First GPIO Project VIDEO...
Success! I just might get this?!
The LEDs were fun, but after watching some Raspberry Pi YouTube Videos the gears started turning...
(AKA: "It's Beginning to Look a -byte- Like Christmas?")
A little Googling and I think the next project is a go!
But it is November 26th...
People take 6 months or better to do something like this? You don't even own any Christmas Lights. You probably can't get anything in time...
Ummmm... wait a sec... It is built, but are the 110v lines connected right...
Better check everything another time before plugging in anything.
Check 1, check 2, check 3, check... Come on! Just do it!
So it is now Dec 16, the RPi Christmas Light controller box is built, we have most the lights, but no Lighted Lawn Manger... (The first one sent was defective. Now they are sold out.)
The Lawn Angel we wanted is sold out. The Animated Bells are sold out. 2 bad rope light segments, and they are sold out of the colors we want. Just buy more white I guess?
Finally Found and ordered another Manger. Whew! Hopefully, it gets here before Christmas!
My Crafty Better Half saved the day, by fabricating the trees, and a hanging Angel out of wire, and attached some LEDs.
Alright, enough stalling... GET ON WITH IT! You can get the extension cords tomorrow!
With some much needed help (Mucho Thanks Guys!!!), we got the lights up, and...
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The Garageband Riff I put together sounds fairly decent and the MIDI sequence works OK, the Decorations are a little lacking, but, they are up.
It could be better, but...
Click on the graphic below to download The Show VIDEO...
Pretty Basic?!
...But Hey, It Actually Works! Next year we will probably add some more channels, more features, and an FM transmitter, but it made for a Fun Project this year just the same?!
Click on the graphic below to download a BONUS VIDEO...
Having some fun with a Jazz Chart I found online before tearing everything down for the year.
It just might be a bit busy?! :P
My Crafty Better Half saved the day AGAIN, by fabricating some very cool Sparkle Balls for the front tree.
We added 4 more channels with a Satellite box utilizing a Psuedo-POE scheme, and we added a LED lit sign to advertise the FM transmission.
We added a "fill-in" show utilizing LightShowPi, an Open Source Project that uses just MP3s to create a light show.
The automated install makes it a little easier to install and get up and running.
We are still using LightOrgan for the first part of the show, but have expanded the show to 2 hours. :D
until next year...
[Top]until next year...
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I am not going to write a complete how to because most of it has already been done here:
http://chivalrytimberz.wordpress.com
and here for an expanded video description with the MP3 piece:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKFrWDQY0rw
and here for a hardware description:
http://www.sainsmart.com/blog/relay
or here for a 4 part video tutorial on a similar hardware setup:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dI3xpoyVWAo
The GPIO library I use to control the pin output on the Raspberry Pi:
http://wiringpi.com
The open source Linux sound libraries:
http://www.alsa-project.org/main/index.php/Main_Page
The open source MIDI libraries:
http://linux-audio.com/TiMidity-howto.html
Finally the C program that syncs the lights to the MIDI file:
http://code.google.com/p/pi-lightorgan/source/browse/trunk/lightorgan.c