port = new Serial(this, portstr, 9600);

Where portstr is defined as:

String portstr = “/dev/tty.usbserial-A3000Xv0″;

Can you help me to understand what “portstr” is for? I am using an Arduino UNO on COM3 port.

I stumbled across your blog when Googling Ambient Orb. I am very interested in your work, and am trying to replicate what you did. I am completely new to all of this, but managed to get to the point where your Arduino code (serial_rgb_led_too.pde) now works for me really well!

I am stuck at the Processing code part. I downloaded the Processing IDE and your code (http_rgb_led.pde), but when I run your code I get the error below:

countdown to color: 3
countdown to color: 2
countdown to color: 1
countdown to color: 1
content: set the color
content: #9970ff
parsed color #9970ff
java.lang.NullPointerException
at processing.serial.Serial.write(Unknown Source)
at processing.serial.Serial.write(Unknown Source)
at http_rgb_led.getWebColor(http_rgb_led.java:82)
at http_rgb_led.draw(http_rgb_led.java:57)
at processing.core.PApplet.handleDraw(Unknown Source)
at processing.core.PApplet.run(Unknown Source)
at java.lang.Thread.run(Thread.java:662)

Can you help me by pointing out what I am doing wrong? I am completely stuck and any guidance would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

For me, after a while the RGB LED starts to change color by it’s own. Is it ment to be like that?
If it is ment to be like that can you help me fix the code so it doesent make that? :)

// Nisse from Sweden :)

Thanks!
Rick.

void loop() {
  int r = analogRead(redSlider) / 4;
  int g = analogRead(grnSlider) / 4;
  int b = analogRead(bluSlider) / 4;

  analogWrite( redPin, r );
  analogWrite( grnPin, g );
  analogWrite( bluPin, b );
}

I tend to think in terms of input->output flows. It sounds like there are two major flows. First, there’s the immediate “autonomous” response of triggering the LEDs based on the various inputs. This is a totally stand-alone Arduino sketch that could run by itself. And it might be a good starting point for getting everything all together and working.

Then there’s the “Arduino-as-input-device” flow where the Arduino reads the inputs, sends them to Max/MSP over its serial/USB port, and Max outputs sound to speakers. I assume the Max patch is doing some sort of algorithmic generation of sound. If you’re happy with just triggering lofi samples instead, you could add a Waveshield on top of the Arduino and have it play the sounds directly.

But if you don’t do that, you’ve got two cables running from the computer to each Orb: a USB cable and a speaker cable.

This project sounds really cool. Send me some links when you get it up and running!