Using the keys on the Adafruit MacroPad in CircuitPython is super simple, thanks to the keypad module. This module allows you to print the key number, and read key press and releases. The rotaryio module allows you to read the rotation of the rotary encoder, and digitalio allows you to read the rotary encoder button switch presses. All of these modules are built into CircuitPython, meaning to use them, you do not need to load any separate libraries onto your MacroPad.
However, the following example involves the NeoPixel LEDs, which do require a separate library - Adafruit CircuitPython NeoPixel.
Save the following to your CIRCUITPY drive as code.py.
Click the Download Project Bundle button below to download the necessary libraries and the code.py file in a zip file. Extract the contents of the zip file, find your CircuitPython version, and copy the matching entire lib folder and code.py file to your CIRCUITPY drive.
# SPDX-FileCopyrightText: 2021 Kattni Rembor for Adafruit Industries
#
# SPDX-License-Identifier: MIT
"""Keypad and rotary encoder example for Adafruit MacroPad"""
import board
import digitalio
import rotaryio
import neopixel
import keypad
from rainbowio import colorwheel
key_pins = (board.KEY1, board.KEY2, board.KEY3, board.KEY4, board.KEY5, board.KEY6,
board.KEY7, board.KEY8, board.KEY9, board.KEY10, board.KEY11, board.KEY12)
keys = keypad.Keys(key_pins, value_when_pressed=False, pull=True)
encoder = rotaryio.IncrementalEncoder(board.ROTA, board.ROTB)
button = digitalio.DigitalInOut(board.BUTTON)
button.switch_to_input(pull=digitalio.Pull.UP)
pixels = neopixel.NeoPixel(board.NEOPIXEL, 12, brightness=0.2)
last_position = None
while True:
if not button.value:
pixels.brightness = 1.0
else:
pixels.brightness = 0.2
position = encoder.position
if last_position is None or position != last_position:
print("Rotary:", position)
last_position = position
color_value = (position * 2) % 255
event = keys.events.get()
if event:
print(event)
if event.pressed:
pixels[event.key_number] = colorwheel(color_value)
else:
pixels[event.key_number] = 0
Now try pressing any of the keys to see a message printed out. The corresponding NeoPixel will light up. To change the color of the NeoPixel and see a value printed out, rotate the rotary encoder. To temporarily increase the brightness of the NeoPixel, press down on the rotary encoder.
Page last edited January 22, 2025
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