CircuitPython Setup
We’ll use CircuitPython to code the Annoy-O-Matic.
First, follow this guide https://learn.adafruit.com/adafruit-gemma-m0/circuitpython to get started with coding the Gemma M0 in CircuitPython. Install the latest release version of CircuitPython on the board. You may also want to install the Mu editor https://learn.adafruit.com/adafruit-gemma-m0/installing-mu-editor for your coding needs.
Once you can successfully upload code from Mu to your Gemma M0, return here.
Annoy-O-Matic Code
We will only need to do a few simple things in the code, and then repeat them over and over.
Pulsio
First, we'll need to be able to create sequences of sounds of various pre-defined frequencies and durations, such as three quick, high pitched tones for a cricket sound, or the thirteen notes of the famous Nokia phone ringtone.
These tones can be played using the CircuitPython pulsio library, which can send PWM (pulse width modulation) signals of specific frequencies to the piezo buzzer.
Here's a great primer on using PWM with pulsio in CircuitPython to create tones. This is what the code looks like to play a series of notes:
# SPDX-FileCopyrightText: 2017 Limor Fried for Adafruit Industries
#
# SPDX-License-Identifier: MIT
import time
import board
import pwmio
piezo = pwmio.PWMOut(board.D2, duty_cycle=0,
frequency=440, variable_frequency=True)
while True:
for f in (262, 294, 330, 349, 392, 440, 494, 523):
piezo.frequency = f
piezo.duty_cycle = 65536 // 2 # on 50%
time.sleep(0.25) # on for 1/4 second
piezo.duty_cycle = 0 # off
time.sleep(0.05) # pause between notes
time.sleep(0.5)
Functions
We'll create a number of functions in the code so that we can easily choose between different operational modes. So, beep, doorbell, ringtone, crickets, and teen tone will all be different pre-defined functions that can then be selected at the top of the code.
Below is the full code we'll use. You can read in the comments how the different variables at the top work. For example, by changing annoy_mode = 3 to annoy_mode = 2, you'll get a doorbell sound instead of a ringtone.
The way this works, is that at the very bottom of the code the while True: loop runs and checks the value of annoy_mode. Depending on that value, one of the different functions, such as def annoy_doorbell() is called.
You can look at the different functions to see how they work, and play around with the values to change pitch frequencies and delay timings.
# SPDX-FileCopyrightText: 2018 John Edgar Park for Adafruit Industries
#
# SPDX-License-Identifier: MIT
# Annoy-O-Matic Sound Prank Device
# choose from a variety of sounds and timings to drive your victim bonkers
import time
import board
import pwmio
# pylint: disable=unused-variable,consider-using-enumerate,redefined-outer-name,too-many-locals
piezo = pwmio.PWMOut(board.D0, duty_cycle=0, frequency=440,
variable_frequency=True)
# pick the mode here:
# 1 = beep
# 2 = doorbell
# 3 = ringtone
# 4 = crickets
# 5 = teen tone
# 6 = demo mode
annoy_mode = 3
# set general parameters here
interval = 300 # seconds before next annoyance. Default 300 (5 minutes)
# set beep details here
frequency = 5000 # pitch of the beep in Hz. Default 5000
length = 0.2 # length (duration) of the beep in seconds. Default 0.2
rest = 0.05 # seconds between beep repeats. Default 0.05
# set beep/cricket details here
repeat = 3 # number of times to repeat the beep/cricket. Default 3
# set ringtone details here
ringtone = 3 # song choices: 1 = Nokia, 2 = iPhone, 3 = Rickroll
ringtone_tempo = 1.6 # suggested Nokia 0.9 , iPhone 1.3 , Rickroll 2.0
def annoy_beep(frequency, length, repeat, rest, interval):
for _ in range(repeat):
piezo.frequency = frequency # 2600 is a nice choice
piezo.duty_cycle = 65536 // 2 # on 50%
time.sleep(length) # sound on
piezo.duty_cycle = 0 # off
time.sleep(rest)
time.sleep(interval) # wait time until next beep
def annoy_doorbell(interval):
piezo.frequency = 740
piezo.duty_cycle = 65536 // 2
time.sleep(0.85)
piezo.duty_cycle = 0
time.sleep(0.05)
piezo.frequency = 588
piezo.duty_cycle = 65536 // 2
time.sleep(1.25)
piezo.duty_cycle = 0
time.sleep(interval)
# pylint: disable=too-many-statements
def annoy_ringtone(ringtone, tempo, interval):
# ringtone 1: Nokia
# ringtone 2: Apple iPhone
# ringtone 3: Rick Astley Never Gonna Give You Up
# tempo is length of whole note in seconds, e.g. 1.5
# set up time signature
whole_note = tempo # adjust this to change tempo of everything
dotted_whole_note = whole_note * 1.5
# these notes are fractions of the whole note
half_note = whole_note / 2
dotted_half_note = half_note * 1.5
quarter_note = whole_note / 4
dotted_quarter_note = quarter_note * 1.5
eighth_note = whole_note / 8
dotted_eighth_note = eighth_note * 1.5
sixteenth_note = whole_note / 16
# set up note values
A2 = 110
As2 = 117 # 's' stands for sharp: A#2
Bb2 = 117
B2 = 123
C3 = 131
Cs3 = 139
Db3 = 139
D3 = 147
Ds3 = 156
Eb3 = 156
E3 = 165
F3 = 175
Fs3 = 185
Gb3 = 185
G3 = 196
Gs3 = 208
Ab3 = 208
A3 = 220
As3 = 233
Bb3 = 233
B3 = 247
# C4 = 262
Cs4 = 277
# Db4 = 277
D4 = 294
# Ds4 = 311
# Eb4 = 311
E4 = 330
# F4 = 349
Fs4 = 370
# Gb4 = 370
G4 = 392
# Gs4 = 415
# Ab4 = 415
# A4 = 440
# As4 = 466
# Bb4 = 466
B4 = 494
C5 = 523
Cs5 = 554
Db5 = 554
D5 = 587
Ds5 = 622
Eb5 = 622
E5 = 659
F5 = 698
Fs5 = 740
Gb5 = 740
G5 = 784
Gs5 = 831
Ab5 = 831
A5 = 880
As5 = 932
Bb5 = 932
B5 = 987
# here's another way to express the note pitch, double the previous octave
C6 = C5 * 2
Cs6 = Cs5 * 2
Db6 = Db5 * 2
D6 = D5 * 2
Ds6 = Ds5 * 2
Eb6 = Eb5 * 2
E6 = E5 * 2
F6 = F5 * 2
Fs6 = Fs5 * 2
Gb6 = Gb5 * 2
G6 = G5 * 2
Gs6 = Gs5 * 2
Ab6 = Ab5 * 2
A6 = A5 * 2
As6 = As5 * 2
Bb6 = Bb5 * 2
B6 = B5 * 2
if ringtone == 1:
# Nokia
nokia_ringtone = [[E6, eighth_note], [D6, eighth_note],
[Fs5, quarter_note], [Gs5, quarter_note],
[Cs6, eighth_note], [B5, eighth_note],
[D5, quarter_note], [E5, quarter_note],
[B5, eighth_note], [A5, eighth_note],
[Cs5, quarter_note], [E5, quarter_note],
[A5, whole_note]]
for n in range(len(nokia_ringtone)):
piezo.frequency = (nokia_ringtone[n][0])
piezo.duty_cycle = 65536 // 2 # on 50%
time.sleep(nokia_ringtone[n][1]) # note duration
piezo.duty_cycle = 0 # off
time.sleep(0.01)
if ringtone == 2:
# iPhone Marimba
iPhone_ringtone = [[B4, eighth_note], [G4, eighth_note],
[D5, eighth_note], [G4, eighth_note],
[D5, eighth_note], [E5, eighth_note],
[D5, eighth_note], [G4, eighth_note],
[E5, eighth_note], [D5, eighth_note],
[G4, eighth_note], [D5, eighth_note]]
for n in range(len(iPhone_ringtone)):
piezo.frequency = (iPhone_ringtone[n][0])
piezo.duty_cycle = 65536 // 2 # on 50%
time.sleep(iPhone_ringtone[n][1]) # note duration
piezo.duty_cycle = 0 # off
time.sleep(0.01)
if ringtone == 3:
# Rickroll
rick_ringtone = [[A3, sixteenth_note], [B3, sixteenth_note],
[D4, sixteenth_note], [B3, sixteenth_note],
[Fs4, dotted_eighth_note], [Fs4, sixteenth_note],
[Fs4, eighth_note], [E4, eighth_note],
[E4, quarter_note],
[A3, sixteenth_note], [B3, sixteenth_note],
[Cs4, sixteenth_note], [A3, sixteenth_note],
[E4, dotted_eighth_note], [E4, sixteenth_note],
[E4, eighth_note], [D4, eighth_note],
[D4, sixteenth_note], [Cs4, sixteenth_note],
[B3, eighth_note]]
for n in range(len(rick_ringtone)):
piezo.frequency = (rick_ringtone[n][0])
piezo.duty_cycle = 65536 // 2 # on 50%
time.sleep(rick_ringtone[n][1]) # note duration
piezo.duty_cycle = 0 # off
time.sleep(0.035)
time.sleep(interval)
def annoy_crickets(repeat, interval):
for _ in range(repeat):
for _ in range(6):
piezo.frequency = 8000 # 2600 is a nice choice
piezo.duty_cycle = 65536 // 2 # on 50%
time.sleep(0.02) # sound on
piezo.duty_cycle = 0 # off
time.sleep(0.05)
time.sleep(0.2)
time.sleep(interval) # wait time until next beep
def annoy_teen_tone(interval):
piezo.frequency = 17400
piezo.duty_cycle = 65536 // 2 # on 50%
time.sleep(10)
piezo.duty_cycle = 0
time.sleep(interval)
while True:
if annoy_mode == 1:
annoy_beep(frequency, length, repeat, rest, interval)
elif annoy_mode == 2:
annoy_doorbell(interval)
elif annoy_mode == 3:
annoy_ringtone(ringtone, ringtone_tempo, interval)
elif annoy_mode == 4:
annoy_crickets(repeat, interval)
elif annoy_mode == 5:
annoy_teen_tone(interval)
elif annoy_mode == 6:
annoy_beep(5000, 0.2, 2, 0.05, 3)
annoy_doorbell(3)
annoy_ringtone(1, 0.9, 3)
annoy_ringtone(2, 1.3, 3)
annoy_ringtone(3, 2.0, 3)
annoy_crickets(3, 3)
annoy_teen_tone(6)
Copy the full code, and paste it into Mu. Then, save the code as main.py onto your Gemma M0. The board will reboot and you'll hear your Annoy-O-Matic play its first sound! After that first instance, the device will wait five minutes before playing again.
Of course, you can change the delay by adjusting the value of the interval variable at the top. The interval value is in seconds, so if you want to have it wait for half an hour, the value would be 30 minutes * 60 seconds, or 1800 seconds.
Page last edited December 15, 2025
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