Raspberry Pi Video Synth with Blinka and Processing

by Liz Clark

published March 29, 2022, last edited January 22, 2025

posted in Sensors/ Proximity Raspberry Pi CircuitPython Programming STEMMA

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Beginner

Project guide

Assembly

This project does not require any soldering, making assembly a straight forward experience.

Cut the NeoSlider's I2C Address Jumpers

The NeoSliders work by sending data over I2C with the adafruit_seesaw CircuitPython library. Since this project uses three of the NeoSliders, you will need to adjust the I2C addresses on two of them by cutting the address jumpers.

For more information on the NeoSlider's Address Jumpers, please reference the Primary Learn Guide

To cut the address jumpers, you will need an exacto knife or other thin, sharp blade. Be careful when doing this step!

The default I2C address for the NeoSlider is 0x30. You will leave one NeoSlider on this address, leaving the address jumpers uncut.

The second NeoSlider's I2C address will be set to 0x31 by cutting address jumper A0.

The third NeoSlider's I2C address will be set to 0x32 by cutting address jumper A1.

Connect the STEMMA Boards

All of the STEMMA boards will be connected to each other using QT to QT cables.

Connect the 0x30 NeoSlider's bottom socket to the 0x31 NeoSlider's bottom socket.

Connect the 0x31 NeoSlider's top socket to the 0x32 NeoSlider's top socket.

Connect the 0x32 NeoSlider's bottom socket to the rotary encoder's left socket.

Connect the rotary encoder's right socket to the VL53L4CD's left socket.

Connect to the Raspberry Pi

Using a QT to female socket cable, connect the STEMMA boards to the Raspberry Pi.

Connect the QT cable's female socket wires to the Raspberry Pi's GPIO pins.

Red cable (VIN) connects to physical pin 1
Black cable (GND) connects to physical pin 6
Blue cable (SDA) connects to physical pin 3
Yellow cable (SCL) connects to physical pin 5

Plug the QT to female socket cable into the VL53L4CD's right socket.

Mount the Components

Using M2.5 screws and stand-offs, mount the components to the mounting board made out of your chosen material.

Attach M2.5 stand-offs to the mounting board with M2.5 screws.

Attach the NeoSliders to the stand-offs with screws. The order going left to right is 0x30, 0x31 and 0x32.

0x30 and 0x31's QT cable should be on the top. 0x31 and 0x32's QT cable should be on the bottom.

Attach the rotary encoder to its stand-offs with screws next to the 0x32 NeoSlider.

Attach the VL53L4CD to its stand-offs with screws. Run its QT cables around the stand-offs so that the cabling is hidden under the VL53L4CD and Raspberry Pi.