Building a tinyAVR pocket sequencer

Earlier this week, Bits & Pieces took a closer look at an ATtiny85-powered ultrasonic ruler designed by a Maker named “bergerab.”

Today, we’re going to get up close and personal with an ATtiny pocket sequencer created by bergerab that uses the very same tinyAVR microcontroller (MCU). 

Built around the popular ATtiny85, the pocket-sized sequencer is fully programmable and usable in a studio setting.

“Besides making a pocket-sized sequencer, my goal of this project was to stretch the uses of the ATtiny chips to show how powerful they really are,” bergerab explained a recent Instructables post.

“This project is great for those interested in music and/or electronics, and by the end you will have one of the smallest, unique sequencers ever made.”

Aside from the ATtiny85 MCU, key project components include:

• 

Perfboard (5 cm by 7 cm)
• Two 10k potentiometers
• Two tactile switch-buttons
• Two two-way switches
• A 7805 voltage regulator
• Two 10uF caps
• One 100uF cap
• One 2k resistor
• 8 LEDs
• 74HC595 shift register
• 1/4 inch audio female jack
• Speaker/buzzer
• 9v Battery (with connector)
• (optional) 5cm by 7cm acrylic sheet

On the software side, bergerab uses a relatively simple sketch to regulate the device.

“In my design of this sequencer, I wanted the user to program the steps right when the device is turned on. To do this I used the ‘setup()’ function, [which] is executed when the ATtiny is initially given power, or if its reset pin is set to LOW,” he continued.

“I added a startup tone (which is a little arpeggio of a c major chord) to notify the user that they are in the frequency programming mode. In the main loop (‘loop()), the ATtiny is told to go through each step, and for each step, light the appropriate LED. Then play the note assigned to that step, at the specified note length. During this, the MCU is checking if the button (analogRead(pot)<30) is pressed. If it is, the program enters a function called ‘setSustain()’. In this function, the user can select the notes length, (via the button and potentiometer).”

Interested in learning more? You can check out the project’s official Instructables page here.

Peel-and-stick electronics with Circuit Stickers

Circuit Stickers are peel-and-stick electronics for crafting circuits. Makers can easily build glowing, sensing and interactive projects with Circuit Stickers, adding electronics to any sticker-friendly surface including paper, fabric and plastic.

“Building circuits with them is fun and easy – just stick them onto a surface like you would with a normal sticker, and build up a circuit by sticking several stickers together,” the Circuit Sticker crew wrote in a recent Crowd Supply post.

“They’re an approachable way to craft with electronics, whether you’re just starting out with circuits or creating complex interactive artworks.”

Currently, there are four primary categories of Circuit Stickers:

• LED Stickers – Simple LED lights available in white, red, yellow and blue.
• Effects Stickers – Generate an effect to control your LEDs with blink, fade, twinkle and heartbeat.
• Sensors Stickers – Includes a light sensor, a microphone sensor for detecting sound and a trigger circuit.
• Touch sensor/Microcontroller Sticker – Initially configured to to work as a touch sensor, although advanced users can program and customize the on-board ATTiny85 (Atmel) microcontroller (MCU).

“We’ve designed Circuit Stickers to be as easy-to-use as possible, so you don’t need a background in electronics to get started–our interactive sketchbook will teach you the basics,” the Circuit Stickers crew added. “Technically advanced users can program Circuit Stickers and even integrate traditional electronics to create more complex works. Circuit Stickers are also made the work well with a wide range of materials, so you can use whatever art and craft techniques that are most fun and familiar to you.”

Interested in learning more? You can check out the official Circuit Stickers project page on Crowd Supply here.