I've recently gotten my hands on an Arduino for the purposes of using it as an input/output device for PD. The long term plans are to use biometric sensors as triggers and modifiers of the sound coming out of my guitar (processed through my PC).

My problem right now is a little more basic. How do I communicate with my Arduino via PD? I've tried a few patches that claim to have interfacing but none of them work. Pduino for some reason crashes PD when I load the test patch so I can't even get an idea what's going on inside the patch.

I know my Arduino is communicating because I can monitor the values in the Arduino software.

Can anyone explain to me how to get this working (I'm running Vista x64)?

I've got an Arduino Diecimila which works perfectly with PD. It really is super simple to set up!

1. Download Pduino AND Firmata:
http://at.or.at/hans/pd/objects.html
2. Download Arduino Software for your operating system:
http://arduino.cc/en/Main/Software
3. Attach your Arduino board via USB cable, launch Arduino Software and open "Standard_Firmata" from Firmata/examples. Upload this to your board.
4. Launch PD and open "arduino-test.pd"
5. Select the right COM port (click on each one until PD message window reports something positive). Then enable the PIN you've got your sensor attached to. Value in a relevant box will start updating. If you haven't got a sensor but just want to make sure it's working, click "Pulse all outputs". An LED on the board will start flashing repeatedly.

That's all you need to get going.
Let us know how it goes.

Good luck!

When I launch arduino-test.pd, pd crashes. I'll try reinstalling PD and see if it crahses again.

Edit - yep, still crashing, let me test it in compatibility mode.

nope, doesn't work either.

i got a problem in uploading the file to the board. ( I have press play, same error found. When I press upload to I/O, below error found)
anyone can help?
thx
////////////////////////////
/Applications/arduino-0012/hardware/libraries/Firmata/Firmata.h:61: error: typedef 'callbackFunction' is initialized (use __typeof__ instead)

/Applications/arduino-0012/hardware/libraries/Firmata/Firmata.h:61: error: 'byte' was not declared in this scope

/Applications/arduino-0012/hardware/libraries/Firmata/Firmata.h:61: error: expected primary-expression before 'int'

/Applications/arduino-0012/hardware/libraries/Firmata/Firmata.h:64: error: typedef 'sysexCallbackFunction' is initialized (use __typeof__ instead)

/Applications/arduino-0012/hardware/libraries/Firmata/Firmata.h:64: error: 'byte' was not declared in this scope

/Applications/arduino-0012/hardware/libraries/Firmata/Firmata.h:64: error: 'byte' was not declared in this scope

/Applications/arduino-0012/hardware/libraries/Firmata/Firmata.h:64: error: 'byte' was not declared in this scope

/Applications/arduino-0012/hardware/libraries/Firmata/Firmata.h:64: error: 'argv' was not declared in this scope

/Applications/arduino-0012/hardware/libraries/Firmata/Firmata.h:81: error: 'byte' has not been declared

/Applications/arduino-0012/hardware/libraries/Firmata/Firmata.h:81: error: 'byte' has not been declared

/Applications/arduino-0012/hardware/libraries/Firmata/Firmata.h:86: error: 'byte' has not been declared

/Applications/arduino-0012/hardware/libraries/Firmata/Firmata.h:87: error: 'byte' has not been declared

/Applications/arduino-0012/hardware/libraries/Firmata/Firmata.h:88: error: 'byte' has not been declared

/Applications/arduino-0012/hardware/libraries/Firmata/Firmata.h:90: error: 'byte' has not been declared

/Applications/arduino-0012/hardware/libraries/Firmata/Firmata.h:91: error: 'byte' has not been declared

/Applications/arduino-0012/hardware/libraries/Firmata/Firmata.h:91: error: 'byte' has not been declared

/Applications/arduino-0012/hardware/libraries/Firmata/Firmata.h:91: error: 'byte' has not been declared

/Applications/arduino-0012/hardware/libraries/Firmata/Firmata.h:95: error: 'byte' has not been declared

/Applications/arduino-0012/hardware/libraries/Firmata/Firmata.h:95: error: 'callbackFunction' has not been declared

/Applications/arduino-0012/hardware/libraries/Firmata/Firmata.h:96: error: 'byte' has not been declared

/Applications/arduino-0012/hardware/libraries/Firmata/Firmata.h:97: error: 'byte' has not been declared

/Applications/arduino-0012/hardware/libraries/Firmata/Firmata.h:98: error: 'byte' has not been declared

/Applications/arduino-0012/hardware/libraries/Firmata/Firmata.h:98: error: 'sysexCallbackFunction' has not been declared

/Applications/arduino-0012/hardware/libraries/Firmata/Firmata.h:98: error: 'void FirmataClass::attach(int, int)' cannot be overloaded

/Applications/arduino-0012/hardware/libraries/Firmata/Firmata.h:95: error: with 'void FirmataClass::attach(int, int)'

/Applications/arduino-0012/hardware/libraries/Firmata/Firmata.h:99: error: 'byte' has not been declared

/Applications/arduino-0012/hardware/libraries/Firmata/Firmata.h:104: error: 'byte' does not name a type

/Applications/arduino-0012/hardware/libraries/Firmata/Firmata.h:105: error: ISO C++ forbids declaration of 'byte' with no type

/Applications/arduino-0012/hardware/libraries/Firmata/Firmata.h:105: error: expected ';' before '*' token

/Applications/arduino-0012/hardware/libraries/Firmata/Firmata.h:107: error: 'byte' does not name a type

/Applications/arduino-0012/hardware/libraries/Firmata/Firmata.h:108: error: 'byte' does not name a type

/Applications/arduino-0012/hardware/libraries/Firmata/Firmata.h:109: error: 'byte' does not name a type

/Applications/arduino-0012/hardware/libraries/Firmata/Firmata.h:110: error: 'byte' does not name a type

/Applications/arduino-0012/hardware/libraries/Firmata/Firmata.h:112: error: 'boolean' does not name a type

/Applications/arduino-0012/hardware/libraries/Firmata/Firmata.h:115: error: 'callbackFunction' does not name a type

/Applications/arduino-0012/hardware/libraries/Firmata/Firmata.h:116: error: 'callbackFunction' does not name a type

/Applications/arduino-0012/hardware/libraries/Firmata/Firmata.h:117: error: 'callbackFunction' does not name a type

/Applications/arduino-0012/hardware/libraries/Firmata/Firmata.h:118: error: 'callbackFunction' does not name a type

/Applications/arduino-0012/hardware/libraries/Firmata/Firmata.h:119: error: 'callbackFunction' does not name a type

/Applications/arduino-0012/hardware/libraries/Firmata/Firmata.h:122: error: 'sysexCallbackFunction' does not name a type

In function 'void setup()':

Try using an older version of Arduino, like 0009 or 0010?

thankyou Vytis.... a very helpful post!

uploaded firmata-standart and opened arduino-test.pd. I can open the serial connection (it s 5 at my comp). but then, i cant do anything, for example it doesn t show info or version. also no analog signals access possible. any hints would be aprecciated.

I can see also my arduino analog ports! But then what? How do i pass the values to another pd sketch? I am very new to programming so any help or small example will be appreciated!

have a look at arduino-help.pd

Oh MY. Christ & Kali. Dude, I love your mission statement here.
I am wanting to learn of arduino/pd possibility, as well.