Another little update here. Thanks to everyone for their feedback! I have found that python is the way to go for this project. Maybe down the line we'll have a GPIO object for all of our tinkering needs. I'm still working out some of the particulars in the code but I've managed to get the distance data and sound files playing. Separately I've, managed to control playback amplitude but connecting it to the live data is still proving challenging. Plus as objects get closer the value gets lower (should've seen that one coming).

Glad to see that there are sound sculpture fans out there -- everyone I've met interested in this stuff has only been lovely to work with and talk to.

Great thanks-- I'm going to type out and share my process here in case anyone else is curious or has similar issues in the future.

I've gotten a Raspberry Pi 4 Model B to read distance in cm from this script here (https://tutorials-raspberrypi.com/raspberry-pi-ultrasonic-sensor-hc-sr04/)--

At this point I am going to try my hand at converting this script into a PureData object. After that I will try to use those values as an amplitude variable to send out to [dac~]. One foreseeable issue is that there are pretty dramatic value spikes in the python code when you move an object in front of the sensor (e.g. it will read 30cm, 1207cm, 11cm).

I'll report back later after a bit more digging.

** mini-update

I had to reset to RaspberryPi OS and manually install puredata extended 0.43.4 using this guide here (https://puredata.info/docs/faq/debian). From there I managed to get the cyclone extension to work but not py4pd--trying to figure out a workaround.

Hi all!

Hope you're doing well– I am currently working on a few sculptures that have speakers built into them. I am trying to move away from a simple media player and move towards an interactive system with a proximity sensor. I have a RPI4 with patchboxOS and an ultrasonic range sensor. I am trying to create a patch that increases in volume based off of how close someone is to the sensor. I've done a bit of digging but haven't been able to find anything current. Any suggestions?

Hi all,

These were all wonderful suggestions!! Thank you so much they worked perfectly for my purposes.

Hi All,

I’m trying to figure out how to scale the output of a sigmund~ object so that its value is between 0 and 1.0. Basically I want to make it so that the louder the input the louder the output for an oscillator. I figured I could then multiply the output of the sigmund object with the oscillator.

Any tips are greatly appreciated! Thanks