Arduino IDE: composing songs with an array #8.1

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Welcome back to our programming tutorial using the Arduino IDE. Today we will show some code examples with arrays.

You can take a look at the previous chapters of the course here:

In the previous article the use of an array was theoretically illustrated. On this article you will get a tutorial on how to create and compose the soundtrack of Pirates of the Caribbean with the help of a passive buzzer.

In order to approach the world of Arduino, there is a need to know certain programming topics.

The components required to carry out this project are:

1x Arduino Uno or Elegoo UNO R3
1x Passive buzzer
2x F-M connectors (1x red, 1x black)

Now the next step is to connect the buzzer to the UNO board, the red (positive) cable to pin 8 and the black (negative) cable to GND ground.

The electrical diagram is shown in the following image:

Before reaching the code concerning the composition of the soundtrack it is good practice to explain the two sketches that will show the difference between the use of various simple variables and the use of an array.

In the following sketches, 6 LEDs were used, connected to pins 2-7 by means of 220 Ohm resistors. The first sketch uses 6 simple variables and causes the LEDs to flash sequentially, one by one. To achieve this, we used the digitalWrite (pinNum, HIGH / LOW) function.

The second sketch shows the use of an array and a for loop to accomplish the same purpose. But far fewer lines have been used for it.

Here is the first sketch:

// We declare the variables
 int pin2 = 2;
 int pin3 = 3;
 int pin4 = 4;
 int pin5 = 5;
 int pin6 = 6;
 int pin7 = 7;
 int timer = 100;

void setup(){
   // Variables that write a signal are OUTPUT variables
   pinMode(pin2, OUTPUT);
   pinMode(pin3, OUTPUT);
   pinMode(pin4, OUTPUT);
   pinMode(pin5, OUTPUT);
   pinMode(pin6, OUTPUT);
   pinMode(pin7, OUTPUT);
} 

void loop() {
  // function digitalWrite with parameter HIGH turns the LED ON
  // function digitalWrite with parameter LOW  turns the LED OFF

   digitalWrite(pin2, HIGH);
   delay(timer);
   digitalWrite(pin2, LOW);
   delay(timer);

   digitalWrite(pin3, HIGH);
   delay(timer);
   digitalWrite(pin3, LOW);
   delay(timer);

   digitalWrite(pin4, HIGH);
   delay(timer);
   digitalWrite(pin4, LOW);
   delay(timer);

   digitalWrite(pin5, HIGH);
   delay(timer);
   digitalWrite(pin5, LOW);
   delay(timer);

   digitalWrite(pin6, HIGH);
   delay(timer);
   digitalWrite(pin6, LOW);
   delay(timer);

   digitalWrite(pin7, HIGH);
   delay(timer);
   digitalWrite(pin7, LOW);
   delay(timer);

   digitalWrite(pin6, HIGH);
   delay(timer);
   digitalWrite(pin6, LOW);
   delay(timer);

   digitalWrite(pin5, HIGH);
   delay(timer);
   digitalWrite(pin5, LOW);
   delay(timer);

   digitalWrite(pin4, HIGH);
   delay(timer);
   digitalWrite(pin4, LOW);
   delay(timer);

   digitalWrite(pin3, HIGH);
   delay(timer);
   digitalWrite(pin3, LOW);
   delay(timer);
}

// We declare the variables

int pin2 = 2;

int pin3 = 3;

int pin4 = 4;

int pin5 = 5;

int pin6 = 6;

int pin7 = 7;

int timer = 100;

void setup(){

// Variables that write a signal are OUTPUT variables

pinMode(pin2, OUTPUT);

pinMode(pin3, OUTPUT);

pinMode(pin4, OUTPUT);

pinMode(pin5, OUTPUT);

pinMode(pin6, OUTPUT);

pinMode(pin7, OUTPUT);

}

void loop() {

// function digitalWrite with parameter HIGH turns the LED ON

// function digitalWrite with parameter LOW turns the LED OFF

digitalWrite(pin2, HIGH);

delay(timer);

digitalWrite(pin2, LOW);

delay(timer);

digitalWrite(pin3, HIGH);

delay(timer);

digitalWrite(pin3, LOW);

delay(timer);

digitalWrite(pin4, HIGH);

delay(timer);

digitalWrite(pin4, LOW);

delay(timer);

digitalWrite(pin5, HIGH);

delay(timer);

digitalWrite(pin5, LOW);

delay(timer);

digitalWrite(pin6, HIGH);

delay(timer);

digitalWrite(pin6, LOW);

delay(timer);

digitalWrite(pin7, HIGH);

delay(timer);

digitalWrite(pin7, LOW);

delay(timer);

digitalWrite(pin6, HIGH);

delay(timer);

digitalWrite(pin6, LOW);

delay(timer);

digitalWrite(pin5, HIGH);

delay(timer);

digitalWrite(pin5, LOW);

delay(timer);

digitalWrite(pin4, HIGH);

delay(timer);

digitalWrite(pin4, LOW);

delay(timer);

digitalWrite(pin3, HIGH);

delay(timer);

digitalWrite(pin3, LOW);

delay(timer);

}

And here is the second sketch:

int pinArray[] = {2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7}; // We declare an array with its content, so we don't need to declare its size
                                     // The size of the array is statically calculated by the compiler.
int count = 0; // A variable in the FOR loop.
int timer = 100;

void setup(){
  // We define the action of the values (OUTPUT) inside this loop
  for (count=0;count<6;count++) {
    pinMode(pinArray[count], OUTPUT);
  }
}

void loop() {
  for (count=0;count<6;count++) {
   digitalWrite(pinArray[count], HIGH);
   delay(timer);
   digitalWrite(pinArray[count], LOW);
   delay(timer);
  }
  for (count=5;count>=0;count--) {
   digitalWrite(pinArray[count], HIGH);
   delay(timer);
   digitalWrite(pinArray[count], LOW);
   delay(timer);
  }
}

int pinArray[] = {2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7}; // We declare an array with its content, so we don't need to declare its size

// The size of the array is statically calculated by the compiler.

int count = 0; // A variable in the FOR loop.

int timer = 100;

void setup(){

// We define the action of the values (OUTPUT) inside this loop

for (count=0;count<6;count++) {

pinMode(pinArray[count], OUTPUT);

}

void loop() {

for (count=0;count<6;count++) {

digitalWrite(pinArray[count], HIGH);

delay(timer);

digitalWrite(pinArray[count], LOW);

delay(timer);

}

for (count=5;count>=0;count--) {

digitalWrite(pinArray[count], HIGH);

delay(timer);

digitalWrite(pinArray[count], LOW);

delay(timer);

}

It is evident that an array allows to use far fewer variables and to optimize and streamline the code when using data types of the same type.

The following listing shows how to compose the soundtrack of the Pirates of the Caribbean using Arduino and arrays.

const int buzzer = 8; 
const int velocitasuono = 1.5; 
 
#define NOTE_DO4  262   
#define NOTE_RE4  294
#define NOTE_MI4  330
#define NOTE_FA4  349
#define NOTE_SOL4  392
#define NOTE_LA4  440
#define NOTE_SI4  494
#define NOTE_DO5  523
#define NOTE_RE5  587
#define NOTE_MI5  659
#define NOTE_FA5  698
#define NOTE_SOL5  784
#define NOTE_LA5  880
#define NOTE_SI5  988
 
// here is the score, coded inside the arrayo
int note[] = {       
   NOTE_MI4, NOTE_SOL4, NOTE_LA4, NOTE_LA4, 0, 
   NOTE_LA4, NOTE_SI4, NOTE_DO5, NOTE_DO5, 0, 
   NOTE_DO5, NOTE_RE5, NOTE_SI4, NOTE_SI4, 0,
   NOTE_LA4, NOTE_SOL4, NOTE_LA4, 0,
   
   NOTE_MI4, NOTE_SOL4, NOTE_LA4, NOTE_LA4, 0, 
   NOTE_LA4, NOTE_SI4, NOTE_DO5, NOTE_DO5, 0, 
   NOTE_DO5, NOTE_RE5, NOTE_SI4, NOTE_SI4, 0,
   NOTE_LA4, NOTE_SOL4, NOTE_LA4, 0,
   
   NOTE_MI4, NOTE_SOL4, NOTE_LA4, NOTE_LA4, 0, 
   NOTE_LA4, NOTE_DO5, NOTE_RE5, NOTE_RE5, 0, 
   NOTE_RE5, NOTE_MI5, NOTE_FA5, NOTE_FA5, 0,
   NOTE_MI5, NOTE_RE5, NOTE_MI5, NOTE_LA4, 0,
   
   NOTE_LA4, NOTE_SI4, NOTE_DO5, NOTE_DO5, 0, 
   NOTE_RE5, NOTE_MI5, NOTE_LA4, 0, 
   NOTE_LA4, NOTE_DO5, NOTE_SI4, NOTE_SI4, 0,
   NOTE_DO5, NOTE_LA4, NOTE_SI4, 0,
 
   NOTE_LA4, NOTE_LA4, 
   NOTE_LA4, NOTE_SI4, NOTE_DO5, NOTE_DO5, 0, 
   NOTE_DO5, NOTE_RE5, NOTE_SI4, NOTE_SI4, 0,
   NOTE_LA4, NOTE_SOL4, NOTE_LA4, 0,
 
   NOTE_MI4, NOTE_SOL4, NOTE_LA4, NOTE_LA4, 0, 
   NOTE_LA4, NOTE_SI4, NOTE_DO5, NOTE_DO5, 0, 
   NOTE_DO5, NOTE_RE5, NOTE_SI4, NOTE_SI4, 0,
   NOTE_LA4, NOTE_SOL4, NOTE_LA4, 0,
   
   NOTE_MI4, NOTE_SOL4, NOTE_LA4, NOTE_LA4, 0, 
   NOTE_LA4, NOTE_DO5, NOTE_RE5, NOTE_RE5, 0, 
   NOTE_RE5, NOTE_MI5, NOTE_FA5, NOTE_FA5, 0,
   NOTE_MI5, NOTE_RE5, NOTE_MI5, NOTE_LA4, 0,
   
   NOTE_LA4, NOTE_SI4, NOTE_DO5, NOTE_DO5, 0, 
   NOTE_RE5, NOTE_MI5, NOTE_LA4, 0, 
   NOTE_LA4, NOTE_DO5, NOTE_SI4, NOTE_SI4, 0,
   NOTE_DO5, NOTE_LA4, NOTE_SI4, 0,
 
   NOTE_MI5, 0, 0, NOTE_FA5, 0, 0,
   NOTE_MI5, NOTE_MI5, 0, NOTE_SOL5, 0, NOTE_MI5, NOTE_RE5, 0, 0,
   NOTE_RE5, 0, 0, NOTE_DO5, 0, 0,
   NOTE_SI4, NOTE_DO5, 0, NOTE_SI4, 0, NOTE_LA4,
 
   NOTE_MI5, 0, 0, NOTE_FA5, 0, 0,
   NOTE_MI5, NOTE_MI5, 0, NOTE_SOL5, 0, NOTE_MI5, NOTE_RE5, 0, 0,
   NOTE_RE5, 0, 0, NOTE_DO5, 0, 0,
   NOTE_SI4, NOTE_DO5, 0, NOTE_SI4, 0, NOTE_LA4
};
 
// Here is the array with the note duration.
int durata[] = {         
  125, 125, 250, 125, 125, 
  125, 125, 250, 125, 125,
  125, 125, 250, 125, 125,
  125, 125, 375, 125, 
  
  125, 125, 250, 125, 125, 
  125, 125, 250, 125, 125,
  125, 125, 250, 125, 125,
  125, 125, 375, 125, 
  
  125, 125, 250, 125, 125, 
  125, 125, 250, 125, 125,
  125, 125, 250, 125, 125,
  125, 125, 125, 250, 125,
 
  125, 125, 250, 125, 125, 
  250, 125, 250, 125, 
  125, 125, 250, 125, 125,
  125, 125, 375, 375,
 
  250, 125,
  125, 125, 250, 125, 125,
  125, 125, 250, 125, 125,
  125, 125, 375, 125, 
  
  125, 125, 250, 125, 125, 
  125, 125, 250, 125, 125,
  125, 125, 250, 125, 125,
  125, 125, 375, 125, 
  
  125, 125, 250, 125, 125, 
  125, 125, 250, 125, 125,
  125, 125, 250, 125, 125,
  125, 125, 125, 250, 125,
 
  125, 125, 250, 125, 125, 
  250, 125, 250, 125, 
  125, 125, 250, 125, 125,
  125, 125, 375, 375,
  
  250, 125, 375, 250, 125, 375,
  125, 125, 125, 125, 125, 125, 125, 125, 375,
  250, 125, 375, 250, 125, 375,
  125, 125, 125, 125, 125, 500,
 
  250, 125, 375, 250, 125, 375,
  125, 125, 125, 125, 125, 125, 125, 125, 375,
  250, 125, 375, 250, 125, 375,
  125, 125, 125, 125, 125, 500
};
 
void setup() {
  // Nothing to set up                        
}
 
// tone is the fiunction that generates the sound with three formal parameters: output PIN, note array, frequency (or duration) array.
 
void loop() {
 for (int i=0;i<203;i++){              
  int attesa = durata[i] * velocitasuono;
  tone(buzzer,note[i],attesa);          
  delay(attesa);} 
 
 
  delay (2000);
 
  // delay(2000) 2 seconds of silence before the music starts again.
}

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const int buzzer = 8;

const int velocitasuono = 1.5;

#define NOTE_DO4 262

#define NOTE_RE4 294

#define NOTE_MI4 330

#define NOTE_FA4 349

#define NOTE_SOL4 392

#define NOTE_LA4 440

#define NOTE_SI4 494

#define NOTE_DO5 523

#define NOTE_RE5 587

#define NOTE_MI5 659

#define NOTE_FA5 698

#define NOTE_SOL5 784

#define NOTE_LA5 880

#define NOTE_SI5 988

// here is the score, coded inside the arrayo

int note[] = {

NOTE_MI4, NOTE_SOL4, NOTE_LA4, NOTE_LA4, 0,

NOTE_LA4, NOTE_SI4, NOTE_DO5, NOTE_DO5, 0,

NOTE_DO5, NOTE_RE5, NOTE_SI4, NOTE_SI4, 0,

NOTE_LA4, NOTE_SOL4, NOTE_LA4, 0,

NOTE_MI4, NOTE_SOL4, NOTE_LA4, NOTE_LA4, 0,

NOTE_LA4, NOTE_SI4, NOTE_DO5, NOTE_DO5, 0,

NOTE_DO5, NOTE_RE5, NOTE_SI4, NOTE_SI4, 0,

NOTE_LA4, NOTE_SOL4, NOTE_LA4, 0,

NOTE_MI4, NOTE_SOL4, NOTE_LA4, NOTE_LA4, 0,

NOTE_LA4, NOTE_DO5, NOTE_RE5, NOTE_RE5, 0,

NOTE_RE5, NOTE_MI5, NOTE_FA5, NOTE_FA5, 0,

NOTE_MI5, NOTE_RE5, NOTE_MI5, NOTE_LA4, 0,

NOTE_LA4, NOTE_SI4, NOTE_DO5, NOTE_DO5, 0,

NOTE_RE5, NOTE_MI5, NOTE_LA4, 0,

NOTE_LA4, NOTE_DO5, NOTE_SI4, NOTE_SI4, 0,

NOTE_DO5, NOTE_LA4, NOTE_SI4, 0,

NOTE_LA4, NOTE_LA4,

NOTE_LA4, NOTE_SI4, NOTE_DO5, NOTE_DO5, 0,

NOTE_DO5, NOTE_RE5, NOTE_SI4, NOTE_SI4, 0,

NOTE_LA4, NOTE_SOL4, NOTE_LA4, 0,

NOTE_MI4, NOTE_SOL4, NOTE_LA4, NOTE_LA4, 0,

NOTE_LA4, NOTE_SI4, NOTE_DO5, NOTE_DO5, 0,

NOTE_DO5, NOTE_RE5, NOTE_SI4, NOTE_SI4, 0,

NOTE_LA4, NOTE_SOL4, NOTE_LA4, 0,

NOTE_MI4, NOTE_SOL4, NOTE_LA4, NOTE_LA4, 0,

NOTE_LA4, NOTE_DO5, NOTE_RE5, NOTE_RE5, 0,

NOTE_RE5, NOTE_MI5, NOTE_FA5, NOTE_FA5, 0,

NOTE_MI5, NOTE_RE5, NOTE_MI5, NOTE_LA4, 0,

NOTE_LA4, NOTE_SI4, NOTE_DO5, NOTE_DO5, 0,

NOTE_RE5, NOTE_MI5, NOTE_LA4, 0,

NOTE_LA4, NOTE_DO5, NOTE_SI4, NOTE_SI4, 0,

NOTE_DO5, NOTE_LA4, NOTE_SI4, 0,

NOTE_MI5, 0, 0, NOTE_FA5, 0, 0,

NOTE_MI5, NOTE_MI5, 0, NOTE_SOL5, 0, NOTE_MI5, NOTE_RE5, 0, 0,

NOTE_RE5, 0, 0, NOTE_DO5, 0, 0,

NOTE_SI4, NOTE_DO5, 0, NOTE_SI4, 0, NOTE_LA4,

NOTE_MI5, 0, 0, NOTE_FA5, 0, 0,

NOTE_MI5, NOTE_MI5, 0, NOTE_SOL5, 0, NOTE_MI5, NOTE_RE5, 0, 0,

NOTE_RE5, 0, 0, NOTE_DO5, 0, 0,

NOTE_SI4, NOTE_DO5, 0, NOTE_SI4, 0, NOTE_LA4

};

// Here is the array with the note duration.

int durata[] = {

125, 125, 250, 125, 125,

125, 125, 375, 125,

125, 125, 250, 125, 125,

125, 125, 375, 125,

125, 125, 250, 125, 125,

125, 125, 125, 250, 125,

125, 125, 250, 125, 125,

250, 125, 250, 125,

125, 125, 250, 125, 125,

125, 125, 375, 375,

250, 125,

125, 125, 250, 125, 125,

125, 125, 375, 125,

125, 125, 250, 125, 125,

125, 125, 375, 125,

125, 125, 250, 125, 125,

125, 125, 125, 250, 125,

125, 125, 250, 125, 125,

250, 125, 250, 125,

125, 125, 250, 125, 125,

125, 125, 375, 375,

250, 125, 375, 250, 125, 375,

125, 125, 125, 125, 125, 125, 125, 125, 375,

250, 125, 375, 250, 125, 375,

125, 125, 125, 125, 125, 500,

250, 125, 375, 250, 125, 375,

125, 125, 125, 125, 125, 125, 125, 125, 375,

250, 125, 375, 250, 125, 375,

125, 125, 125, 125, 125, 500

};

void setup() {

// Nothing to set up

}

// tone is the fiunction that generates the sound with three formal parameters: output PIN, note array, frequency (or duration) array.

void loop() {

for (int i=0;i<203;i++){

int attesa = durata[i] * velocitasuono;

tone(buzzer,note[i],attesa);

delay(attesa);}

delay (2000);

// delay(2000) 2 seconds of silence before the music starts again.

}

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Simone Candido

Simone Candido è un ragazzo appassionato del mondo tech nella sua totalità. Simone ama immedesimarsi in nuove esperienze, la sua filosofia si basa sulla irrefrenabile voglia di ampliare a 360° le sue conoscenze abbracciando tutti i campi del sapere, in quanto ritiene che il sapere umano sia il connubio perfetto tra cultura umanistica e scientifica.