• 40h protocol : described here
• series (or 64/128/256) protocol : described here

0 : FRAMEWORK & CONCEPT: CONTROLLING & GET FEEDBACK

This part has to be updated.
Indeed, I discovered and involved myself in the Tom's project called monome-pages
It replaces the max/msp part and provides a genius interface with pages concept.
A page is a kind of little application. A lot of pages are already provided and you can code your own pages using java
if you need 5 pages or more or less, you just have to use it. During live performance, you easily switch the page you want to use directly on the monome.

1/ MAKING A MONOME CLONE (monochromatic,40h protocol family)

I wanted to stay VERY close from the monome protocol because of the useful monomeserial router. This piece of software is an interface between the serial world and the MIDI or OSC worlds.
For firmware and router, I followed the way if Arduinome (Jordan & Ben : here on sourceforge)
This project provides two special piecies: the arduino firmware & his little companion the serial router called Arduinome Serial
The protocol used is 40h. I don't understand why they didn't code directly the 64/128/256 protocol.
By the way, I coded mine and included the rgb support (watch further).
==> I don't provide here the monochrome version of mine with 64/128/256 protocol but if someone want it, I could send it via email.

The firmware is a piece of code looped by your hardware (here: the arduino board).
The board is programmed using C++ language inside the arduino environment (downloadable here)
You code something, you save it, you upload it on the board linked by usb cable and voila! You can disconnect the board, the code stays inside and is running
I won't explain anything about coding. Arduino's forums are VERY useful and a lot of experts are there and could answer VERY BETTER than I can do!



Parts used (be careful: some prices in €, some others in $):

The schematic
This is a very big schematic that represents ALL the components and all the wires.
It could be simplier and different but it is the one I use and it works. Feel free to transpose it in order to fit closer your mind.
[BE CAREFUL: I didn't draw the 1N4148 diodes in order to simplify it. Indeed, the PCB part have been redrawn because they didn't exist as EAGLE object]
[BUT THESE DIODES SHOULD BE SOLDERED ON YOUR PCB !]
The only important thing is to consider the header on rows & columns of each PCBs.

          

Number Of Blank Devices = 0  
Number Of Programmed Devices = 1

3/ Click on Tools > Read and Parse. This will fill the boxes.
4/ Check the “use fixed serial number” box and change the value below.
To have your board recognized as a monome by monome serial, you have to enter something like a40h-xxx (I'm using : a40h-001)
5/ Click on File > save as
6/ Once saved, click on the flash icon ( or Ctrl+P).
7/ Unplug / plug back your board from the usb port.
7/ Run Arduinomeserial, you should see something appear on the devices list.

Testing your pretty* arduino-based monome clone
Download this zip file built by folks of monome (link)
1/ Launch Arduinomeserial and choose OpenSound Control, down cable orientation.
2/ Launch the max/msp patch called monome_test.maxpat
3/ Test your stuff

• 1x Arduino board 1x22 € order here
• 4x Sparkfun breakout PCB 4x9.95$ order here
• 4x Sparkfun buttons pads 4x9.95$ order here
• 4x Sparkfun buttons bezel 4x9.95$ order here
• 64x RGB Leds common cathode 64x1.95$ order here and datasheet here
• 64x Diodes Small Signal (1N4148) 64x0.15$ order here to isolate buttons to make for an easier decoding (read this)
• =>> 1x Sparkfun Backpack interface (SPI RGB Led Driver circuit) 1x59$ order here and datasheet here
• 1x 74HC164 (8-Bit Serial-In, Parallel-Out Shift Register) 1x0,62 € order here and datasheet here
• 1x 74HC165 (8-Bit Parallel-In, Serial-Out Shift Register) 1x1,25 € order here and datasheet here

The circuit is here: It involves: - 3x 595s - 1 Atmega8 - 1 transistors array - resistors - 2 big headers

here the datasheet of the backpack.
here the datasheet of the little RGB led matrix sold with the backpack (useful to understand the numbering of pins of backpack)
But I did the job for you :)... you're welcome!
ROW are ... rows.
1G, 2R ... means Green rail for column 1, Red rail for column 2 and so on ...



THE SCHEMATIC
[SOON]
The prototype of the PCB I ordered and I'm waiting for:


THE FIRMWARE
Download it : here
A lot of explanation in the commented header


THE SERIAL/OSC ROUTER
I have 3 alternatives as I wrote on my big framework schematic up above:
- Python-twisted server (Download & Install: Python & Twisted ; Download the router here)
- ArduinomeSerial Visual Studio sources customization (adding /ledrgb function, 64/128/256 protocol etc ... work in progress but near of the end !)
- include rgb support in a little java server (work in progress based on monomic router 40h coded by Jesse Kriss).

I don't know which one of them could be the most stable, fast & efficient
I'm currently testing the 3 to find the fastest/stablest etc

* specific instruction for python serial/osc router
Download & Install: Python & Twisted
Download & Install: PySerial too
Download the router here
To launch the router, open a cmd.exe prompt, and type "C:/<your python directory>/Python.exe tinctsvrW32"
...it may work after that. (becareful, if you have 2.5 version, the exe is probably Python25.exe... adapt it)

* specific instruction for java serial/osc router
[soon]

* specific instruction for C++ serial/osc router
[soon]