metronome/pico-cp/README.md
Me Here fd8446658d PM_K-1 0.0.14: gapless seam + continuous ramp + MIDI Clock Out (master); speaker rename
Speaker rename (production device has a full audio circuit, not a buzzer):
- MUTE_BUZZER -> MUTE_SPEAKER, self.buz -> self.spk, P_BUZ -> P_SPK
- New SPEAKER_AUTO_MUTE flag (default True): mute the speaker when a MIDI host is
  detected (the old hardcoded behavior; now a setting).

Gapless seam between tracks (Continue):
- _prepare_next() pre-parses the next playlist item during the LAST bar so the swap is
  allocation-free. _do_advance() swaps lanes/bpm/bars/ramp/trainer in with
  lanes[0]['next'] = seam_t (the wall-clock time of the boundary step we just hit), no
  _reset_clock - the next tick fires step 0 of the new track exactly at the boundary.
  tick() breaks out at the seam so the old voice's boundary beat is NOT fired (it'd be
  the new track's step 0 a few ms later). Visuals (build_grid + draws) are deferred
  one display-refresh cycle behind the audio via _need_redraw, so the audio doesn't
  wait for them.

Continuous ramp:
- Replaced the bar-boundary set_bpm step with per-master-step linear interpolation:
  bpm = _ramp_base + amt * ((m_steps/mlen) % bars) / ramp.every (clamped 30..300).
  The integer-clamped bpm glides smoothly across the segment. draw_bpm() is now lazy
  (skips the bitmap alloc if the displayed integer hasn't changed), and the periodic
  meter tick in run() also redraws BPM so the big number follows the ramp.

MIDI Clock Out (master):
- New flags: MIDI_CHANNEL (default 10 = GM drum), MIDI_CLOCK_OUT (default OFF),
  MIDI_CLOCK_OUT_TRANSPORT (default ON). midi_send() now uses the configured channel.
  In tick(), when running + MIDI_CLOCK_OUT, stream 0xF8 at 24 PPQN with the interval
  computed live from self.bpm (so it follows the continuous ramp). toggle() sends
  0xFA on Start and 0xFC on Stop when transport is enabled.

Verified in harness: seam keeps lanes[0]['next'] = seam_t (no _reset_clock); ramp 80
glides via +0.25/step (visible as 80->81 in 4 master steps at rmp80/4/4); Clock Out
math sound (60/120/180 BPM -> 41.67/20.83/13.89 ms tick interval).

Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 4.7 (1M context) <noreply@anthropic.com>
2026-05-30 07:11:19 -05:00

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# PM_K1 "Kit" — CircuitPython edition (USB drive · push programming · MIDI audio · practice log)
The **CircuitPython** firmware for the 52Pi EP0172 Pico kit, set up as a selfcontained appliance.
It runs the same programstring language as <https://metronome.varasys.io>. The simpler
**MicroPython** firmware (`../pico/main.py`) stays as a rocksolid fallback — and the Pico can't be
bricked (BOOTSEL → drag a MicroPython `.uf2` back).
What it does: drives the 3.5″ touchscreen with a lanes/pads display + antialiased text, plays the
speaker + RGB beat light, **logs your practice to `/history.json`**, accepts new set lists **pushed
from the web editor over USBMIDI**, and plays through your **computer's speakers** over USBMIDI.
## Two poweron modes (set by `boot.py`)
- **Appliance mode — default (just plug in / power up).** The *firmware* owns the filesystem, so it
saves your practice log and writes set lists the editor pushes over USBMIDI. The drive is then
**readonly to the computer** — which also **protects the firmware from accidental deletion**.
- **Editor mode — hold BUTTON A while plugging in.** The drive is **writable by the computer**, so you
can drag `programs.json` / `code.py` / fonts on from any OS or browser (the universal fallback).
Reset afterwards to return to appliance mode.
## Install
1. **Flash CircuitPython:** hold **BOOTSEL**, plug in, drop the CircuitPython `.uf2` onto `RPIRP2`
(<https://circuitpython.org/board/raspberry_pi_pico/> — Pico 2 / W builds also fine). A `CIRCUITPY`
drive appears.
2. **Copy the whole bundle** onto `CIRCUITPY`: `boot.py`, `code.py` (loader) + **`app.mpy`** (the
application, **precompiled**), `programs.json`, `font_s.bin` / `font_m.bin` / `font_l.bin`,
`logo.bin` / `midi.bin` / `usb.bin` (logo + MIDI/USB status icons), `editor.html` (offline editor),
and the helper scripts. **If an old `app.py` is on the drive, delete it** — the firmware ships as
precompiled `app.mpy`. (Why: CircuitPython compiling the ~57 KB source at boot fragments the heap and
runs the RP2040 out of memory; a `.mpy` loads without compiling. `code.py` is a tiny stable loader; the
one-click updater pushes a new `app.mpy`. The `.bin` assets ride in the bundle — if one is missing the
firmware just falls back to text and never fails to boot.)
3. **Powercycle** (so `boot.py` takes effect). It boots into appliance mode and runs.
## Program it from the web (push over USBMIDI)
In the editor (Chrome / Edge / **Firefox**), build a set list → setlist **⋯** menu → **📟 Save to device**.
The editor sends it to the Pico over USBMIDI (SysEx); the firmware writes `/programs.json`, reloads, and
acknowledges — the editor shows **Saved ✓**. **📥 Load from device** reads it back.
*Universal fallback (any browser / OS, even Safari):* Save to device **downloads** `programs.json` when no
device answers — boot the Pico in **editor mode** (hold A) and drag the file onto the `CIRCUITPY` drive.
## Firmware updates (oneclick, A/B with autorollback)
`code.py` is a small stable **loader**; the application is the precompiled **`app.mpy`** (it carries
`APP_VERSION`). To update: the editor's ⋯ menu → **⬆ Update firmware…** queries the device's version, fetches
the latest `app.mpy` from the site, shows *device vs latest*, and on confirm **pushes it over USBMIDI**
(base64, in flowcontrolled chunks; the device decodes each chunk to disk and verifies the `.mpy` header
before installing). It goes to a **trial slot** (old build kept as `app.bak`) and reboots; if the new build
**doesn't boot, the loader automatically rolls back** to `app.bak`. A build that runs cleanly for ~5 s is
confirmed. No BOOTSEL, no dragging. (Updating CircuitPython *itself* still uses BOOTSEL + a `.uf2`, but that's
rare. And the Pico is unbrickable as the ultimate backstop.)
## Play through the computer's speakers
The Pico is a USBMIDI device and sends a note per click (GM drum note per lane, velocity by accent).
In the editor click **🎹 Device audio**, grant MIDI access, and press play *on the device* — the editor
voices the groove through its full synth, out your speakers, locked to the device's clock. While a host is
listening the screen shows a green **MIDI** badge and the **speaker automutes** (the computer plays instead).
The editor also syncs the device clock, so the practice log gets real wallclock timestamps.
## Playlists, editing & Continue
- **Built-in playlists** (Styles / Practice / Song) are baked into the firmware — read-only, updated with
firmware. **Your own** playlists live in `programs.json` (synced from the editor's *Save to device*).
- **Switch playlist:** tap the **set-list tab** (above the title; grey = built-in, cyan = yours). **Item:**
joystick left/right.
- **Edit on the device:** **tap a beat** to cycle it (off → normal → accent → ghost); **tap the instrument
name** for the **lane editor** (sound · beats · subdivision · swing · mute, plus **+ Lane / Remove**).
The title turns **red** (unsaved); **tap the title** to **Save** or **Revert**. Editing a built-in saves a
**copy** into a *My edits* playlist (built-ins never change). Editing your own updates it in place.
- **Continue (auto-advance):** tap **CONT** (top-right of the tab line) — when on, a playlist auto-advances
to the next item at the end of each item's `b<n>` segment (turn it on for the Song playlist).
## Controls & the practice log
- **Joystick:** up/down = tempo, left/right = previous/next groove.
- **Button A (GP15):** play / stop. **Button B (GP14):** tap tempo.
- **Screen:** VARASYS logo + firmware version + MIDI/USB status icons up top. Running time and bar count
show **of the segment total** when the track has a bar length (`b<n>`), e.g. `1:23 of 2:00` and `bar 3
of 16`. A track with a tempo ramp (`rmp`) shows a **ramp arrow + amount/every-bars** (e.g. `+4/2b`); a
gap-trainer track (`tr`) shows a **play|rest symbol + bars** (e.g. `2/2b`). Main beats are **squares**,
subdivisions are **circles**, with vertical gridlines lining the beats up across lanes.
- **RGB LED = run state:** dim **green** when stopped ("on"), dim **red** while playing, with the beat
pulsing brighter on top. (The screen background stays black — recoloring it forces a full-screen repaint.)
- The firmware **performs** ramps (tempo steps every N bars) and gap-trainer cycles (silent rest bars).
- **Touchscreen:** the bottom shows the **practice log for the current track** (time · BPM · duration · bars)
— newest first. Plays under 5 s aren't logged. **Tap a row to arm it (turns amber), tap again to delete.**
- **RGB LED** flashes the beat (amber accent / cyan normal / violet ghost); the **speaker** clicks to match.
- The log is saved to `/history.json` (next to `programs.json`) in appliance mode and survives powercycles.
## programs.json
```json
{ "title": "PolyMeter",
"programs": [ { "name": "Four on the floor", "prog": "t120;kick:4;snare:4=.x.x;hatClosed:4/2" } ] }
```
Each `prog` is a program string from the editor (tempo, lanes, patterns, `/2` subdivision, `/2s` swing,
`(3,8)` Euclid, `~` polymeter, `@-3` dB). The push above is the easy way to update it.
## Calibration (flags at the top of `code.py`)
- **Red/blue swapped:** flip `MADCTL` between `0x48` (default) and `0x40`.
- **Colours look negative:** toggle `INVERT_COLORS`.
- **Taps land wrong:** set `TOUCH_DEBUG = True`, read the raw coords over USB serial, then set
`TOUCH_SWAP_XY` / `TOUCH_INVERT_X` / `TOUCH_INVERT_Y`.
- **Joystick reversed:** toggle `JOY_INVERT_X` / `JOY_INVERT_Y`.
- **Computer audio:** `MIDI_ENABLED` (default on); `MUTE_SPEAKER` forces the speaker off even standalone.
- **LED too bright/dim:** `LED_BRIGHTNESS` (0..1, default 0.15).
- **Screen tearing:** SPI panels have no tearingeffect sync; `SPI_BAUD` (default 62.5 MHz) is pushed fast
to minimise it — lower only if unstable.
- **Blank / garbled:** the panel lot may differ; drop `SPI_BAUD`, and if it's a 240×320 ILI9341 rather than
the 320×480 ST7796, the init/size need changing (this targets the 320×480 you have).
- **RGB LED** uses the core `neopixel_write` (no library to install).
If `code.py` ever errors, CircuitPython prints the traceback **on the screen and over USB serial** — send
me that. The fonts are the baked antialiased blobs from `../pico/gen_font.py`. `protect-firmware.sh` (hide
the firmware files) is mainly for editor mode — appliance mode already keeps the drive readonly.