LEARN NEOTRELLIS M4 DEEP DIVE - Expanded Project Guides

Generated from: LEARN_NEOTRELLIS_M4_DEEP_DIVE.md

This folder contains deep-dive guides for each project in the learning path.

Overview

These guides expand each project into a full learning guide with theory, architecture, implementation phases, testing, and extensions.

Project Index

# Project Difficulty Time Key Focus
1 Interactive Button-LED Matrix (CircuitPython) Level 1: Beginner 1-2 weeks GPIO, Event Handling, Color Theory
2 RGB Color Mixer Instrument (CircuitPython) Level 1: Beginner 1-2 weeks Color Theory, State Machines, UI/UX Design
3 Accelerometer-Controlled Light Show (CircuitPython) Level 2: Intermediate 1-2 weeks Sensors, I2C Protocol, Physics, Signal Processing
4 USB MIDI Controller (CircuitPython) Level 2: Intermediate 1-2 weeks USB Protocol, MIDI, Music Technology
5 Precision Timer and Metronome (CircuitPython + Low-Level) Level 2: Intermediate 1-2 weeks Timer Peripherals, Real-Time Systems, Audio Timing
6 Polyphonic Synthesizer (Arduino + PJRC Audio) Level 3: Advanced 1-2 weeks Digital Audio Synthesis, DSP, Real-Time Systems
7 8-Step Drum Machine Sequencer (Arduino) Level 3: Advanced 1-2 weeks Sequencing, Sample Playback, Rhythm Programming
8 Audio Spectrum Analyzer / FFT Visualizer (Arduino) Level 3: Advanced 1-2 weeks FFT, Signal Processing, Audio Analysis
9 Sample Player with Live Effects (Arduino) Level 3: Advanced 1-2 weeks Audio Effects, Real-Time DSP, User Interface Design
10 Capacitive Touch Theremin (Arduino + Hardware Mod) Level 3: Advanced 1-2 weeks Capacitive Sensing, Audio Synthesis, Human Interface
11 Bare-Metal LED Blinker (Pure C) Level 4: Expert 1-2 weeks ARM Architecture, Linker Scripts, Startup Code, GPIO Registers
12 Bare-Metal NeoPixel Driver (Pure C) Level 5: Master 1-2 weeks DMA, SERCOM/SPI, Bit-Banging, Real-Time Constraints
13 Bare-Metal UART Console (Pure C) Level 4: Expert 1-2 weeks UART Protocol, SERCOM, Ring Buffers, Printf Implementation
14 Bare-Metal DAC Audio Output (Pure C) Level 5: Master 1-2 weeks DAC Peripheral, DMA, Timer-Triggered Transfers, Audio Buffers
15 Bare-Metal I2C Driver for ADXL343 (Pure C) Level 4: Expert 1-2 weeks I2C Protocol, SERCOM I2C Mode, Sensor Drivers
16 Complete MIDI DAW Controller (Full Integration) Level 4: Expert 1-2 weeks USB MIDI, Real-Time Systems, Human Interface Design
17 Real-Time Audio Visualizer with External Display (Hardware Extension) Level 5: Master 1-2 weeks Digital Signal Processing, SPI Displays, DMA, FFT
18 Bare-Metal USB Mass Storage + Bootloader (Self-Modifying System) Level 5: Master 1-2 weeks USB Protocol, Flash Programming, Bootloaders, File Systems

Prerequisites

  • Basic programming and system fundamentals
  • Comfort with command line tooling