Alright. I am thinking out loud, but I think I am stepping in the right direction.

If my timeline is correct, people were using arduinos with max prior to maxuino and the firmata is just a way of getting people up-and-running. As such, it is an environment for immediately establishing connectivity for various common functionalities of the arduino: running sensors, and receiving data, and it seems that it does it via OSC.

For what I want to do, I need to run data through SPI, but I only need to update values to the LED via quickly updating messages. I feel like I am so close but I am not getting something.

I feel like rather than using the firmata, I should concentrate on adapting the (posted link) C sketch so that it responds dynamically to data that has been via max's serial object.

What do you think?  :-X

...Help?

I have been able to apply changes to this LED matrix via updating/uploading a sketch. It is hooked up to my arduino via SPI.

Also, I have managed to set up maxuino and toggle an LED.
 
I would like to put together a method for sending different values for each point on the grid. What I think I need is a method of sending a list from max to the this serial device. What I am not sure of is how.

I visited http://firmata.org/wiki/Proposals and it seems that SPI is not yet supported. This reaffirms my theory that maxuino may not be the best solution to my needs, or that I would at least have to borrow/change a lot of code.

I hope that this is something that a member might be able to offer input on. I think it can be broken down in to a list of more basic questions. I will give it a shot:

Can max send serial messages to the Arduino in such a way that a serial device will receive it over SPI?

I am sure that it can, but that it would need code to listen for these changes and to apply them. This is a step up from just hacking a sketch with primitive C-skills, but hopefully I should be able to find examples if it has (is possible of being) done.

Any help would be highly appreciated.

Here is the example code for the LED matrix that I have been working with:
Sample Arduino Sketch
http://www.sparkfun.com/Code/RGBMatrixBackpackSketch.zip

I don't understand what this is though, or where it belongs...:
Sample Interface Code
http://www.sparkfun.com/Code/RGB_Sample_Interface_Code.zip

There seems to be many different approaches to what I want to do but as a newb I am a bit overwhelmed. I think if the arduino was just a transparent medium that could be sent messages by max's serial object, then all I would need is a bit of code to interpret messages locally on the led unit itself. It seems like it shouldn't be a big deal but I am a bit overwhelmed. I will continue researching and experimenting but I would really value some input.

I was able to get my Uno (x4) to work on Snow Leopard. No problems. Great improvement over the duemilanove. The Tiger laptop has been removed from the equation until there is an update or I change its OS.

None of these four work.

I am having the same problem. OS X 10.4.11. Macbook core2duo. Installed the new application and the USB driver. Bought four of these. Gonna try another one of them.

I will be hosting a workshop on January 29th at the 707 Penn gallery in Pittsburgh. I will be introducing the technology involved in my recent project, Transmission http://ibrill.com/blog/?page_id=361 and will work with attendants to practice altering the content and trying out different ideas.

I am by no means an expert but I am interested in sharing what I do know with the public and potentially fielding new technical and creative ideas for future implementations.

Also, since the project came out of an interest in how we approach technology enmass, I am very much interested in working with others to develop this project further.

If you are interested in either the workshop or the collaborative project, please check this page: http://ibrill.com/blog/?page_id=441

Powered by Sparkfun RGB LED Matrix Backpacks, I am building 8, 80x80" grids. I have to paint the insides of half of them a glossy white still and then run the wires for the other seven, but the one I got running came together quickly using MTA IDC connectors and some ribbon cable.

It is currently running visuals from a custom max patch. All of the code and documentation it on this page: http://ibrill.com/blog/?page_id=441
A description of the work is locate here: http://ibrill.com/blog/?page_id=361

I got into the led from the arduino software finally. Now I just need to learn how to send it commands from max. I started a new thread about it in the software-interfacing section.

Hey,

I too have a few questions. I just bought a serial 8x8 matrix from Sparkfun and I am looking at how to connect it via the arduino to my computer. I am a bit overwhelmed but with the right basic set of instructions I think I will be fine. I just don't want to get cavalier and burn anything out.

I just need to get things connected, and find out how to communicate with this thing from max.

Any suggestions?