newbie connection question

bamsehopp

So maybe I missed this, but I couldn't find this really simple info. What is the best way for connecting the analog or digital ins and outs to say my piezo disc or my potentiometers? Do i need a contact which plugs into the connections to which I can solder my wires? In the same sense the contacts for the headphone socket works that came with the package. Please point me in the right direction if i missed this in the helpfiles 🙂
Thanks in advance

LiamDonovan

bamsehopp if you take a look at our pin diagram you can see where the analog and digital inputs are located on the cape. All of those connections are simple pin header sockets which you can plug a bare wire or jumper cable into to connect piezo sensors and potentiometers, it is only for the audio inputs and outputs that special connectors are needed.

giuliomoro

Hello,
have a look at the documentation for example 04-Audio/sample-piezo-trigger, 03-Analog/analog-input, or the examples and tutorials page.

bamsehopp

Thanks for the help!

nuromantix

I spent a lot of time tearing my hair out over this!
It turns out the only place to get easy readymade cables is eBay.
Search for something like "pitch 2.54 ribbon cable"

For example these are perfect for Analogue ins & outs of Bela.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2-Pcs-2-54mm-Pitch-10P-Female-Breadboard-Single-Head-Jumper-Wire-Cable-20cm-Long-/122171802677?hash=item1c7201c435:g:xqcAAOSwYIxX~1~p

Just solder your stuff to the other end.
Or get ones with connectors on both ends if you are going to join to a PCB.
eg
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2PCS-2-54mm-Pitch-10P-Female-Breadboard-Double-Head-Jumper-Wire-Cable-10cm-Long-/191981177328?hash=item2cb2f849f0:g:IjcAAOSwZJBX~0CW

LiamDonovan

nuromantix is your cape one of the older prototypes with male pins on the analog i/o?

All the capes that we have sold apart from I think 20 early prototypes which went to the Kickstarter rush delivery backers now have female header sockets (just like Arduino) on the analog i/o so that regular male-to-male jumper wires like these or even just plain solid-core wire can be used to connect to them.

Those female jumper cables that you linked would be useable for the audio i/o and speaker connectors, but not the analog.

nuromantix

No mine is normal..... I neglected to mention that you also need some of this:

http://www.hobbytronics.co.uk/40-header-male-double

This method is by far the sturdiest connection I have managed to make to the analogue ins & outs.
Those single jumper cables are fine for breadboard experiments but if you're actually building an instrument with Bela inside you need something more sturdy. Using 5 or 10 way connectors with double header is pretty secure, and you can always put a bit of tape or a sticker on the side of the connection to make it more permanent.

LiamDonovan

nuromantix ah, that makes sense! Thanks for the tip.