Audio Visual Installation Project: HELP

Sure, could You please precise what all You allready learned about parts that You want to use,
and what is missing ?
I mean do You have an idea how sensitive LDRs are, have You ever tested one, or tried
to figure out how to isolate 16 LDRs from each other, not letting them react to the same light source etc ?
The rest is rather easy, just hook them to analog pins, set the threshold, report
when light goes above or under, and send that info to max via serial.
Then in max one can use 16 values to trigger / control whatever.
How about Arduino ? Tested some simple examples of analog read, serial send etc ?
There are many arduino LDR tutorials available, to get basics going.
I am sure You will get all help You need here to move on, just ask along the way.

Yeah, I have an Arduino Mega 2560, some small LDRs and 10k Resistors. So far I have been able to use basic tutorials to hook one LDR up and get it responding using the standard firmata software. I figured if I maybe repeat the process I have done 16 times off the same arduino board then the LDRs will react differently and can be assigned multiple roles...

The main issue I am facing is getting the connection between Max and my Arduino as I have relatively no experience in that area what so ever!

Thanks!

Ok, so You will be measuring voltage level on 16 inputs,
and controling max with the result.
There is one decision to make :
If You know what exactly You want to control in Max, You can
optimise and reduce ammount of data being sent to Max over serial port.
Let's make a simple example : If all You want from LDR-1 is to switch something On/Off
depending on Light conditions, You would set threshold for On/Off change, and
send the Switch State 1 or 0 only when state changes, all in Arduino code.
On the other hand, if You want LDR-2 to act like Volume Control for Sample Playback,
then You would need to send Voltage level, scaled to some range usable in max, and send that
info over serial, with fast enough interval in order to get smooth Volume changes.
---------
I think You can follow me.
So please post Your plan on the matter, so we can figuere out the best way to collect and send the values to max.
Maybe someone else will join in, more people involved, more interesting it is.
If You want to stay flexible, and don't want to mess up with Arduino, You could decide to just read 16 Voltages,
send them to Max, and then apply all the scaling, filtering etc. in Max.
But that would mean much more data being sent over serial

And please, don't try any of this complicated maxuino and similar setups.
You have to do it with own brains.
First thing is just to set serial baud rate properly, and send something to max to get communication going.
Can You do that ?
Do You need a simple example like reading one LDR on A0, sending the values
to max and reading them there ?
Would not need much time to do so.
Just let me know.
Later, when 16 values need to get sent over, one would need some kind of channel info.
Either by sending a string of 16 values all the time, which one can unpack in Max (not really my choice)
or to give each channel some kind of indentifier, like letters A,B,C etc
then using route object in max one could detect which channel is received.

Thank you so much! This is all so helpful, I think I'm able to follow most of what you're saying.

I think the best and easiest way for this project would to be consistent with my approach in max so I think a volume fader send would be best when receiving data from an LDR, that way I can transfer that knowledge across to an effect fader etc.

How would I start setting up a blank project in max?

Thanks again for your time, I really appreciate the help!

Don't worry, You will get everyting on time.
On Max side, first You need to get data in.
In case of plain Arduino it will be serial object.
There are some other options, but let's keep it
simple for the time being.
One has to work on both sides, Max and Arduino.
The baud rate has to match on both sides.
Have a look at following simple Arduino code :
-----------------------
void setup(){Serial.begin (57600);}
void loop() { int LDR1 = analogRead(A0);
Serial.println(LDR1);
delay (20);}
-----------------------
Here we set Arduino to start Serial communication at 57600 baud,
read analog pin A0, and send the value to serial object, each value on new line.
Pause for 20 ms and then repeat / loop.
Upload this short sketch to Your Arduino.

Same baud rate should be set in Max serial object.
You can place single serial object in empty patcher and
give it arguments a 57600.
So that would be {serial a 57600} "a" for port and "57600" for baud rate.
Port "a" would not necessary match the port Your Arduino would be, but that does not matter,
one can set that later.
Instead of posting here as text, have a look at the max patch,
that would let You select Your Arduino, poll the data coming in etc.
I will place comments in the patch, to help You easily get what is going on.
And only 1 piece of software should be communicating with arduino at same time,
so if You want to get data in Max, close Arduino Serial Monitor.

And I still think that writing Arduino Sketch and Max Patch will soon become easy for You.
BUT getting this 16 LDRs to function independently, which means each of them having own
light "situation" will be quite a challenge.
There are several kinds of LDRs, they also have different Resistance Curves and Range,
and also differ in sensitivity to small changes of light intensity.
Getting 16 usable and independent control values from 16 of them in a same room
will be difficult.
But, one thing after another

Hey,

Sorry for the delay. I've been very busy at work!

So I've successfully managed to get a signal through to max following your instructions! Thank you so much, this is a huge step in the right direction. I'm not entirely sure of everything that's going on but for now I'm happy it's working!

I now need it to automate volume of a sample, what next steps would you recommend?

In terms of the 16 LDR's working independently, would it be easier to say have 4 initial samples (with volume automation attached) and then 4 effects for each loop? Would this make things any easier?

Hi Anthony, don't worry , it is Your project, Your tempo...
We are still at the basics here, so I think I might tell You a bit about things
that one wants to achieve, in technical terms.
As first it is important to control amount of data sent and processed in Max.
On Arduino side, we want to send values only if something changed,
and not every 10 miliseconds.
On Max side the same, volume control needs to move only if
there is a value change, otherwise it will allways be busy, stealing CPU cycles.
Now that computers are so damn fast, that might not seem an issue,
but it is allways better to have things set right, because too much strain on the scheduler in
Max might disturb timing of other important events.
Now enough of theory.
Let's forget all above for the moment, as we deal with just 1 LDR.
Here is a max patch with 1 Audio Player, and it's Volume control
is controled with LDR value.
I have used objects which I prefer to use, it could have been done in different
way, with different objects as well.
If You get interested by one or the other object just click on it and open it's help,
to get more info about it.

And here is the patch :