Pico Producer

About this Project

This project is an OBS Controller using a Raspberry Pi Pico and CircuitPython.

In Action

Featured

The Raspberry Pi Pico Producer has been featured in the following publications;

• Raspberry Pi Website: https://www.raspberrypi.org/documentation/rp2040/getting-started/
• Hackster: https://www.hackster.io/news/pete-gallagher-s-raspberry-pi-pico-stream-deck-aids-obs-work-via-a-smart-circuitpython-script-0df423724379
• Hackster: https://www.hackster.io/news/use-a-raspberry-pi-pico-to-build-your-own-affordable-stream-deck-a0ad237f0d25
• Hackaday: https://hackaday.com/2021/02/23/lighted-raspberry-pico-stream-deck-is-easy-as-pi/
• OSH Park: https://blog.oshpark.com/2021/03/08/obs-controller-using-circuitpython-on-rpi-pico/

Basic Circuit

I've avoid GP15 as it's assigned a USB function... Using GP15 results in the following error at startup;

"ValueError: GP15 in use"

PCB

Front

Back

PCB

You can have your PCB made at OSH Park here;

https://oshpark.com/shared_projects/UNP0qi2U

Parts List

Notes:

• You can feel free to use 12 individual 220 Ohm Resistors - https://amzn.to/3qqaWai
• If you wire this without a PCB then use the following wire from Pimoroni - http://bit.ly/pimoroni-rainbow-wire

Case

We now have two different case designs....

Cliff Agius and his son have created a version of the box suited for buttons with holes for LEDs.

I've modified this design to add LEDs above each button;

It was originally based on this design;

https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4186055

The keycaps are from here;

https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4186055

You can find the project on Thingiverse here;

https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4800253

Assembly Hints

• Insert the 20 Pin PCB headers with the long legs away from the PCB towards the Pico (Otherwise it'll fowl the faceplate)
• Solder the 2 Resistor Packs and the Pico PCB Headers first. Then the LEDs and Buttons. Then the Pico.
• You'll need to trim the legs on the resistor packs which border the three left hand buttons.
• Insert the LEDs into the PCB, then insert the Buttons into the faceplate and then insert that into the PCB.
• Push the leds back through the PCB, so they poke into the holes in the faceplate, otherwise they'll be below the faceplate.
• You'll need to trim the legs on the PCB headers otherwise it'll fowl the bottom of the case.

CircuitPython HID

You can find some more info about the CircuitPython KeyMappings here;

https://circuitpython.readthedocs.io/projects/hid/en/latest/_modules/adafruit_hid/keycode.html

Instructions

• Plug in the Raspberry Pi Pico while holding the onboard button.
• Your PC will mount the Pico as a drive
• Copy the adafruit-circuitpython-raspberry_pi_pico-en_US-6.2.0-beta.1.uf2 file to the Pico
• The Pico will reboot once it's done with CircuitPython onboard.
• Copy the adafruit_hid folder and the code.py file to the Pico
• In OBS setup Hotkeys for the different scenes by putting your cursor in the Hotkey Box and pressing a button...

Scene 1 =  ctrl + F1
Scene 2 =  ctrl + F2
Scene 3 =  ctrl + F3
Scene 4 =  ctrl + F4
Scene 5 =  ctrl + F5
Scene 6 =  ctrl + F6
Scene 7 =  ctrl + F7
Scene 8 =  ctrl + F8
Scene 9 =  ctrl + F9
Scene 10 =  ctrl + F10
Scene 11 =  ctrl + F11
Scene 12 =  ctrl + F12

• Press the buttons to change scenes in OBS!
• Each button will light a corresponding LED to show which Scene is currently active.

Debugging

Circuit Python creates a virtual COM port, so you can use a terminal Program set to 8N1 9600 Baud to debug the code... Just hit the enter key at teh prompt, and the terminal will echo there.

It might help to put a large enough delay at the start of your code to give you time to initialise the terminal.

Future Planning

• Look at Bluetooth / WebSockets (Will need add on circuitary!)
• Possible Matrix Input (But, I like the simplicity)
• Possible Resistor Ladder Input (But, again, I like the simplicity)

Notes

The HID control code is based on a nice blog post by Hriday which shows how to get the Pico working as a HID device, emulating a keyboard;

https://hridaybarot.home.blog/2021/01/31/using-raspberry-pi-pico-has-hid-device-to-control-mouse-and-keyboard/

Thanks

Thanks to Cliff Agius and his son for the original 3d Files. Thanks to John Furcean for refactoring the code. Thanks to frankalicious for fixing some spelling checks.