When I first start the project, I ask Joanne if the Creative Tech Lab have resources that fit my project. After a while, when I start to build and try the hardware part, I borrow one of this sensor. It is DHT11, a temperature and humidity sensor. It sends out both temperature and humidity data in one out put and it is so compact. The hardware seem perfect for my project, however, it took me a week to try to decode the data as it combine both data in one channel. At first, I tried to find any coding sample in GitHub. It is a common sensor and a lot of manufacture produce it, but it is for arduino. All the sample code are for Arduino which I only know so little about it. If I use Arduino just for reading data and send it into Bela, which means I have to bring both Arduino and Bela to the field, plus the recorder as my mic amplifier, it is not efficient at all. Hence, I try to find any sample that can work in Bela, although both is running in same coding language, the software behind is completely different. After a week of doing research and attempt, I still can’t decode it. After chat with Milo and Michael from creative tech lab, I decide to use other sensor that use analog signal.
This is circuit of the hardware for Bela. Firstly, potentiometer connect in analog pin 0. Then the analog temperature sensor connect into analog pin 1 and moisture sensor connected into analog pin 2. The moisture sensor work completely different from DHT11. I measure the moisture of the soil instead of air. For the digital pin, pin 6 connected positive of LED light, and its negative side connected to ground through 10k resister. Pin 7 connected between button negative and 10k resister to ground. Finally, I after I tested it works good, I soldering it into a prefboard which can be more secure and more safe to bring out for field recording.