Pi Cap · Mar 02, 2021

5 Ways You Can Use Your Pi Cap

Don't know where to start? Check out our top 5 ways you can use your Pi Cap!

The Pi Cap adds precise capacitive touch, proximity sensing and high-quality audio to any recent Raspberry Pi. Connect your Pi project to the physical world! Create sensors by connecting Electric Paint or anything conductive to one of the Pi Cap’s 12 electrodes to control audio, video or send messages to the internet.

We love it when you share your projects! Post your project on Instagram, YouTube, or Twitter, and make sure to tag @bareconductive or use #bareconductive. You can also send your videos and photos to info@bareconductive.com so we can post them on our site for the world to see.

Make a custom polyphonic instrument

The Pi Cap can be used as a polyphonic MIDI interface. Use our MIDI code example to build your own musical instrument or interface. Start by painting a paper piano using Electric Paint, then create your own futuristic instrument to manipulate any MIDI signal from a synthesiser, drum machine, or if you’re into modular synths, a MIDI-to-CV module.

Design custom sensors

Use the Pi Cap alongside Electric Paint to make custom game controllers or to design your own HID interface (human interface device). Its sensors are highly robust, so your custom graphic interface will be reliable and fast.

Make interactive wearables with up to 12 touch sensors

The Pi Cap’s compact size means you can use it with a Pi Zero to make a very small device that’s easy to integrate into a wearable or cosplay costume. Take advantage of its prototyping area to add custom components or interface connectors. Use the multicolour LED to indicate different modes or to give debug feedback.

Create an interactive drawing

With 12 capacitive touch (on/off) or distance (how close) sensors on your Raspberry Pi, you are ready to bring a beautiful drawing to life with interaction. Turn touch into sound and let the artwork tell its own story, adding another layer of meaning to your work.