iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Found a design that I etched into some scrap acrylic back in 2017, and decided to hot glue an LED strip to the bottom and wire it up for WLED on one of my old ESP32 boards.

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Rin Elyran @rinbeast.bsky.social · 18h

Wiring diagram attached. Code: codeberg.org/rinbeast2026...

The wiring diagram shows how the OLED is connected to the Micro:bit. The red wire connects to 3V, the blue wire to GND, the purple wire to SCL, and the green wire to SDA.

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Rin Elyran @rinbeast.bsky.social · 18h

This week's Micro_Mondays project features three firsts: - The use of the BBC Micro:Bit 2 - The use of Python as a programming language - The use of a postage stamp sized OLED display I felt it was time to brush the dust off of the Micro:Bit, which I've had since this past December.

The Micro:bit's 5x5 LED display shows a simple smiley face icon, while the OLED display shows the message, "Hello, Bluesky!"

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Rin Elyran @rinbeast.bsky.social · 11/10/2026

I spent all afternoon building this three tier rack for my Korg Volcas, entirely out of cardboard and hot-melt glue, and I’m quite pleased with the way it turned out. ❤️

Side angle view of the cardboard rack that I built this afternoon. I used tongue-and-groove slats for easy assembly and disassembly.

Front view of the cardboard rack I built. On the top tier is my Volca Beats, middle tier is my Volca Sample, and bottom tier is my Volca FM.

Side view of the cardboard rack I built. The bottom tier is at a 30° angle, middle tier is 45°, and the top tier is about 60°.

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Rin Elyran @rinbeast.bsky.social · 06/10/2026

For this week's Micro_Mondays project, an Arduino and a MIDI shield are used to make a Korg Volca Sample2 into a polyphonic sample player. My Alesis SR-16 is set to send notes from C1 to G2 via 5-pin MIDI. WARNING: Video contains loud beeping noises. Project details: github.com/astriiddev/V...

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Rin Elyran @rinbeast.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

This week's Micro_Monday project involves playing a MIDI file from an SD card. The SD slot is part of my data logging shield for Arduino, with a MIDI shield stacked on top of it, connected via the ESi MIDImate EX USB MIDI interface, which I originally bought for my Alesis SR-16 drum machine.

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Rin Elyran @rinbeast.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

Micro_Monday extra content #1: I decided to dress up my LCD Programmer 2.0 with some rubber switch covers, and now it looks a bit more retrostalgic, like a hand-built hobby-grade computer from the late 1970s/early 1980s. 😎

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Rin Elyran @rinbeast.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

This week's Micro_Monday project demonstrates scrolling text on a 14-segment 4-digit display, run by the HT16K33 driver chip. The display is receiving data using I2C, which allows devices to be run on only two data lines: data and clock Next week, I'll be playing with MIDI on the Arduino. 😉

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Rin Elyran @rinbeast.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

There is a feature on my Pulsar digital watch from 1984, that I discovered by accident while wearing polarized sunglasses last Saturday. In the video, I used my camera’s polarization filter to re-create the effect.

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Rin Elyran @rinbeast.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

Lost track of time tonight. ^^; This week's Micro_Mondays project displays an approximation of "rinbeast" on an 8-digit 7-segment display driven by a MAX7219 LED driver chip. I used the "max7219" Arduino library to draw the text on the display.

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Rin Elyran @rinbeast.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

Also worthy of note, this is the ICSP header I was using for the project. I did this for cross-compatibility between many Arduino boards.

Elegoo Arduino Uno R3 microcontroller board with a fleece blanket as a background. A red box has been drawn around the ICSP header that I used for the project. This header was chosen due to its compatibility across nearly every Arduino board.

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Rin Elyran @rinbeast.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

Again, sorry for the late post. I promise to not let this happen again. 😅 Today’s Micro_Mondays project tests an 8x32 LED matrix connected to my Elegoo Uno R3 via the ICSP header, plus Digital Pin 10 for data. Pinouts for the display are shown in the code attached. MD_MAX72XX library required.

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Rin Elyran @rinbeast.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

A supplement to yesterday’s Micro_Monday project. The soft white filament that I chose for the key bed and the light strip diffuser actually glow in the dark! 😄 I did this as a nod to the rare Yamaha DX7 II Centennial Edition synthesizer from 1987, whose white keys also glow in the dark.

Using rechargeable LED UV flashlight to charge up the green glow 3-D printed parts.

The keys and the LED strip diffuser after the UV flashlight was turned off.

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Rin Elyran @rinbeast.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

Project 3: "Sequencer 2" Long press any key to select the step you want to program, then turn the "Note" pot to set the note. You can also change the step length and the tempo on the fly. This video features a custom-painted shell that I 3D printed on my brother's 3D printer.

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Rin Elyran @rinbeast.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

Project 1: "Recordion" Record a series of notes by first pressing keys 6 and 7, then press 6 and 7 again to end recording. Then press key 1, 2, 3, or 4 to store the sequence.

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Rin Elyran @rinbeast.bsky.social · 30/08/2026

Relaxing with my mare before my encore. <3 @ellyelyran.bsky.social

A black-suited fox and an angelic mare in a white dress and fur stole sitting on a red sofa, relaxing together before my encore of last night's DJ set.

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Rin Elyran @rinbeast.bsky.social · 29/08/2026

I realize that not everybody who was at my DJ set last night will be online tonight, but I'm planning on replaying my anniversary DJ set (which was a blast, btw) for those who were unable to make it last night. My starting time will be 7 PM SLT like usual. It'll be Rintastic! ❤️ @fauna.bsky.social

The rear lounge of Moonlight Rollerway. Lettered balloons that spell out "RINTASTIC!" are set against an array of streamers.

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Rin Elyran @rinbeast.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

Taking a short break from featuring the many Arduino expansion boards that I have in my collection. This week's Micro_Monday project involves using my Arduino Leonardo as a PS/2 to USB converter. The PS/2 device I'm using is an old CueCat scanning device, modified to send raw barcode data.

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Rin Elyran @rinbeast.bsky.social · 20/08/2026

While looking through my collection of vintage watches, I found this Carravelle M3 watch from around 1963. At some point in time (no pun intended), this watch, along with another by the same brand, was worn by my maternal grandfather. While the other watch doesn’t work, this one still does. 😎

Caravelle M3 wristwatch by Bulova, circa 1963.

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Rin Elyran @rinbeast.bsky.social · 17/08/2026

This week’s Micro_Mondays project features an Arduino controlled robot arm assembly with 4 degrees of freedom. The potentiometers and the servos are connected to a custom Arduino shield board made by the manufacturer.

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Rin Elyran @rinbeast.bsky.social · 11/08/2026

Been taking a lot of photos and videos on my iPhone using this gimbal that I recently bought on Amazon. I’ve been waiting for it to go on sale for a number of years instead of paying the full $76 for it. So when I saw it on sale for $38, I went ahead and bought it.

The COMITOK MOGO gimbal for iPhone. Included are a remote, tabletop tripod, storage bag, and printed user manual.

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Rin Elyran @rinbeast.bsky.social · 10/08/2026

This week’s Micro_Monday project is a clock that uses the LCD keypad shield with the relatively common data logging shield available for the Arduino Uno, a shield that accepts regular size SD cards and has a DS1307 real time clock (RTC) chip on board. A 3V CR1220 is used for battery backup.

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Rin Elyran @rinbeast.bsky.social · 04/08/2026

I've had my little Rezz Room fox Yuki for a few years, but every time I bring her out, I still feel that initial thrill of bringing her out that very first time. Yuki is such a cute little fox, and if there was a way to do so, I'd really love to share her with all of Fauna. ❤️

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Rin Elyran @rinbeast.bsky.social · 04/08/2026

This week’s Micro_Monday project demonstrates the use of a four-way directional pad on the DFRobot LCD keypad shield. This very versatile shield will work with just about any Arduino board you can think of, including the Mega 2560 like in this example. Also, Konami code for the win. 😉

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Rin Elyran @rinbeast.bsky.social · 04/08/2026

No wiring diagram this week, so here’s a back shot of the display. The micro SD card slot doesn't work anymore, so I will not be demonstrating it.

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Rin Elyran @rinbeast.bsky.social · 03/08/2026

A little late to the party, as far as Shark Week is concerned, but L$800 later, I finally added my first marine avatar to my already diverse palette avatars. I'd like you to meet my new sharkboi, Marlon. :3

This picture of Marlon was taken by the wharf at Fauna. Look how handsome he is! ❤️

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Rin Elyran @rinbeast.bsky.social · 28/07/2026

This week’s Micro_Monday project demonstrates the use of an Elegoo TFT LCD “shield” with an Arduino Uno R3. Shields are essentially expansion boards for microcontrollers. I’m sorry for getting this out to you guys later than usual. 😅

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Rin Elyran @rinbeast.bsky.social · 20/07/2026

Code: codeberg.org/rinbeast2026... Wiring diagram:

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Rin Elyran @rinbeast.bsky.social · 20/07/2026

This week's Micro_Mondays involves features using a poteniometer to control how many LEDs are lit in a two-color bar graph array. I mixed the red and green channels to create the three amber segments in the middle.

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Rin Elyran @rinbeast.bsky.social · 18/07/2026

I'm really looking forward to next weekend's events with DJ GHSTSKY and DJ Nuku. ❤️ Oh, and in case you were wondering what Ian looks like, here he is with his 1986 Camaro at Aura Outpost in Granada. He likes to hold e-cigars, but chooses not to smoke them.

Ian Elyran casually leans against the hood of his 1986 Chevrolet Camaro IROC Z-28 at Aura Outpost in Granada. Ian turned 48 on July 17, 2026.

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Rin Elyran @rinbeast.bsky.social · 14/07/2026

Here's a video of the circuit in action:

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Rin Elyran @rinbeast.bsky.social · 14/07/2026

Code: codeberg.org/rinbeast2026... Wiring diagram:

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Rin Elyran @rinbeast.bsky.social · 12/07/2026

My new audio toys: the Volca Sample and Volca FM, both by Korg. The Volca FM is an easier-to-program, more affordable, fully compatible alternative to the legendary Yamaha DX7 from 1983, and the Volca Sample is a digital sample rhythm machine onto which you can load your own samples via micro USB.

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Rin Elyran @rinbeast.bsky.social · 03/07/2026

Pocky and ramune, my most favorite summertime Japanese food and drink of all time. 😁

A box of Pocky and an ice-cold bottle of ramune on the counter.

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Rin Elyran @rinbeast.bsky.social · 16/06/2026

Went back to the Ponies For Life campsite last night to get a copy of the campsite marker before everything gets taken down after Wednesday, and after getting my Turtles Trophy, I posed with it next to the marker as my Teegle. I "rezzed" it by attaching it to the Avatar Center. 🐴

As my Teegle named Rhys, I ran a total of 6.39 laps and 62,208 meters on Saturday, June 13th, 2025 during Relay For Life Weekend on Second Life. In honor of my achievement of making between 1 and 9 laps, I was awarded the Turtle Trophy, 🏆❤️

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Rin Elyran @rinbeast.bsky.social · 15/06/2026

Entering text on an ST7920 graphics LCD display, using the 8-bit LCD box I featured two weeks ago, and the adapter card from last week. In Parallel Mode, the ST7920 accepts a lot of the same commands as HD44780 compatible character LCDs. No schematics or new code today. #micro_monday

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Rin Elyran @rinbeast.bsky.social · 14/06/2026

Taken at the Ponies for Life campsite at the Relay for Life of Second Life event on Saturday, June 13, 2026. Featuring Marjetzty, Broken Voxel, 外人 Gaijin 外人, Robot Silvershade, Dorena Roxan, myself as a Teegle horse, and Allko Kohime. 🐴❤️

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Rin Elyran @rinbeast.bsky.social · 08/06/2026

The adapter board on its own. Check out that amateurish wiring. 🤣

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Rin Elyran @rinbeast.bsky.social · 08/06/2026

This week's Micro_Monday project is a demo of an adapter I made, which physically allows contrast and brightness control while using larger displays. I used a 20x4 display and a modified 40x2 display to demo with. Next week will feature a graphic LCD in text mode, using this same setup.

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Rin Elyran @rinbeast.bsky.social · 08/06/2026

Lisa and Johan walking the main thoroughfare at Fauna, showing their support for pansexual and LGBTQ+ communities around the world, and on Second Life. ^w^ @ellyelyran.bsky.social @fauna.bsky.social @rinbeast.bsky.social

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Rin Elyran @rinbeast.bsky.social · 01/06/2026

Code: codeberg.org/rinbeast2026... Wiring diagram:

In the absence of a proper symbol in Fritzing for the WeMos S2 Mini (ESP-32) board that was used in the project, I have simply labeled the connections to where they would actually go on the S2 Mini.

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Rin Elyran @rinbeast.bsky.social · 01/06/2026

These videos only scratch the surface of what can be done on character LCDs.

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Rin Elyran @rinbeast.bsky.social · 01/06/2026

This week's Micro_Monday's project: a switch-based character LCD controller, using a WeMos S2 Mini and the ezButton Arduino library for switch debouncing.

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Rin Elyran @rinbeast.bsky.social · 25/05/2026

Code: codeberg.org/rinbeast2026... Wiring diagram:

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Rin Elyran @rinbeast.bsky.social · 25/05/2026

This week’s Micro_Mondays project involves the use of a Fairchild FND5122, an obsolete 2-digit 7-segment display from 1979 which I took out of a broken electronic game. Unlike on modern multi-digit displays that share segment pins across all digits, each individual segment has its own dedicated pin.

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Rin Elyran @rinbeast.bsky.social · 19/05/2026

My unmodified Teegle horse named Rhys (pronounced like "reese"), standing next to his older sister Lisa. Rhys is younger than Lisa by 11 months and 11 days. SL Location: Home Sweet Home - Mariland Rhys: @rinbeast.bsky.social Lisa: @ellyelyran.bsky.social

Rhys and his older sister Lisa, together under a cherry blossom tree. Rhys is an Irish Cob, and Lisa is a Belgian Draft horse.

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Rin Elyran @rinbeast.bsky.social · 18/05/2026

Code: codeberg.org/rinbeast2026... Wiring diagram:

Wiring diagram for the above circuit. The rightmost button is a one-touch method of erasing/blanking the display.

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Rin Elyran @rinbeast.bsky.social · 18/05/2026

This week's Micro_Mondays project involves the use of key switches to toggle the segments and right decimal point on a Texas Instruments TIL312 single-digit seven-segment LED display, circa 1982. I soldered it to some perf-board and broke out the pins to make it easy to connect to my Arduino.

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Rin Elyran @rinbeast.bsky.social · 12/05/2026

More 3D printed glow-in-the-dark goodness. Everything was energized using a 395 nm ultraviolet flashlight, although any blacklight will also work.

A yet-to-be-completed Arduino synthesizer by Amomii

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