Speeding up Arduino Prog. Environment

[Pwnd2Pwnr]

Hey-row, Hak5.

I have a rather simple question. If I want to make my Arduino RGB LED strip to fade quicker; can I directly program the speed or do I need a potentiometer instead?

For instance, the fadeSpeed is too fast at 1, but is too slow at 3. I would like something in between. Here is the base code:

// color swirl! connect an RGB LED to the PWM pins as indicated

// in the #defines

// public domain, enjoy!

#define REDPIN 5

#define GREENPIN 6

#define BLUEPIN 3

#define FADESPEED 5 // make this higher to slow down

void setup() {

pinMode(REDPIN, OUTPUT);

pinMode(GREENPIN, OUTPUT);

pinMode(BLUEPIN, OUTPUT);

}

void loop() {

int r, g, b;

// fade from blue to violet

for (r = 0; r < 256; r++) {

analogWrite(REDPIN, r);

delay(FADESPEED);

}

// fade from violet to red

for (b = 255; b > 0; b--) {

analogWrite(BLUEPIN, B);

delay(FADESPEED);

}

// fade from red to yellow

for (g = 0; g < 256; g++) {

analogWrite(GREENPIN, g);

delay(FADESPEED);

}

// fade from yellow to green

for (r = 255; r > 0; r--) {

analogWrite(REDPIN, r);

delay(FADESPEED);

}

// fade from green to teal

for (b = 0; b < 256; b++) {

analogWrite(BLUEPIN, B);

delay(FADESPEED);

}

// fade from teal to blue

for (g = 255; g > 0; g--) {

analogWrite(GREENPIN, g);

delay(FADESPEED);

}

}

This is the de-spaghetti-fied code from ladyada.com. I want to change that damned FADESPEED. In the video; this is just one part of my strip (excuse the mess, my brother has too many kids :) ). I have done vast research (or not looking in the right places), but most of the people whom post their "cool led videos" usually never show their breadboard, not to mention what type of modifications that were made to the code to create those effects. I understand it is their programming... and I do not want a hand out, but I am at my wits end on finding the solution.

So, should I get the potentiometer; or can this be done by adding a library to Arduino? Thanks in advance; and Happy New Years!

Edited December 31, 2012 by Pwnd2Pwnr

[no42]

The loop controls the step of the intensity by 1

for (r = 0; r < 256; r++) {
analogWrite(REDPIN, r);
delay(FADESPEED);
}[/CODE]

[color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]if you want to fade faster you could just edit the loop [/font][/color]

[color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]e.g. to make it 5x faster[/font][/color]

[CODE]
for (r = 0; r < 256; r +=5) {
analogWrite(REDPIN, r);
}
[/CODE]

Edited December 31, 2012 by midnitesnake

[Pwnd2Pwnr]

I took the comment out of the code; but it goes too quickly. Is there an in between? Perhaps duplicate the code:

}

// fade from teal to blue

for (g = 255; g > 0; g--) {

analogWrite(GREENPIN, g);

//delay(FADESPEED);

}

// fade from teal to blue

for (g = 255; g > 0; g--) {

analogWrite(GREENPIN, g);

//delay(FADESPEED);

}

Edited December 31, 2012 by Pwnd2Pwnr

[no42]

For twice as fast, and insert the delay to create a small wait after each increment.

for (r = 0; r < 256; r+=2) {

analogWrite(REDPIN, r);

delay(FADESPEED);

}

Just keep tinkering...

Duplicating the code wont work

Code above increases intensity, to decrease:

for (r = 255; r > 0; r-=2) {

analogWrite(REDPIN, r);

delay(FADESPEED);

}

Edited December 31, 2012 by midnitesnake

[Pwnd2Pwnr]

So, reversing (r = 255; r > 0; r-=2) { those parameters to r = 0; r < 255; r+=2) { .... got ya :) . Thank you. That is what the doctor ordered.I have been tinkering for a while now and I am still learning it. I now owe you a beer ;)

Edited December 31, 2012 by Pwnd2Pwnr