Published January 28, 2021

Lane Tech HS PCL- Spotify API Data Visualization w/ Particle

Proof of Concept project that allows you to visually see what the popularity of a song is on spotify's metrics.

IntermediateFull instructions provided214

Lane Tech HS PCL- Spotify API Data Visualization w/ Particle

Things used in this project

Hardware components

Particle Argon

SG90 Micro-servo motor

Jumper wires (generic)

Breadboard (generic)

Software apps and online services

Particle Build Web IDE

Spotify API

Story

Beginning

I listen to music.... a lot, more specifically via Spotify Premium's streaming services. As a result I wanted to see if I could create a device that would visualize a data quantity of whatever song I was listening too. I settled on making a disco ball that spins atop a micro-servo motor if a song I select has a *popularity level above a 65 ranking.

The Hardware

MicroServo SG90 (Side View)

MicroServo "Arms"

The micro-servo SG90 is a tiny device that has the ability to rotate on an axis of 180 degrees. It comes equipped with "arms" that need to be screwed in place on top of the servo motor (its thankfully easy to do). Consequently, I found it perfect to use as the axis my disco ball would spin on.

Argon with Jumper Wires plugged in (birds eye view)

The circuit set up for the servo is relatively simple as there are only three required pins to get it up and running- The Positive pin, the Ground pin, and the digital pin. *The pins come preinstalled on the servo (input end)* In the image above you can see that I plugged the positive pin/RED jumper wire to the vusb port on the argon for 5V power (the servo will not work with a voltage less than 1). Then the ground pin/BROWN jumper wire to the ground port. And lastly, the digital pin into the D7 digital port.

Breadboard (Sideview)

The Software

For this project I used thebuild.particle IDE. It offers a programming interface, as well as a streamline event/console window. The key feature it has for this task however is its "Integrations" tool. With Integrations you can create webhooks to call and receive your desired data from API's.

The icon you click on to access the event and integration windows

On the Spotify end, I took advantage of "Spotify for Developers, " Spotify's open source web API (https://developer.spotify.com/). After creating an account you have access to all their available functionalities.

DOCS TAB->REFERENCE

Because I wanted to get information on an artists album/tracks I directed my attention to the Album API reference page.

Get an Album documentation

To elaborate on whats shown in the above image, the Spotify API requires an authorization token, the ID of the album you need, and the market (in this case not necessary) to receive an album. There are also some other general requirements (I say general because most other APIs need these things).

ALBUM API->TRY IN WEBBROWSER->GET TOKEN(check all boxes)-> Copy whats (I) highlighted

Spotify Web Player URL

The sequence after the "album/" is the ID of the song and/or album that's currently playing. I found it easier to get the ID from the browser player instead of the installed app (Click on the three dots next to a song and click on share to find the ID).

Additional Requirements

Here's how all the information looks put together in the webhook on particle.(below)

The URL includes the correct endpoint with the song ID included
The request type is GET (as listed by spotify) because we're trying to receive data
nodefaults and reject unauthorized set to true because we need specific data and authorization
Response Template is something I included after I received my json object (the data format that sent back to you) which allowed me to get the specific data I wanted, popularity. Using *mustache brackets* I was able to single out popularity.
The headers are where the json data is accepted as well as where you copy and paste you authorization token(located after bearer)

What the response should look like when running

The Craft...ware

Here are the materials I used to make my mini disco ball!

Generic small sized Styrofoam balls

Gold "Sparkling Glitter"

.... as well as a glue stick and some tape.

*Code Explanation below*

If I were to do it again, what would I change?

-There were errors with my servo so I'd definitely refine that

- Get the project working in real time

SEE IT IN ACTION

Code

Program Code

// This #include statement was automatically added by the Particle IDE.
#include <ArduinoJson.h>

// The number below has to be updated to the correct doc size
// Use the official ArduinoJSON Assistant below:
// https://arduinojson.org/v6/assistant/
StaticJsonDocument<200> doc;
Servo myservo;  // create servo object to control a servo
                
int pos = 0;    // variable to store the servo position


void setup()
{
    // Subscribe to the webhook response event
    Particle.subscribe("hook-response/Spotify Entries", myHandler, MY_DEVICES);
    Serial.begin(9600);
    
    myservo.attach(D7);  // attaches the servo on the D0 pin to the servo object
  // Only supported on pins that have PWM
}

void loop()
{
    // Get some data
  String data = String(10);
  // Trigger the integration
  Particle.publish("Spotify Entries", data, PRIVATE);
  // Wait 60 seconds
  delay(5000);
}

void myHandler(const char *event, const char *data)
{
   float popularity = atof(data); //easily accesses the data you need
   Serial.println(popularity);

if(popularity > 65)
{

   for(pos = 0; pos < 180; pos += 1)  // goes from 0 degrees to 180 degrees
  {                                  // in steps of 1 degree
    myservo.write(pos);              // tell servo to go to position in variable 'pos'
    delay(15);                       // waits 15ms for the servo to reach the position
  }
  for(pos = 180; pos>=1; pos-=1)     // goes from 180 degrees to 0 degrees
  {
   myservo.write(pos);              // tell servo to go to position in variable 'pos'
    delay(15);                       // waits 15ms for the servo to reach the position
  }
}
}

Lane Tech HS PCL- Spotify API Data Visualization w/ Particle

Things used in this project

Hardware components

Software apps and online services

Story

Beginning

The Hardware

The Software

The Craft...ware

If I were to do it again, what would I change?

SEE IT IN ACTION

Schematics

Simple Schematics

Code

Program Code

Credits

Marco Garcia

Comments

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Lane Tech HS PCL- Spotify API Data Visualization w/ Particle

Lane Tech HS PCL- Spotify API Data Visualization w/ Particle

Things used in this project

Hardware components

Software apps and online services

Story

Beginning

The Hardware

The Software

The Craft...ware

If I were to do it again, what would I change?

SEE IT IN ACTION

Schematics

Simple Schematics

Code

Program Code

Credits

Marco Garcia

Comments

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