Step 1) MAKE A KICK ASS MUSIC VISUALIZER

If you're feeling ambitious, make it interactive!

If you like programming, electronics, or bright shiny lights, then you. are. in. luck, my friend.

Grooveshark, HackerHouse, and Paracosm are proud to present the 2013 Music Visualizer Hackathon hosted at Gainesville Hackerspace. Come hang out with other hackers and see who can build the coolest music visualizer based on a stunning 32x16 pixel RGB LED matrix display and powered by an Arduino.

SNEAK PREVIEW:
https://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=10103159328068041

Step 2) EARN SOME RESPECT

What better way to spend a Sunday than to come hang out with Gainesville's startup hackers - 

• LEARN from experts about Arduino, the inexpensive open-source processor that makes it easy for beginners and pros to make electronics projects.
  
• MAKE any kind of music visualization you want, including pixel art, waveforms, dancing text, and any other effect you can dream up. You can even include interactivity via buttons.
• COMPETE alongside Grooveshark's coders and Hackerspace members! Build a music visualizer, maybe even win some prizes... and massive respect!

You and your team will be showing off your creation to our panel of superstar judges:

• Josh Greenberg (Grooveshark)
• Augi Lye (Trendy Entertainment and HackerHouse)
• Amir Rubin (Paracosm)
• Christian von Kleist (Gainesville Hackerspace)
• Ian Taylor (Gainesville Hackerspace)

Step 3) ???

HOW IT WORKS

• Show up with yourself or some friends - you can work on teams of 1-3 hackers! (If you show up by yourself, you can choose to join a team the day of the event)
  
• Pick a totally sweet name for your team (otherwise the judges will assign you a terrible one)
• EVERYONE ON THE TEAM MUST PRE-REGISTER FOR THE EVENT!
  

WHAT YOU NEED TO BRING, This is tricky so pay attention:

• We will supply the LED display matrixes, breadboards and wires, etc.  You'll need to bring a laptop and your own Arduino board! 
• Not everyone on your team needs their own Arduino, you can all share one board; but each team must bring at least one Arduino board!
• If no one on your team has an Arduino, you can purchase one from us at cost ($22) when you reserve your ticket.  Simply pick it up on the day of the competition. You'll keep your board, and after the hackathon, you’ll be able to use your Arduino in dozens of other projects!

PRE-REQS:

Mentors will be on site to help if you get stuck, but a moderate knowledge of at least one programming language is strongly suggested. Specific knowledge about Arduino is not required.

CODE SAMPLES AND HARDWARE:

Three days prior to the event registered teams will be emailed a link to the following:

1. A sample Arduino project which pulses the display to the beat of the music and changes color with a button press. This sample project will make it easy to start making your music visualizer right away on the day of the hackathon.
2. Easy wiring diagrams for the sample project (matrix display, button, audio-in)
3. Judging criteria so you can start brainstorming your hackathon-winning visualization idea!

HACKATHON SCHEDULE:

Mornings suck, this event starts at noon!

• 12p -1pm: Intro and Lunch
• 1p - 5:30p: Hacking
• 5:30p - 6p: First round judging (5 teams will be selected to the finals)
  
• 6p-7p: Final judging (finalists demo their visualizers to the audience)

Step 4) Profit!

Just for attending, we'll hook you up with 

• LUNCH
• AWESOME T-SHIRT
  

Each member of the top 2 winning teams gets to take home a 32x16 pixel RGB LED matrix display board (a $45 value) so that you can setup your visualizer in your room and impress your friends!

In addition, the winner gets a sweet trophy and lots of high fives.



FAQs

What are my transport/parking options getting to the event?

Gainesville Hackerspace is located downtown in the Sun Center parking lot, so you will have no trouble locating a parking spot :)  Lots of buses go there too

What can/can't I bring to the event?

Bring your team, your laptop, and your Arduino (if you pre-order it you'll pick it up at the venue).

Then bring your A game.

http://GainesvilleHackerspace.org/2013-music-visualizer-hackathon/