docs: Add Sound Effects documentation.

Author: microbit-carlos

docs/audio.rst

@@ -6,29 +6,57 @@ Audio
 This module allows you play sounds with the micro:bit.
 
 By default sound output will be via the edge connector on pin 0 and the
-:doc:`built-in speaker <speaker>` **V2**. You can connect wired headphones or
+:doc:`built-in speaker <speaker>` (**V2**). You can connect wired headphones or
 a speaker to pin 0 and GND on the edge connector to hear the sounds.
 
 The ``audio`` module can be imported as ``import audio`` or accessed via
 the ``microbit`` module as ``microbit.audio``.
 
+There are three different kinds of audio sources that can be played using the
+:py:meth:`audio.play` function:
+
+1. `Built in sounds <#built-in-sounds-v2>`_ (**V2**),
+   e.g. ``audio.play(Sound.HAPPY)``
+2. `Sound Effects <#sound-effects-v2>`_ (**V2**), a way to create custom sounds
+   by configuring its parameters::
+
+    my_effect = audio.Effect(freq_start=400, freq_end=2500, duration=500)
+    audio.play(my_effect)
+
+3. `Audio Frames <##audioframe>`_, an iterable (like a list or a generator)
+   of Audio Frames, which are lists of 32 samples with values from 0 to 255::
+
+    square_wave = audio.AudioFrame()
+    for i in range(16):
+        square_wave[i] = 0
+        square_wave[i + 16] = 255
+    audio.play([square_wave] * 64)
+
+
 Functions
 =========
 
 .. py:function:: play(source, wait=True, pin=pin0, return_pin=None)
 
-    Play the source to completion.
+    Play the audio source to completion.
 
-    :param source: ``Sound``: The ``microbit`` module contains a list of
-      built-in sounds that your can pass to ``audio.play()``.
+    :param source: There are three types of data that can be used as a source:
+
+        - ``Sound``: The ``microbit`` module contains a list of
+          built-in sounds, e.g. ``audio.play(Sound.TWINKLE)``. A full list can
+          be found in the `Built in sounds <#built-in-sounds-v2>`_ section.
+        - ``Effect``: A sound effect, or an iterable of sound effects, created
+          via the :py:meth:`audio.Effect` class
+        - ``AudioFrame``: An iterable of ``AudioFrame`` instances as described
+          in the `AudioFrame Technical Details <#id2>`_ section
 
-      ``AudioFrame``: The source agrument can also be an iterable
-      of ``AudioFrame`` elements as described below.
     :param wait: If ``wait`` is ``True``, this function will block until the
         source is exhausted.
+
     :param pin: An optional argument to specify the output pin can be used to
       override the default of ``pin0``. If we do not want any sound to play
       we can use ``pin=None``.
+
     :param return_pin: specifies a differential edge connector pin to connect
       to an external speaker instead of ground. This is ignored for the **V2**
       revision.
@@ -41,34 +69,9 @@ Functions
 
     Stops all audio playback.
 
-Classes
-=======
-
-.. py:class::
-    AudioFrame
-
-    An ``AudioFrame`` object is a list of 32 samples each of which is an unsigned byte
-    (whole number between 0 and 255).
-
-    It takes just over 4 ms to play a single frame.
-
-    .. py:function:: copyfrom(other)
-
-        Overwrite the data in this ``AudioFrame`` with the data from another
-        ``AudioFrame`` instance.
-
-        :param other: ``AudioFrame`` instance from which to copy the data.
-
-
-Using audio
-===========
-
-You will need a sound source, as input to the ``play`` function. You can use
-the built-in sounds **V2** from the ``microbit`` module, ``microbit.Sound``, or
-generate your own, like in ``examples/waveforms.py``.
 
 Built-in sounds **V2**
-----------------------
+======================
 
 The built-in sounds can be called using ``audio.play(Sound.NAME)``.
 
@@ -83,8 +86,213 @@ The built-in sounds can be called using ``audio.play(Sound.NAME)``.
 * ``Sound.TWINKLE``
 * ``Sound.YAWN``
 
+Sounds Example
+--------------
+
+::
+
+    from microbit import *
+
+    while True:
+        if button_a.is_pressed() and button_b.is_pressed():
+            # When pressing both buttons only play via the edge connector
+            audio.play(Sound.HELLO, pin=pin0)
+        elif button_a.is_pressed():
+            # On button A play a sound and when it's done show an image
+            audio.play(Sound.HAPPY)
+            display.show(Image.HAPPY)
+        elif button_b.is_pressed():
+            # On button B play a sound and show an image at the same time
+            audio.play(Sound.TWINKLE, wait=False)
+            display.show(Image.BUTTERFLY)
+
+        sleep(500)
+        display.clear()
+
+
+Sound Effects **V2**
+====================
+
+.. py:class::
+    Effect(preset, freq_start=400, freq_end=200, duration=500, vol_start=100, vol_end=255, wave=WAVE_SQUARE, fx=None, interpolation=INTER_LINEAR)
+
+    An ``Effect`` instance represents a sound effect, composed by a set of
+    parameters configured via the constructor or instance attributes.
+
+    All the parameters are optional, with default values as shown above, and
+    they can all be modified via attributes of the same name. For example, we
+    can first create an effect ``my_effect = Effect(duration=1000)``, and then
+    change its attributes ``my_effect.duration = 500``.
+
+    :param preset: Existing Effect instance to use as a base.
+    :param freq_start: Start Frequency in Hertz (Hz), eg: ``400``
+    :param freq_end: End Frequency in Hertz (Hz), eg: ``2000``
+    :param duration: Duration of the sound (ms), eg: ``500``
+    :param vol_start: Start volume value, range 0-255, eg: ``120``
+    :param vol_end: End volume value, range 0-255, eg: ``255``
+    :param wave: Type of wave shape, one of these values: ``WAVE_SINE``,
+        ``WAVE_SAWTOOTH``, ``WAVE_TRIANGLE``, ``WAVE_SQUARE``,
+        ``WAVE_NOISE`` (randomly generated noise).
+    :param fx: Effect to add on the sound, one of the following values:
+        ``FX_TREMOLO``, ``FX_VIBRATO``, ``FX_WARBLE``, or ``None``.
+    :param interpolation: The type of curve between the start and end
+        frequencies, different wave shapes have different rates of change
+        in frequency. One of the following values: ``INTER_LINEAR``,
+        ``INTER_CURVE``, ``INTER_LOG``.
+
+    .. py:attribute:: freq_start
+
+        Start Frequency in Hertz (Hz)
+
+    .. py:attribute:: freq_end
+
+        End Frequency in Hertz (Hz)
+
+    .. py:attribute:: duration
+
+        Duration of the sound (ms), eg: ``500``
+
+    .. py:attribute:: vol_start
+
+        Start volume value, range 0-255, eg: ``120``
+
+    .. py:attribute:: vol_end
+
+        End volume value, range 0-255, eg: ``255``
+
+    .. py:attribute:: wave
+
+        Type of wave shape, one of these values: ``WAVE_SINE``,
+        ``WAVE_SAWTOOTH``, ``WAVE_TRIANGLE``, ``WAVE_SQUARE``,
+        ``WAVE_NOISE`` (randomly generated noise).
+
+    .. py:attribute:: fx
+
+        Effect to add on the sound, one of the following values:
+        ``FX_TREMOLO``, ``FX_VIBRATO``, ``FX_WARBLE``, or ``None``.
+
+    .. py:attribute:: interpolation
+
+        The type of curve between the start and end
+        frequencies, different wave shapes have different rates of change
+        in frequency. One of the following values: ``INTER_LINEAR``,
+        ``INTER_CURVE``, ``INTER_LOG``.
+
+The arguments used to create any Sound Effect, including the built in effects,
+can be inspected by looking at each of the Effect instance attributes, or by
+converting the instance into a string (which can be done via ``str()``
+function, or by using a function that does the conversion automatically like
+``print()``).
+
+For example, with the :doc:`REPL </devguide/repl>` you can inspect the built
+in Effects::
+
+    >>> audio.Effect.CROAK
+    Effect(freq_start=..., freq_end=..., duration=..., vol_start=..., vol_end=..., wave=..., fx=..., interpolation=...)
+
+The built in Effects are immutable, so they cannot be changed. Trying to modify
+a built in Effect will throw an exception::
+
+    >>> audio.Effect.CLICK.duration = 1000
+    Traceback (most recent call last):
+        File "<stdin>", line 1, in <module>
+    TypeError: effect cannot be modified
+
+But a new one can be created cloning the data::
+
+    >>> click_clone = Effect(audio.Effect.CLICK)
+    >>> click_clone.duration = 1000
+    >>>
+
+Built in Sound Effects
+----------------------
+
+Some pre-created Sound Effects are already available as examples. These can
+be played directly ``audio.play(audio.Effect.SQUEAK)``, or used as a base to
+create new effects ``audio.Effect(audio.Effect.SQUEAK, duration=2000)``.
+
+* ``audio.Effect.SQUEAK``
+* ``audio.Effect.WARBLE``
+* ``audio.Effect.CHIRP``
+* ``audio.Effect.CROAK``
+* ``audio.Effect.CLICK``
+
+Sound Effects Example
+---------------------
+
+::
+
+    from microbit import *
+
+    # Play a built in Sound Effect
+    audio.play(audio.Effect.CHIRP)
+
+    # Create an immediately play a Sound Effect exercising all options
+    audio.play(Effect(
+        freq_start=400,
+        freq_end=2000,
+        duration=500,
+        vol_start=100,
+        vol_end=255,
+        wave=audio.WAVE_TRIANGLE,
+        fx=audio.FX_VIBRATO,
+        interpolation=audio.LOG
+    ))
+
+    # Play a Sound Effect instance, modify an attribute, and play it again
+    my_effect = Effect(
+        preset=audio.CHIRP
+        freq_start=400,
+        freq_end=2000,
+    )
+    audio.play(my_effect)
+    my_effect.duration = 1000
+    audio.play(my_effect)
+
+    # You can also create a new effect based on an existing one, and modify
+    # any of the options
+    audio.play(audio.Effect.WARBLE)
+    my_modified_effect = Effect(audio.Effect.WARBLE, duration=1000)
+    audio.play(my_modified_effect)
+
+    # Use sensor data to modify and play the existing Sound Effect instance
+    while True:
+        my_effect.freq_start=accelerometer.get_x()
+        my_effect.freq_end=accelerometer.get_y()
+        audio.play(my_effect)
+
+        if button_a.is_pressed():
+            # On button A play an effect and once it's done show an image
+            audio.play(audio.Effect.CHIRP)
+            display.show(Image.DUCK)
+            sleep(500)
+        elif button_b.is_pressed():
+            # On button B play an effect while showing an image
+            audio.play(audio.Effect.CLICK, wait=False)
+            display.show(Image.SQUARE)
+            sleep(500)
+
+
+AudioFrame
+==========
+
+.. py:class::
+    AudioFrame
+
+    An ``AudioFrame`` object is a list of 32 samples each of which is an unsigned byte
+    (whole number between 0 and 255).
+
+    It takes just over 4 ms to play a single frame.
+
+    .. py:function:: copyfrom(other)
+
+        Overwrite the data in this ``AudioFrame`` with the data from another
+        ``AudioFrame`` instance.
+
+        :param other: ``AudioFrame`` instance from which to copy the data.
+
 Technical Details
-=================
+-----------------
 
 .. note::
     You don't need to understand this section to use the ``audio`` module.
@@ -104,11 +312,11 @@ samples. When reading reaches the start or the mid-point of the buffer, it
 triggers a callback to fetch the next ``AudioFrame`` which is then copied into
 the buffer. This means that a sound source has under 4ms to compute the next
 ``AudioFrame``, and for reliable operation needs to take less 2ms (which is
-32000 cycles, so should be plenty).
+32k cycles in micro:bit V1 or 128k in V2, so should be plenty).
 
 
-Example
-=======
+AudioFrame Example
+------------------
 
 .. include:: ../examples/waveforms.py
     :code: python