Laser ToF sensor theremin (updated Aug 2020)for Sonic Pi Full article at https://rbnrpi.wordpress.com/new-sonic-pi-theremin-using-time-of-flight-laser-sensor/ and video at https://youtu.be/MPgnz9gjeEc (osctheremin.py script now updated)

osctheremin.py

#!/usr/bin/env python3
#script to read vl53l1x sensor and send reading via OSC to Sonic Pi
#written by Robin Newman August 2018 updated August 2020 for version 0.0.5 of library
#with thanks to Pimoroni's Phil Howard @Gadgetoid for the graph.py example
#on which I based some of this script.
import time
import sys
import signal
from pythonosc import osc_message_builder
from pythonosc import udp_client
import argparse
import VL53L1X

MAX_DISTANCE_MM = 800 # Set upper range

"""
Open and start the VL53L1X ranging sensor
"""
tof = VL53L1X.VL53L1X(i2c_bus=1, i2c_address=0x29)
tof.open() # Initialise the i2c bus and configure the sensor
tof.set_timing(66000,70) #This line is added from the original version to set refresh timings
tof.start_ranging(2) # Start ranging, 1 = Short Range, 2 = Medium Range, 3 = Long Range (LINE UPDATED)

sys.stdout.write("\n")

running = True

def exit_handler(signal, frame):
    global running
    running = False
    tof.stop_ranging() # Stop ranging
    sys.stdout.write("\n")
    sys.exit(0)

signal.signal(signal.SIGINT, exit_handler)

def control(spip):
    sender=udp_client.SimpleUDPClient(spip,4560) #port updated to 4560
    while running:
        distance_in_mm = tof.get_distance() # Grab the range in mm
        distance_in_mm = min(MAX_DISTANCE_MM, distance_in_mm) # Cap at our MAX_DISTANCE
        sender.send_message('/range',distance_in_mm)
        sys.stdout.write("\r") # Return the cursor to the beginning of the current line
        sys.stdout.write ("range %3d " % (distance_in_mm))
        sys.stdout.flush() # Flush the output buffer, since we're overdrawing the last line
        #time.sleep(0.01)
    
if __name__=="__main__":
    parser = argparse.ArgumentParser()
    parser.add_argument("--sp",
    default = "127.0.0.1", help="The ip of the Sonic Pi computer")
    args = parser.parse_args()
    spip=args.sp
    print("Sonic Pi on ip",spip)
    control(spip)

ToF_ThereminDiscrete.rb

#Sonic Pi theremin using time of flight sensor VL531X
#Discrete note version (c: major {changeable})
#by Robin Newman, August 2018 updated August 2020
with_fx :reverb,room: 0.8,mix: 0.7 do
  use_synth :tri
  #start long note at zero volume: will be controlled later by k
  k = play octs(0,2),sustain: 10000,amp: 0
  set :k,k #store k in time-state reference :k
  live_loop :theremin do
    use_real_time
    b = sync "/osc*/range" #get osc message from sensor script. Syntax updated
    v= (b[0]/12.0).to_i #scale reading and convert result to integer
    puts v #print on screen
    # puts scale(:g3,:major,num_octaves: 5).length #for debugging puts total no notes
    if v < 36
      #change the scale if you wish. (may need to change note range too)
      nv=scale(:g3,:major,num_octaves: 5)[v] #get note pitch from c scale
      #control the note and set the pitch and volume
      control get(:k),note: nv,amp: 1,amp_slide: 0.04
    else
      #if v is too high then set volume to zero
      control get(:k),amp: 0,amp_slide: 0.04
    end
  end

end #fx reverb

ToF_ThereminSmooth.rb

#Sonic Pi theremin using time of flight sensor
#smooth continuous note pitch version
#by Robin Newman, August 2018 updated August 2020
#works on Mac or Pi3
with_fx :reverb,room: 0.8,mix: 0.7 do
  use_synth :dpulse
  #start long note at zero vol. It will be controlled by k later
  k = play 0,sustain: 10000,amp: 0
  set :k,k #store k pointer in time-state as :k
  live_loop :theremin do
    use_real_time
    b = sync "/osc*/range" #syntax updated
    v= (b[0].to_f/10) #scale and convert range data to a float
    puts v #put value on screen
    if v<=48.2
      #control the note retrieving :k pointer and adjusting pitch and amp
      control get(:k),note: v+47.9,amp: 0.7,amp_slide: 0.04,note_slide: 0.04
    else
      #if range too high set vol to 0
      control get(:k),amp: 0,amp_slide: 0.04
    end
  end
  
end #fx reverb

ToF_ThereminTb303Frenzy.rb

#Sonic Pi theremin using time of flight sensor
#tb303 frenzy version!
#by Robin Newman, August 2018 updated August 2020
#experiment changing octs(v+25.8,2) to octs(v+47.9,1) line22

#may want to increase sample default amp to 3 on a Mac
#and decrease tb303 vol from 1.4 to 0.5 on a Mac

use_sample_defaults amp: 2 #for percussion samples
with_fx :reverb,room: 0.8,mix: 0.7 do #can try gverb as well
  use_synth :tb303
  #start long continous note at zero volume: controlled later on by k
  k = play 0,sustain: 10000,amp: 0
  set :k,k #save k pointer in time state as :k
  live_loop :theremin do #start thermin loop
    use_real_time
    b = sync "/osc*/range" #wait for input from python script
    v= (b[0]/8.0)#scale the received data as a float
    puts v #print value on screen
    if v<=48.2 #set limit for high note
        cue :drums #send cue to :dr live loop ty sync percussion
        control get(:k),note: octs(v+25.8,2).tick,amp: 1.4,amp_slide: 0.04,note_slide: 0.04,cutoff: 1.5*v+57,pan: 0.8*(-1)**look 
        else #if outside range then set note volume to zero
          control get(:k),amp: 0,amp_slide: 0.04
        end
        end

        live_loop :dr do
          use_real_time
          sync :drums #only run when theremin playing a note
          tick
          #use three samples with spread to give some funky rhythm
          sample :bd_haus if spread(2,5).look
          sample :elec_twip if !spread(5,8).look
          sample :drum_cymbal_closed if spread(5,8).look
          sleep 0.2 #wait then go back for next cue
        end

        end #fx reverb