def get_pickle_minigen():
  try:
    m = pickle.load( open( minigen_pickle_file, "rb" ) )
    #print "pickle loaded successfully"
  except:
    m = minigen.minigen()
    #print "new object created"

  return m
def update_frequency(frequency):
  # make an instance of the minigen class to handle the connection
  m = minigen.minigen()

  # ask the minigen to set the new frequency
  m.setFrequency(float(frequency)*1000)

  #close the conection
  m.close()