 //LED variables
 int redVal = 255;            // used to fade out LED. Starts at 255 to match startup val
 int greenVal = 0;             //used to fade in LED
+//stepper variables
+//number of steps you want the motor to take
+#define STEPS 600
 
 
 //********other initialization things
 // intitialize neopixel object
 Adafruit_NeoPixel strip = Adafruit_NeoPixel(pixelQuant, neoPin, NEO_RGB + NEO_KHZ800);
-// Create the motor shield object with the default I2C address
-Adafruit_MotorShield AFMS = Adafruit_MotorShield(); 
-// Connect a stepper motor with 200 steps per revolution (1.8 degree)
-// to motor port #2 (M3 and M4)
-Adafruit_StepperMotor *myMotor = AFMS.getStepper(200, 2);
+// create an instance of the stepper, specifiying number of steps and pins
+Stepper stepper(STEPS, 7, 8, 9, 10);
 
 
 

  strip.show(); // Initialize all pixels to 'off'

  //initialize the stepper
  AFMS.begin();  // create with the default frequency 1.6KHz
  myMotor->setSpeed(100);  // 100 rpm - to get faster need to change code

  //initilizes the audio pin
  pinMode(upPin,OUTPUT);

  digitalWrite(upPin, HIGH);

  //*******Stepper section
  //goes up STEPS steps
  stepper.step(STEPS);

  //*******cleanup section
  counter = 1;
  stateTracker = 1;
  pingTracker = 0;
  Serial.println("Startup complete");
  
}
