Simple USB-MIDI to MIDI

Having experimented with the Hobbytronics USBMIDI device, I always wanted to see if it was possible to build my own using an Arduino. And it turns out to be a lot simpler than I expected, as least to use the USBMIDI keyboard for MIDI OUT to another device. Warning! I strongly recommend using an old or … Continue reading Simple USB-MIDI to MIDI →

Arduino MIDI Channel Monitor – Part 2

I liked the way my Arduino MIDI Channel Monitor turned out so much that I decided to tidy it up and commit it to stripboard after all and I'm pretty pleased with the results. https://youtu.be/mgPapCQgJ7g In the video you can see the LED for channel 10 lighting up when the drums are played and the LED … Continue reading Arduino MIDI Channel Monitor – Part 2 →

Arduino MIDI Channel Monitor

Whilst messing about with MIDI drums at one point it would have been really useful to be able to check which MIDI channels had messages, so I thought it would be useful to have a simple MIDI channel monitor. The idea is that you have 16 LEDs, one for each MIDI channel, and if any … Continue reading Arduino MIDI Channel Monitor →

Arduino Piezo MIDI Controller

This project uses piezo sensors to build a simple "drum" MIDI controller. This is a relatively simple build, but there are a number of excellent examples of doing this "properly" out on the Internet. Here are some that are particularly great: Marco's DIY Percussion Kit. todbot's Arduino Drum MIDI drum kit. The YAMMI Drum with … Continue reading Arduino Piezo MIDI Controller →

Arduino USB MIDI VS1053 Synth

This project builds on the Arduino MIDI VS1053 Synth but introduces a neat little module from Hobbytronics.co.uk that lets you use a range of USB MIDI controllers with the Arduino. Warning! I strongly recommend using an old or second hand keyboard for your MIDI experiments. I am not responsible for any damage to expensive instruments! These … Continue reading Arduino USB MIDI VS1053 Synth →

Arduino MIDI VS1053 Synth

One of the nice things about that VS1053 shield is that the device has a fully general MIDI compliant mode. As well as playing MP3s and other audio files, it can either play MIDI files (as if it was just another audio file) or even better for my purposes, it can run in a real-time … Continue reading Arduino MIDI VS1053 Synth →

LOLShield MIDI Waterfall Display

This builds on the Arduino MIDI Note Monitor with a slightly different take to the Wemos MIDI LED Matrix making use of a "LOL Shield". LOL in this case stands for "lots of LEDs" - in this case a grid of 14 x 9 - and is a fun way to get your Arduino lighting up as … Continue reading LOLShield MIDI Waterfall Display →

Arduino MP3 Piano

This is the first of a series of projects I hope to do based on an MP3 Audio Shield based on the VS1053 chip. There are so many possibilities with this device, but to start with I gone for a simple "piano" device (five notes only) that will play an MP3 file for each note. … Continue reading Arduino MP3 Piano →