Pi Pico MIDI Matrix Decode – Part 3

Expanding on the Pi Pico MIDI Matrix Decode project to create a basic four octave keyboard. There are some limitations with this approach though, so be sure to read on before trying to build one yourself (or skip over to Part 4 to read about the solution). https://youtu.be/Wc3dhsPsm0w Warning! I strongly recommend using old or … Continue reading Pi Pico MIDI Matrix Decode – Part 3 →

Pi Pico MIDI Matrix Decode – Part 2

This is taking the solderless breadboard "keyboard" from my Pi Pico MIDI Matrix Decode project and committing it to stripboard. In part 3 I expand it to four octaves. Warning! I strongly recommend using old or second hand equipment for your experiments. I am not responsible for any damage to expensive instruments! These are the key … Continue reading Pi Pico MIDI Matrix Decode – Part 2 →

Single Pin MIDI Channel Selector

One thing that has been missing from all of my MIDI projects so far is some means of configuring the MIDI channel without having to reload code. There are a number of approaches, but I wanted one that used the minimal amount of IO. This documents one option. In part 2 I build this into … Continue reading Single Pin MIDI Channel Selector →

Arduino Tone Polyphony

I've been reading about the Oskitone 555Poly which looks like a lot of fun. It is a fully polyphonic sound generator based on one 555 oscillator circuit per key, each one individually tuned to the note you want it to play. Unfortunately my budget for making is unlikely to be able to justify getting one … Continue reading Arduino Tone Polyphony →

Pi Pico MIDI Matrix Decode

Having had a first play with my new Raspberry Pi Pico, I thought the next step was to make a simple MIDI controller with some IO. So I thought I'd get a simple music keyboard up and running. In part 2 I build this up on stripboard. In part 3 I expand it to four … Continue reading Pi Pico MIDI Matrix Decode →

Arduino MIDI VS1003 or VS1053 Synth

This is a minor update to my Arduino MIDI VS1003 Synth and Arduino MIDI VS1053 Synth projects. I mentioned that as part of the VS1003 support the code should be configurable for either the VS1003 or VS1053 modules, but at the time the VS1053 support was untested, It is now tested! Read on for details. Update: Also … Continue reading Arduino MIDI VS1003 or VS1053 Synth →

Lo-Fi Orchestra – Procession of the Nobles

The Lo-Fi Orchestra presents the Procession of the Nobles from Rimsky-Korsakov's opera-ballet Mlada. This is a piece that I really don't hear played very much, but has a lot of appeal to me. This really features the quartet of the Arduino MIDI Multi-Tone Module on the brass fanfares. This has been programmed in from scratch … Continue reading Lo-Fi Orchestra – Procession of the Nobles →

Lo-Fi Orchestra – Venus from The Planets

Inspired by the legendary Tomita, the Lo-Fi Orchestra presents Venus from Gustav Holst's Planets Suite. This features the Arduino MIDI R2R Digital Audio for the soft opening and the Arduino MIDI VS1053 Synth with a guitar sound as the "harp" and later the celeste. This performance really starts to show the limitations of the Lo-Fi approach to … Continue reading Lo-Fi Orchestra – Venus from The Planets →

Lo-Fi Orchestra – Those Magnificent Men (in their flying machines)

The Lo-Fi Orchestra presents the theme from the 1965 film "Those Magnificent Men in their Flying Machines" by Ron Goodwin. This is an arrangement originally for brass band, but unfortunately I've not been able to find the original arranger's name. https://youtu.be/gtHRl80DfFs All music rights and copyright with original authors, composers, producers, artists, and so on. … Continue reading Lo-Fi Orchestra – Those Magnificent Men (in their flying machines) →

MIDI, CircuitPython, CPX and Pi Pico

Inspired by my initial play with the Raspberry Pi Pico and MicroPython, I wanted to also see what I could do with both the Micro:bit and my Adafruit Circuit Playground Express MIDI-wise too. Both are 3.3V boards and both can run a variant of MicroPython - either native or using the Adafruit version - CircuitPython. … Continue reading MIDI, CircuitPython, CPX and Pi Pico →