Author: Kevin

Just another soul meandering my way around the Internet ...

The Electric Lo-Fi Orchestra Concerto for a Rainy Day

The Electric Lo-Fi Orchestra presents the Electric Light Orchestra's Concerto for a Rainy Day. Every since doing my Lo-Fi Orchestra Mr Blue Sky I wanted to complete the whole Concerto, and here we are: Standin' in the Rain Big Wheels Summer and Lightning Mr. Blue Sky Featuring 11 Arduino Nanos, 6 Arduino Unos, 1 Arduino … Continue reading The Electric Lo-Fi Orchestra Concerto for a Rainy Day →

“Bare Metal” Raspberry Pi Synth

The Raspberry Pi is an "SBC" - a single board computer, whilst the Arduino (and the Raspberry Pi Pico for that matter) is a microcontroller.  Simplistically a single board computer is, well, what most people would think of when they think about a computer - a board (with or without a case!) that you plug … Continue reading “Bare Metal” Raspberry Pi Synth →

Arduino MIDI Rotary Encoder Multi-Track Step Sequencer

Now I have the option for multiple colours for my step sequencer displays, I thought it might be interesting to start experimenting with a "multi-track" step sequencer. https://youtu.be/oQc1IVoJLeQ 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 Arduino MIDI Rotary Encoder Multi-Track Step Sequencer →

Arduino MIDI Rotary Encoder Step Sequencer – Part 3

I am continuing my experiments with different ways of visualising a step sequencer and this comes from from a suggestion by Twitter user @AxWax - using a NeoPixel ring. https://youtu.be/u4WNbgCWvds 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 … Continue reading Arduino MIDI Rotary Encoder Step Sequencer – Part 3 →

Arduino MIDI Rotary Encoder Step Sequencer – Part 2

In my last post, I mentioned other display options for my rotary encoder step sequencer.  To be honest, I wanted an excuse to use some "LED bars" with a rotary encoder, so this post is more by way of an excuse to play rather than a serious option, but in reality it actually works quite … Continue reading Arduino MIDI Rotary Encoder Step Sequencer – Part 2 →

Arduino MIDI Rotary Encoder Step Sequencer

I'm thinking about other applications for a rotary encoder and one thought was to support a multi-step, step sequencer with just a single knob, so this takes the Arduino MIDI Step Sequencer and recodes it to use the rotary encoder and 7 segment display described in Arduino MIDI Rotary Encoder Controller. Here are some links to … Continue reading Arduino MIDI Rotary Encoder Step Sequencer →

Arduino MIDI Rotary Encoder Controller

I've finally gotten around to having a play with rotary encoders.  It has been on my "to do" list for a while, so I thought I'd start with a rotary encoder version of my Arduino MIDI Button Controller which can select a voice and send the corresponding Program Change message out over MIDI. https://youtu.be/uxT_RQs1MXM Warning! I strongly … Continue reading Arduino MIDI Rotary Encoder Controller →

Arduino Four-tone Multi-tones

I had reason recently to take a look at the ATmega32U4 microcontroller again.  This is used on the Arduino Leonardo and the Sparkfun Pro Micro and includes built-in USB functionality.  But it also has four hardware timers, so I thought I'd try to get them working with the three-timer Tone library. https://youtu.be/N0GdLr4a9hM Warning! I strongly … Continue reading Arduino Four-tone Multi-tones →

Lo-Fi Orchestra – Fanfare for the Common Man

Here is another piece for my Arduino tones- Aaron Copland's Fanfare for the Common Man.  This is scored for four horns, three trumpets, three trombones, tuba, timpani, bass drum and tam-tam. The Arduino tones provide the brass.  The VS1053 provides the timpani and bass drum, but the tam-tam was a bit problematic.  Eventually I decided … Continue reading Lo-Fi Orchestra – Fanfare for the Common Man →