Arduino Tone Polyphony – Part 2

There were two enhancements to my Arduino Tone Polyphony project I was keen to explore. One was to expand the MIDI range of notes and one was to "build in" a keyboard. I have managed to create an experimental version that can support four octaves over MIDI, but tuning needs some work, so I'm not ready … Continue reading Arduino Tone Polyphony – Part 2 →

Pi Pico MIDI Matrix Decode – Part 4

I'd left the Pi Pico MIDI Matrix Decode project essentially working but with a ghosting multiple keypresses problem. I was just going to let it go, but then I decided I just couldn't leave it there, so I had to take another look. Warning! I strongly recommend using old or second hand equipment for your experiments. … Continue reading Pi Pico MIDI Matrix Decode – Part 4 →

Single Pin MIDI Channel Selector – Part 2

As I mentioned in the Single Pin MIDI Channel Selector it would be nice to use a "DIP switch" on a small circuit board to give me my MIDI channel selection switch. Here is a small board that can plug directly into an Arduino's headers. Warning! I strongly recommend using old or second hand equipment for … Continue reading Single Pin MIDI Channel Selector – Part 2 →

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 →

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 →