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 →

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 →

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 →

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 →

LOLShield MIDI Step Sequencer – Part 2

I wanted to experiment with different scales and tempos with my LOLShield MIDI Step Sequencer but naturally didn't want to keep having to recompile and redownload sketches onto the Arduino, so some kind of control was in order. However the LOLShield uses all the IO apart from RX/TX, which are used for the MIDI, but I … Continue reading LOLShield MIDI Step Sequencer – Part 2 →

LOLShield MIDI Step Sequencer

One of the things I always do when I get a new LED matrix style display is run Conway's Game of Life on it, so having recently played with some MIDI step sequencers, I thought it time to put the two together. This is the result. In a follow-up post, I add some simple MIDI … Continue reading LOLShield MIDI Step Sequencer →

Arduino MIDI 7 Segment Controller

An Arduino is quite capable of driving a seven segment display directly without additional circuitry, but it does use a lot of pins. But the advantage is that you have a much larger range of displays to choose from and you have the option to include it on your own board or shield in the … Continue reading Arduino MIDI 7 Segment Controller →

Simple Potentiometer Breakout

I've been using potentiometers quite a bit in recent projects and now have two boards that include options to link out to potentiometers to control boards too, so thought it useful to have another, smaller, breakout to make experimenting easy. Warning! I strongly recommend using old or second hand equipment for your experiments. I am … Continue reading Simple Potentiometer Breakout →