WS001 – Tones, Notes and MIDI Out

This is the first of my worksheets collecting together a number of related projects with a single list of parts and a suggested "building order". This worksheet links together the following projects: Arduino Tone Generator Arduino Note Generator Simple Arduino Music Keyboard Arduino Simple MIDI Controller MIDI Patch Button Arduino LDR Pianola Arduino Piezo MIDI … Continue reading WS001 – Tones, Notes and MIDI Out →

Arduino Multi MIDI Tone Module – Part 2

So, this is a stripboard version of the Arduino Multi MIDI Tone Module. Code and functionality is exactly the same, but I've built a "holder" for four Arduino Nano boards with common power, linked RX and TX, and built-in resistors for speakers. Warning! I strongly recommend using an old or second hand keyboard for your MIDI experiments. … Continue reading Arduino Multi MIDI Tone Module – Part 2 →

Arduino Multi MIDI Tone Module

Looking back at the Arduino MIDI Tone Module one of the key limitations was its inability to play more than one note at once. So why not string a few of them together to give you Arduino MIDI Tone polyphony! In Part 2 I commit this to stripboard. https://youtu.be/mGESRYY3CGc Warning! I strongly recommend using an old … Continue reading Arduino Multi MIDI Tone Module →

Mini USB-MIDI to MIDI

This is essentially a remake of my Simple USB-MIDI to MIDI but using a mini MIDI Host Shield and an Arduino Pro Mini, which I've not used before, with a home-made MIDI out interface to make a simple "all in one" unit. https://youtu.be/mHmNyse8uJ0 Warning! I strongly recommend using an old or second hand keyboard for your MIDI … Continue reading Mini USB-MIDI to MIDI →

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 →