XIAO ESP32-C3 MIDI Synthesizer – Part 6

Expanding on my previous posts, I thought it might be interesting to see how I might be able to add some additional IO to the MIDI Synth. This is an exploration of some options there. Part 1 - Getting started and getting code running. Part 2 - Swapping the ESP32-C3 for a SAMD21 to get USB … Continue reading XIAO ESP32-C3 MIDI Synthesizer – Part 6 →

XIAO ESP32-C3 MIDI Synthesizer – Part 5

So I was somewhat guilty that I'd replaced the XIAO microcontroller in the last couple of parts to get USB MIDI, so in this one I put the original ESP32-C3 back in and now have a version of Part 4 for serial MIDI. Part 1 - Getting started and getting code running. Part 2 - Swapping the … Continue reading XIAO ESP32-C3 MIDI Synthesizer – Part 5 →

XIAO ESP32-C3 MIDI Synthesizer – Part 4

In Part 2 I looked at how to add USB MIDI to the XIAO MIDI Synthesizer and in Part 3 I looked at some of the properties of the SAM2695 synth chip itself. This post combines the two into a relatively simple, but playable, synth. Part 1 - Getting started and getting code running. Part 2 - Swapping … Continue reading XIAO ESP32-C3 MIDI Synthesizer – Part 4 →

“Baby8” Discrete Logic MIDI (ish)

I've wanted to create a non-microcontroller, discrete logic MIDI circuit for some time. I thought it would be interesting to have a few chips that could generate a specific sequence of bytes corresponding to a MIDI message. Note: I'm still talking individual chips here, not just gates and definitely not individual transistors, so perhaps "discrete … Continue reading “Baby8” Discrete Logic MIDI (ish) →

Arduino MIDI Foot Pedal for Peavey Vypyr Amp

I was asked to take a look at a Peavey Vypyr amp to think about how the foot pedal for it works. This is a set of links and notes by way of recording what I found out, and some initial experiments with an Arduino. Warning! I strongly recommend using old or second hand equipment … Continue reading Arduino MIDI Foot Pedal for Peavey Vypyr Amp →

Arduino PCF8574/8575 MIDI Controller

This project uses a PCF8574 or PCF8575 I2C digital IO expander with an Arduino as a MIDI controller. https://youtu.be/yrNB3riWBH4 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 Arduino tutorials for the main concepts used in this … Continue reading Arduino PCF8574/8575 MIDI Controller →

XIAO SAMD21, Arduino and MIDI – Part 6

This post looks at a series of relative straight forward MIDI control projects using the Seeedstudio XIAO SAMD21 and the XIAO Expansion Board. The projects should work with either USB MIDI or serial MIDI via an external MIDI module. Other parts in this series: Part 1 - Introduction to the XIAO SAMD21 and some projects … Continue reading XIAO SAMD21, Arduino and MIDI – Part 6 →

Arduino VS1053 General MIDI Synth – Part 3

Having prototyped a patch changer for my Arduino VS1053 General MIDI Synth this shows how that can be achieved in a slightly more useful manner using a shift register to control the 7-segment display. It also follows through a build using my Arduino MIDI Proto Shield PCB. Warning! I strongly recommend using an old or second hand keyboard … Continue reading Arduino VS1053 General MIDI Synth – Part 3 →

Arduino VS1053 General MIDI Synth – Part 2

Another I've wanted to do with my Arduino MIDI Proto Shield PCB is link it with my Arduino VS1053 General MIDI Synth to provide a means of selecting the voice from the shield itself. As I almost always pair my VS1053 shield with an off the shelf MIDI module to use it, this seems like a natural thing … Continue reading Arduino VS1053 General MIDI Synth – Part 2 →

Arduino MIDI Rotary Encoder Controller – Part 2

Having just received back my Arduino MIDI Proto Shield PCBs I was thinking of a project to use them on and decided that a rotary encoder patch changer would be ideal, so this is a rebuild of my Arduino MIDI Rotary Encoder Controller using my MIDI proto shield. https://youtu.be/88TgJZBtC_8 Warning! I strongly recommend using an old or second … Continue reading Arduino MIDI Rotary Encoder Controller – Part 2 →