"I do enjoy making random sounds for no other reason than to entertain myself." I understand this so much! I'm awful at making music but I love playing around with music software. Awesome video! I've never heard of your channel before, but I'm glad this showed up in my recommended.
I'm only 3 minutes into the video and I had to pause to comment on your motion graphics on this video. Seriously, holy cow. It's some of the highest caliper work I've seen on TH-cam. Keep up the amazing work in both making and production.
thank you so much for doing more of a theoretical overview rather then a step by step guide. So much more useful when trying to wrap my head around how all these different things fit together.
You can probably assume that someone wanting to know how to build a MIDI controller knows what MIDI is, but seriously thanks for eventually getting around to telling us what we came to learn.
Oh, that brought back some memories... I actually wrote a complete midi-player (sequencer) back in the days, probably around 1994. I enjoyed the sound from my sb16 + wave blaster and my connected Roland keyboard. Most for the fun of it of course, but it worked nicely... I have to dig that up and run it in a dosBox or something.
Great project! I particularly liked the "bus bar tape". What a great idea for cleaning up the point to point wiring a bit. I will definitely file that away for future use.
Mainly suitable for low power applications, and only on non-conductive surfaces obviously, but it does come in pretty handy from time to time. I did cover it with electrical tape off camera though, just to insulate it in case any exposed wire would come in contact with it.
Now _that's_ what I call "building". Other people post videos of them assembling ready-made kits and complain when you point out that a "build" involves your own _design_ . Nice one!
My sincere congratulations, sir. This is perfect for physically-challenged musicians. Hardly any limit to the physical interface itself, short of a BCI. Liked, commented, shared, and kudo-ed!
i'm a classically trained jazz pianist , fusion guitarist , trumpeter and also pop music producer. by my snobby standards you ARE A MUSICIAN. your list at the beginning fits my definition. making random sounds for self pleasure is the highest apex a musician can reach, if you are thinking about what other people think about the sounds you make, then you ain't making music, or having fun or being entertained, which SHOULD be integral to playing music (stuffy acadamics abaft!) . also, on a side note, for other realms, if it sounds good, it is good, and it doesn't matter HOW it's made. this is a rebuke to people my age (mid50s) who frown on 'new' music and sounds (like auto tune, or digital audio, anti-fx purists, etc) or are analog purists etc
I never said I wasn't musical, but I'm certainly not a musician. I don't have a feeling in me when I play any instrument what will sound good, any idea of any sort of note progression that will have any sort of harmony. Trust me, I've tried, I've practiced hard trying to get a feel for it. It just doesn't stick. I can make random noise to entertain myself, but I would love to be able to sit down by a piano, or take up a guitar, or heck even a kazoo, and make some sort of sound that won't make people want to leave the room. That just aint happening. You don't even want to know how long the takes were for this video to produce just a few seconds of bearable audio.
ach so cool , well thought out and well executed. I'm a musician with a fascination for electronics who is just learning to program, so this is very relevant. Dire Straits at the end is a nice touch too.
Wow... Seriously? I'm a french director. I just starting to use midi controler for my work. And, As I am also a 3d printer ... I was wondering if it was possible to make your own midi controller. And boom! I come across your video. WTF. This is exactly what I was looking for and more ... you may not be a musician ... but your graphic animations are superb. Bravo Monsieur !
Smart how you use the 6 way to extend the physical encoders. I did this using an old PS2 keyboard and used the keys to change mode - could used your keypad for that too. But there is something very pleasing about your solution that I like. Thanks for sharing. I added an LCD onto my box to give some additional feedback. I saw another dude making his own "cs80" style slide switch via serial chain of resistors as a voltage divider with a wire to tap off of Veroboard. Really neat.
I've had a shitty day and was watching mind numbing random videos as no one I'm subscribed to had published anything interesting. But this instead was so relaxing and enjoyable to watch it made me smile the whole time. I've been wanting to build a MIDI controller also just for fun (I used to enjoy making music some 15-20 years ago). Now I don't have to and I can happily continue building light controllers for my home automation. Loved the editing and self aware references to other this type of videos. Subscribed!
Hey, This is great. Making my own version right now and I just wanted to let everyone know that I could not find a version of loopMIDI for MAC. But MACs do have built in midi settings you can find in your system preferences that works great. Also, make sure to check your baud rate matches. So far my prototype is way more stable than "MAX connection kit." This is prime content.
How did yours come out and are you still using it? I’m considering making on with many rotary encoders to control plugin parameters when mixing/mastering. Any advice is welcome.
@@ilikemyrealname Works great. Has not broken on me once. Some support software like hairless midi serial for mac needed to be updated when the OS stopped supporting 32bit programs. But I was able to find a 64bit version of hairless midi. Its a great project, let me know how yours turns out.
This was a great video. It really inspired me. I love playing synths and like you I am not a musician, I only like to make sounds. My brother is a hobbyist micro-electronics guy and also loves synths and electronic sounds. I am trying to convince him that together we should start building bespoke midi controllers according to customer specifications and go into business together. At the very least one should be built that I can use that has at least 64 knobs, 64 faders, 64 buttons and 64 pads. Gigantic? I know, but it's a dream.
Wow. This is my favourite thing on TH-cam right now. It's my dream to build my own foot playable midi controller. I could probably figure out the Arduino stuff but I don't know how to do all the fine woodworking. I'm going to google online fine woodworkers/CNC and also people who will create an Arduino project for a fee. Thanks for the inspiration!! Greetings from Canada
Making and using devices is your version of writing and singing songs, and I think many would say you are prodigious, in the age of makers, in your field of endeavor.
Inspiring project, I especially like the custom box. One improvement is to use a microcontroller that allows real USB MIDI. The Teensy boards can do that and are programmed from the arduino IDE.
For anybody thinking of a similar project: you can multiply digital inputs on a normal Arduino by using resistors and the analog pins. By giving each switch connected to a pin its own size resistor in a voltage divider circuit, you can get back 1v, 2v, 3v, etc for each different switch and sort out which button was pushed through code.
Yes and no, what you're talking about only works for analog inputs, not as you write digital inputs. It is also not as accurate, requires more components and is error prone depending on the tolerance of your resistors.
Hi. This is great stuff!. Good and clear information. I am just for 1 week working on Midi with Arduino and already I can control the MinimogueVA (free VST) with external control pots and switches. No need to buy a 32U4 based Arduino, a Nano clone with CH340 USB chip works. I have tested it for Cakewalk and Ableton Live Lite. Thanks for your good work!
Switch & Lever Maybe not a musician but certainly a magician! I very much like the content but also your humor and awesome video editing and production skills. I’ve no idea how much time you put into these video’s but must be quite a lot (and it’s undoubtedly 5x more than that;-) Liked and subscribed.
Additional Tips: Make the top panel detachable (with screws) or mount the components on the panel before mounting the panel on the box. Instead of bigger and more expensive arduinos, use the Nano or Pro Micro and add things like the mcp23017 port expander, and there are cheap ads11x5 breakout boards for four analog channels each.
@@SwitchAndLever Will it necessarily look any different? Anyway, everyone to his own liking. Just saying it makes it easier to wire the stuff. Especially with smaller boxes.
@@Andreas-gh6is well yeah, at the very least there would have to be a split line somewhere alone the top because the top and bottom are separate pieces. Then there's the screws going through the top to hold it down as well. I'm a designer after all, those things would be very obvious things to me. Not to say I'm 100% happy with how this turned out either though.
@@SwitchAndLever screws are preferable, and I can see where that could actually be good for the optics, for example for aircraft cockpit-like devices. There are other options though, for example magnets or snapping. Probably harder with laser-cut wood though.
@@Andreas-gh6is Preferable from what point of view? For something I made for myself, that I get enjoyment out of and that I decide what goes and not? No, definitely not. There are screws, holding in the bottom, giving ample access to the insides if I so need it, without unsightly screws on the top. It really wouldn't change much, beside making the soldering process a little bit easier, at the expense of an uglier design.
So freakin’ good.. man that laser cutter on wood seriously inspired me to fix up one of my projects ( it was a connected car device that was 3d printed but melted in the sun aha). Also those dials, toggles, and what not... i’ve been craving that as a member of the iPhone generation lol. Defo gonna have a rethink of my car device thing.
I don't understand your criticism here. I never once proclaimed this to be a step by step video. It is however a video full of information if someone wants to build something like this themselves to get a good start with where to look, and what to consider when making it. If this was a step by step video it would be hours long. You may call it a fail, I think there are at least 15000 people who would disagree with you 😉
@@SwitchAndLever Hello-of course, many others value this video and that is great! And I enjoyed it too. But for me the video failed because there were far too many comments about not doing things and referring the viewer to go and look elsewhere. My criticism is based on my assumption that this would provide me with more content showing me how to do the various steps. Not simply showing that you did the steps yourself. You might well have done more information/content sharing over a series of videos. Yes that would take more time and yes that would be something different from what you intended to do, so no criticism of you per se, you did what you wanted to do, and all I am observing is that for me the content was sparse. Something more like a step by step would have been helpful for me and maybe others too. But you are correct, you did not proclaim it was to be a step by step video. I hoped it was going to be.
@@Cantrip1957 which is exactly why I provide a lot of options in the video and links in the description. This is something you can take many routes to make yourself, and you have to to some extent figure out what works best for you. There are lots and lots of step by step instructions on sites like Instructables, and they do by far fit better in a written format than having a video or series of videos hours long.
I do understand your comments though, and I do have many videos which go into excruciating detail into what I’m doing. I think some things do work better in a format that’s more easy to follow along at your own pace though, like a written tutorial, rather than a video 🙂
What a great video! I appreciate your detailed narration, beautiful graphics, clear camera work, and playful demeanor! I’m excited to share your channel with a few friends. Thank you!
I recomend using trying some techniques to improve your utilisation of the micro's I/O pins. you could have easily done this project on the uno simply by multiplexing the inputs. with that and a few logic gates, there is really no limit to how many inputs can be managed with a small microcontroller provided its fast enough for your application. its also a really useful skill to learn for realativly simple projects, which have just a few to many inputs for a smaller controller, but don't need the speed of a larger one.
Sure, but it required components I don’t have and would have needlessly convoluted the project. Direct pin access is by far easier to wrap your head around as a beginner, which is what this video is more aiming at.
@@SwitchAndLever exept for the rotary encoders with interrupts, which you would have needed to reduce the resolution or uses a polling routine. i don't see why you would need any extra hardware to achieve your project if you had used some form of multiplexing or charlieplexing. it really only requires one extra function in your code to manage the operation and a slightly different wiring arrangment. e.g //returns int with bits corrosponsing to //inputs int32_t handleInputs(){ int result = 0; int NumRows = 5; int NumCollums = 5; int ButtonMatrixRowAddr[NumRows] = {INPUT_ROW_1, INPUT_ROW_2, INPUT_ROW_3, INPUT_ROW_4}; int ButtonMatrixCollumAddr[NumCollums] = {INPUT_COLLUM_1, INPUT_COLLUM_2, INPUT_COLLUM_3, INPUT_COLLUM_4}; //makes sure Row Pins are LOW for (int i = 0; i < NumRows; ++i) { digitalWrite(ButtonMatrixRowAddr[i], LOW); } //Populates result for (int i = 0; i < NumRows; ++i) { digitalWrite(ButtonMatrixRowAddr[i], HIGH); for (int j = 0; j < NumCollums; ++j) { result |= digitalRead(ButtonMatrixCollumAddr[j])
@@stephen2828 okay, first of all I wrote too fast and thought you meant shift registers, not using multiplexing as you suggest. Secondly, the keypad is already using multiplexing, and even that uses up most of the digital pins of an UNO. Add onto that the toggle switch, rotary switch, encoders (which doesn't use interrupts) and the two switches to disable each axis for the joystick and it was way easier to just go with a Mega. Also had some stuff which was left on the prototyping stage which, if implemented, would've needed more analog pins anyway. Your suggestion is definitely more complicated for a beginner, and the wiring required would also be more convoluted. Not sure why you're so against using a Mega. You use what you have available to get the job done, and as I said in the video my aim was to get this working, not to make neat and beautiful code. This thing works beautifully, and that's the most important thing.
@@SwitchAndLever the other reasons why I used mega 1 - you get more RAM 2 - there are 4 UARTs which I used to create midi merge and transform 3 - the mega is not too expensive and you can use it for other projects
Dude. Both your MIDI controller (that design is cool, hell yeah) and this video are really well made! Whole thing is informative and helpful. Thanks for this! owo
Dang, this video is wicked. Your editing and animations are awesome and I love the project. I want to try something very similar for a footswitch I can use while playing
Thank you, hearing that really means a lot considering how much work goes into making a video like that. You can definitely make a pedal quite easily using this method, it's just one button if you want it to just be on and off. If you want it to have a range, so you can do things like velocity control with the pedal, you need a different solution though to sense the difference.
Excellent, and pretty to see. Personally, the best interface I have known is the Novation Nocturn, with its great automap software. But the endless knobs were really poor quality. I am surprised that Novation has not released a Mk2, especially since they are doing mk2 or mk3 with many other products of the brand. Your video makes me want to replace the fragile buttons with durable, solid ones. I don't know if you know the Novation Nocturn, but I think it's still an excellent base today and deserves a new life with better hardware. In any case thank you for your video, it inspires me, who's not a handyman at all.
@@SwitchAndLever This was honestly the first free one I've messed with. I really liked the Synth but the Filter plugin!!! Super dope. Little Jbridge and badda-boom! been making presets ever since. Cant wait to tell my mentor about it! thx again
Great job with the controller! A recommendation if you ever decide to make an updated version of this build... instead of using the software to convert the serial data to MIDI, you can actually flash the 16U2 chip on the Mega or Uno with firmware that makes the Arduino register as a MIDI device, the firmware is called mocoLUFA. It is very easy to install and you can still go back and forth to reprogram the controller.
Yep, but reflashing the IC makes it out of the beginners realm, it's WAY easier to just use an Arduino with a 32u4 chip instead which you can just program as a HID device, such as a midi controller, without the need to reflash anything. In fact, one of my most recent videos is about doing exactly that.
@@SwitchAndLever Oh, nice! I'm new to the channel... so I'll have to see it! I guess the reason one could refresh the IC in a Mega, probably to take advantage of all of the I/O and storage space.
Frankly, I like the gap. It gives more to grab onto as the knobs sit a little higher. Also, it would require thinning of the wood, and it's already quite thin. I had to thin the plywood in a planer to be able to mount the components, I don't think it could've taken another pass through the planer without disintegrating.
@@SwitchAndLever Technically this could be done as through holes in face panel and another small wood glued from the back equipped with holes for pot nuts. Just an alternative.
Great vid! Inspired me to make my own. I decided to go with the Arduino Teensy though which has an ARM chip and can easily pretend to be a MIDI device. . . Much simpler on the software side of things.
I always dreamt about getting Sanwa denshi arcade buttons in my midi controller and map them to program up/down function. This give me hopes that is is quite possible :) Great video man, thanx!
Hi! I am sorry that you are anot a musician but a great technician/builder. I am just the opposite...a musician full of ideas but I have no technical/building/soldering/woodworking skills at all. In all great bands an collaborations, there were always people of various skills working together, the composer together with the guy who writes lyrics and vocal arrangements. Unfortunately there is nobody helping me with my ideas, so I keep watching Arduino videos, and just came across your channel. Very good. More music stuff please! :-)
As I've said many times in the comments already. Multiplexing convolutes both the code, and the wiring. Also, it's doubtful that I could've fit everything even with multiplexing. The keypad is already multiplexed and takes up seven pins, the encoders need two each (correct me if I'm wrong but I don't think you can multiplex those). We are up to 11 then, and since using pin 0 and 1 when you're using a program relying on serial communication isn't the best idea in the world we really only have two pins left, and 10 inputs. Using the MEGA was the right way to go, for ease of use, and since there were no real space restrictions.
Listen bud we're all musicians here, you included. I don't care what you say, you're in our club.
"I do enjoy making random sounds for no other reason than to entertain myself."
I understand this so much! I'm awful at making music but I love playing around with music software. Awesome video! I've never heard of your channel before, but I'm glad this showed up in my recommended.
Hah I can totally relate as well.. currently infatuated by The NDLR and IOS creative sequencers (Fugue Machine, etc.).
Yep.. it's a bug people have.. me too..
Just like every starting musician. Music takes practice nothing else
Actually that's what music is all about : having a good time making sounds.
Ahh i thought i was the only one doing that 🙁
Just here to say I watched this 4 years into the future. I love your design. Have a great day!
I'm only 3 minutes into the video and I had to pause to comment on your motion graphics on this video. Seriously, holy cow. It's some of the highest caliper work I've seen on TH-cam. Keep up the amazing work in both making and production.
thank you so much for doing more of a theoretical overview rather then a step by step guide. So much more useful when trying to wrap my head around how all these different things fit together.
You can probably assume that someone wanting to know how to build a MIDI controller knows what MIDI is, but seriously thanks for eventually getting around to telling us what we came to learn.
You’d be amazed over how many people watch my videos despite not being into the underlying subject matter, so I wouldn’t be so quick to assume 🙂
Your graphics and animations are seriously kicking ass, much impress!!
Thanks man, I appreciate it! It takes a lot of time to do them so I'm glad that they're well received 🙂
@@SwitchAndLever Det märks att du lagt mycket tid på det, jädrigt snyggt! 🙂
Yea true man
Very quality peace of content. I like it much!
Oh, that brought back some memories... I actually wrote a complete midi-player (sequencer) back in the days, probably around 1994. I enjoyed the sound from my sb16 + wave blaster and my connected Roland keyboard. Most for the fun of it of course, but it worked nicely... I have to dig that up and run it in a dosBox or something.
Tick with no replies? My spot!
@@purpshell I’ll take second
Effort!
When TH-cam recommends you good stuff...
the way you synced the title with the drums in the intro makes you a musician, that was clean af
Great project! I particularly liked the "bus bar tape". What a great idea for cleaning up the point to point wiring a bit. I will definitely file that away for future use.
Mainly suitable for low power applications, and only on non-conductive surfaces obviously, but it does come in pretty handy from time to time.
I did cover it with electrical tape off camera though, just to insulate it in case any exposed wire would come in contact with it.
Me too ! The copper tape bus was perfect for this !
Now _that's_ what I call "building". Other people post videos of them assembling ready-made kits and complain when you point out that a "build" involves your own _design_ . Nice one!
I actually just received my very first own designed PCB from PCBway today, kinda satisfying to get the final product in your hands
Congrats! Indeed it is! I still feel like getting PCBs made is a little like magic to be honest 🙂
@@SwitchAndLever Thanks! I'm doing a course on PCB design in Jönköping University right now, and it has been real fun!
My sincere congratulations, sir. This is perfect for physically-challenged musicians. Hardly any limit to the physical interface itself, short of a BCI. Liked, commented, shared, and kudo-ed!
i'm a classically trained jazz pianist , fusion guitarist , trumpeter and also pop music producer. by my snobby standards you ARE A MUSICIAN. your list at the beginning fits my definition. making random sounds for self pleasure is the highest apex a musician can reach, if you are thinking about what other people think about the sounds you make, then you ain't making music, or having fun or being entertained, which SHOULD be integral to playing music (stuffy acadamics abaft!) . also, on a side note, for other realms, if it sounds good, it is good, and it doesn't matter HOW it's made. this is a rebuke to people my age (mid50s) who frown on 'new' music and sounds (like auto tune, or digital audio, anti-fx purists, etc) or are analog purists etc
also, what you do with this technology kit, that's sheer art, mate...
I never said I wasn't musical, but I'm certainly not a musician. I don't have a feeling in me when I play any instrument what will sound good, any idea of any sort of note progression that will have any sort of harmony. Trust me, I've tried, I've practiced hard trying to get a feel for it. It just doesn't stick. I can make random noise to entertain myself, but I would love to be able to sit down by a piano, or take up a guitar, or heck even a kazoo, and make some sort of sound that won't make people want to leave the room. That just aint happening. You don't even want to know how long the takes were for this video to produce just a few seconds of bearable audio.
I don't even remotely know anything about Arduino, but I enjoyed watching this. Great project!
I'm not sure what I expected. But a subtle reference to Farbror Barbro was not one of them.
Allright! you have my subscription!
This must be the most informative and best made video on midi vs Arduino that I have ever seen.
Subscribers = subscribers + 1
ach so cool , well thought out and well executed. I'm a musician with a fascination for electronics who is just learning to program, so this is very relevant. Dire Straits at the end is a nice touch too.
Wow... Seriously? I'm a french director. I just starting to use midi controler for my work. And, As I am also a 3d printer ... I was wondering if it was possible to make your own midi controller. And boom! I come across your video. WTF. This is exactly what I was looking for and more ... you may not be a musician ... but your graphic animations are superb. Bravo Monsieur !
fabien lemagnen 😬😎
Merci beaucoup! 🙂
Nice video. Good use of copper strips for power rail buses. I thought I was the only one who did that!
Smart how you use the 6 way to extend the physical encoders. I did this using an old PS2 keyboard and used the keys to change mode - could used your keypad for that too. But there is something very pleasing about your solution that I like. Thanks for sharing. I added an LCD onto my box to give some additional feedback. I saw another dude making his own "cs80" style slide switch via serial chain of resistors as a voltage divider with a wire to tap off of Veroboard. Really neat.
I've had a shitty day and was watching mind numbing random videos as no one I'm subscribed to had published anything interesting. But this instead was so relaxing and enjoyable to watch it made me smile the whole time. I've been wanting to build a MIDI controller also just for fun (I used to enjoy making music some 15-20 years ago). Now I don't have to and I can happily continue building light controllers for my home automation. Loved the editing and self aware references to other this type of videos. Subscribed!
The use of copper strips for power rails seemed like a cool idea. I might give it a try!
Thick single-core copper wire will work well too.
The kind of stuff used in domestic wiring in your walls & ceiling.
this is pretty cool. particularly liked that rotary switch idea.
yeah 100%
Hey, This is great. Making my own version right now and I just wanted to let everyone know that I could not find a version of loopMIDI for MAC. But MACs do have built in midi settings you can find in your system preferences that works great. Also, make sure to check your baud rate matches. So far my prototype is way more stable than "MAX connection kit." This is prime content.
How did yours come out and are you still using it? I’m considering making on with many rotary encoders to control plugin parameters when mixing/mastering. Any advice is welcome.
@@ilikemyrealname Works great. Has not broken on me once. Some support software like hairless midi serial for mac needed to be updated when the OS stopped supporting 32bit programs. But I was able to find a 64bit version of hairless midi. Its a great project, let me know how yours turns out.
@@patrickkelly3053 Thanks for the tip! Great news that it’s been working well for you. If I may ask, did you use encoders and if so, which ones?
@@ilikemyrealname I did not use encoders. Good luck, let me know how it turns out.
This was a great video. It really inspired me. I love playing synths and like you I am not a musician, I only like to make sounds. My brother is a hobbyist micro-electronics guy and also loves synths and electronic sounds. I am trying to convince him that together we should start building bespoke midi controllers according to customer specifications and go into business together.
At the very least one should be built that I can use that has at least 64 knobs, 64 faders, 64 buttons and 64 pads. Gigantic? I know, but it's a dream.
your craftsmanship is impeccable, beautiful work brother
Wow. This is my favourite thing on TH-cam right now. It's my dream to build my own foot playable midi controller. I could probably figure out the Arduino stuff but I don't know how to do all the fine woodworking. I'm going to google online fine woodworkers/CNC and also people who will create an Arduino project for a fee. Thanks for the inspiration!! Greetings from Canada
Yesss!!! Very nice, I need to try it!
Dudes! Do it! Look at Great Scott's video where he built his own launchpad. Really good inspiration.
Wow, I actually now understand what those rappers mean, when they shout: "Yo DAWG!" ... they're talking to the "Digital Audio Workstation Guy" :)
😂😂😂
Wow 💀💀
This may be the single most cringe comment I’ve read on TH-cam.
boy i just know u white
This is inspiring me to do something for a editing software, not a daw. Thanks for uploading this.
Making and using devices is your version of writing and singing songs, and I think many would say you are prodigious, in the age of makers, in your field of endeavor.
Inspiring project, I especially like the custom box. One improvement is to use a microcontroller that allows real USB MIDI. The Teensy boards can do that and are programmed from the arduino IDE.
Yep. I know but don’t have a Teensy. You use what you have available after all. 🙂
For anybody thinking of a similar project: you can multiply digital inputs on a normal Arduino by using resistors and the analog pins. By giving each switch connected to a pin its own size resistor in a voltage divider circuit, you can get back 1v, 2v, 3v, etc for each different switch and sort out which button was pushed through code.
Yes and no, what you're talking about only works for analog inputs, not as you write digital inputs. It is also not as accurate, requires more components and is error prone depending on the tolerance of your resistors.
I think I need foil tape circuits in my life. Awesome project!
Woah! I have like 10 vintage telephone keybeds in my home and wanted to do this! Great to see its possible
Hi. This is great stuff!. Good and clear information. I am just for 1 week working on Midi with Arduino and already I can control the MinimogueVA (free VST) with external control pots and switches. No need to buy a 32U4 based Arduino, a Nano clone with CH340 USB chip works. I have tested it for Cakewalk and Ableton Live Lite. Thanks for your good work!
Switch & Lever
Maybe not a musician but certainly a magician!
I very much like the content but also your humor and awesome video editing and production skills. I’ve no idea how much time you put into these video’s but must be quite a lot (and it’s undoubtedly 5x more than that;-)
Liked and subscribed.
the editing on this is amazing
Additional Tips: Make the top panel detachable (with screws) or mount the components on the panel before mounting the panel on the box. Instead of bigger and more expensive arduinos, use the Nano or Pro Micro and add things like the mcp23017 port expander, and there are cheap ads11x5 breakout boards for four analog channels each.
If you like that style then by all means go for it. I didn’t want a separate top so I didn’t make one.
@@SwitchAndLever Will it necessarily look any different? Anyway, everyone to his own liking. Just saying it makes it easier to wire the stuff. Especially with smaller boxes.
@@Andreas-gh6is well yeah, at the very least there would have to be a split line somewhere alone the top because the top and bottom are separate pieces. Then there's the screws going through the top to hold it down as well. I'm a designer after all, those things would be very obvious things to me. Not to say I'm 100% happy with how this turned out either though.
@@SwitchAndLever screws are preferable, and I can see where that could actually be good for the optics, for example for aircraft cockpit-like devices. There are other options though, for example magnets or snapping. Probably harder with laser-cut wood though.
@@Andreas-gh6is Preferable from what point of view? For something I made for myself, that I get enjoyment out of and that I decide what goes and not? No, definitely not.
There are screws, holding in the bottom, giving ample access to the insides if I so need it, without unsightly screws on the top. It really wouldn't change much, beside making the soldering process a little bit easier, at the expense of an uglier design.
I subbed for no other reason than your satisfying animations
There's a video talking about the joystick, I liked it, keep going
Going back to the original breadboard, very nice my friend.
I have no intention nor the skills to make anything close to this but the presentation is too good not to sub!
you can tell alot of work went into making this vid..! awesome work!
So freakin’ good.. man that laser cutter on wood seriously inspired me to fix up one of my projects ( it was a connected car device that was 3d printed but melted in the sun aha). Also those dials, toggles, and what not... i’ve been craving that as a member of the iPhone generation lol. Defo gonna have a rethink of my car device thing.
Let us know what your device was! :)
Saul connected car... autonomous, keyless, maybe a less-clunky voice interface. I was aiming for kitt from nightrider.
You just made my day here! Your friends are very lucky people i bet. Thank you!
I really like the laser cutting and the clever foil tape as a power rails. Nice work!
I thought about this yesterday, and today your video was recommended (finally a good recommendation)
Same thing for me
I used to watch Evan Kale's vids on MIDI and Arduino but they deleted all those old vids. :( Thanks for rekindling this idea!
This is very cool man!
I’m very impressed with the exterior as well as the electronics! Great video - subbed so hope to see more!
Thank you for sharing that, this is probably one of the most complete midi tutorial on arduino around here! Thank you!
Great project idea ... think I might give that a go over Xmas. Much appreciated. Keep up the good work!
Do it! It can be done a lot simpler than what I made. 🙂
Step by step is what many YT videos excel at. This is ultimately a fail. The video shows how clever you were.
I don't understand your criticism here. I never once proclaimed this to be a step by step video. It is however a video full of information if someone wants to build something like this themselves to get a good start with where to look, and what to consider when making it. If this was a step by step video it would be hours long. You may call it a fail, I think there are at least 15000 people who would disagree with you 😉
@@SwitchAndLever Hello-of course, many others value this video and that is great! And I enjoyed it too. But for me the video failed because there were far too many comments about not doing things and referring the viewer to go and look elsewhere. My criticism is based on my assumption that this would provide me with more content showing me how to do the various steps. Not simply showing that you did the steps yourself. You might well have done more information/content sharing over a series of videos. Yes that would take more time and yes that would be something different from what you intended to do, so no criticism of you per se, you did what you wanted to do, and all I am observing is that for me the content was sparse. Something more like a step by step would have been helpful for me and maybe others too. But you are correct, you did not proclaim it was to be a step by step video. I hoped it was going to be.
@@Cantrip1957 which is exactly why I provide a lot of options in the video and links in the description. This is something you can take many routes to make yourself, and you have to to some extent figure out what works best for you. There are lots and lots of step by step instructions on sites like Instructables, and they do by far fit better in a written format than having a video or series of videos hours long.
Switch & Lever that’s a fair rebuttal. Maybe I was a little trigger happy. I’ll look up your links.
I do understand your comments though, and I do have many videos which go into excruciating detail into what I’m doing. I think some things do work better in a format that’s more easy to follow along at your own pace though, like a written tutorial, rather than a video 🙂
best video and graphics in youtube! well done man, we need you
What a great video! I appreciate your detailed narration, beautiful graphics, clear camera work, and playful demeanor! I’m excited to share your channel with a few friends. Thank you!
I recomend using trying some techniques to improve your utilisation of the micro's I/O pins. you could have easily done this project on the uno simply by multiplexing the inputs. with that and a few logic gates, there is really no limit to how many inputs can be managed with a small microcontroller provided its fast enough for your application. its also a really useful skill to learn for realativly simple projects, which have just a few to many inputs for a smaller controller, but don't need the speed of a larger one.
Sure, but it required components I don’t have and would have needlessly convoluted the project. Direct pin access is by far easier to wrap your head around as a beginner, which is what this video is more aiming at.
@@SwitchAndLever exept for the rotary encoders with interrupts, which you would have needed to reduce the resolution or uses a polling routine. i don't see why you would need any extra hardware to achieve your project if you had used some form of multiplexing or charlieplexing. it really only requires one extra function in your code to manage the operation and a slightly different wiring arrangment. e.g
//returns int with bits corrosponsing to
//inputs
int32_t handleInputs(){
int result = 0;
int NumRows = 5;
int NumCollums = 5;
int ButtonMatrixRowAddr[NumRows] = {INPUT_ROW_1, INPUT_ROW_2, INPUT_ROW_3, INPUT_ROW_4};
int ButtonMatrixCollumAddr[NumCollums] = {INPUT_COLLUM_1, INPUT_COLLUM_2, INPUT_COLLUM_3, INPUT_COLLUM_4};
//makes sure Row Pins are LOW
for (int i = 0; i < NumRows; ++i)
{
digitalWrite(ButtonMatrixRowAddr[i], LOW);
}
//Populates result
for (int i = 0; i < NumRows; ++i)
{
digitalWrite(ButtonMatrixRowAddr[i], HIGH);
for (int j = 0; j < NumCollums; ++j)
{
result |= digitalRead(ButtonMatrixCollumAddr[j])
@@stephen2828 okay, first of all I wrote too fast and thought you meant shift registers, not using multiplexing as you suggest.
Secondly, the keypad is already using multiplexing, and even that uses up most of the digital pins of an UNO. Add onto that the toggle switch, rotary switch, encoders (which doesn't use interrupts) and the two switches to disable each axis for the joystick and it was way easier to just go with a Mega. Also had some stuff which was left on the prototyping stage which, if implemented, would've needed more analog pins anyway.
Your suggestion is definitely more complicated for a beginner, and the wiring required would also be more convoluted. Not sure why you're so against using a Mega. You use what you have available to get the job done, and as I said in the video my aim was to get this working, not to make neat and beautiful code. This thing works beautifully, and that's the most important thing.
@@SwitchAndLever the other reasons why I used mega
1 - you get more RAM
2 - there are 4 UARTs which I used to create midi merge and transform
3 - the mega is not too expensive and you can use it for other projects
new to this , and this is one of the best videos ive seen thus far considering my current knowledge! 🔥
Well done. It looks a lot better in the video than the thumbnail.
Fantastic design... this should have more views.....!!!!
"That doesn't stop me from trying, though."
I'M ROOTING FOR YOU MY HOMIE 頑張ってねえええ
Love the enclosure design and graphics! Wish I had a laser cutter like yours😢
soldering montage was very enjoyable :)
the video production is so good
Dude. Both your MIDI controller (that design is cool, hell yeah) and this video are really well made! Whole thing is informative and helpful. Thanks for this! owo
I love the wooden look!
”No shortcuts to the perfect sound” :-) Jättefint bygge! Thanks for sharing this!
Farbror Barbro rules!
What you lack in musicality you certainly make up in engineering!
you don't have to be a musician for having fun on creating sounds and trying to make music :)
Aynen öyle, but I want to be able to play things, recognizable things, for people, and I’m far far far away from being able to do that.
I love that 5/gnd tape idea!!! Have to find and order some
Copper tape is pretty common. Look at gardening stores, it’s often sold as snail repellant.
Dang, this video is wicked. Your editing and animations are awesome and I love the project. I want to try something very similar for a footswitch I can use while playing
Thank you, hearing that really means a lot considering how much work goes into making a video like that.
You can definitely make a pedal quite easily using this method, it's just one button if you want it to just be on and off. If you want it to have a range, so you can do things like velocity control with the pedal, you need a different solution though to sense the difference.
Can you make motorized midi fader? (like as x-touch one or faderport)
Excellent, and pretty to see. Personally, the best interface I have known is the Novation Nocturn, with its great automap software. But the endless knobs were really poor quality. I am surprised that Novation has not released a Mk2, especially since they are doing mk2 or mk3 with many other products of the brand.
Your video makes me want to replace the fragile buttons with durable, solid ones.
I don't know if you know the Novation Nocturn, but I think it's still an excellent base today and deserves a new life with better hardware.
In any case thank you for your video, it inspires me, who's not a handyman at all.
nice one! Hyped to program a Groovebox now
Great, now I want to build MIDI controller using bells and whistles.
What about refrigerators? Nobody thinks about the refrigerators.
@@poopityscooper2116 And Farts
All converstaions decend into Fart jokes eventually
I'm just fast-tracking ...
Very informative. I even went to go grab that Phuture VST you plugged in the video. Excited to try i
Yeah, there are lots of really good free VSTs out there.
@@SwitchAndLever This was honestly the first free one I've messed with. I really liked the Synth but the Filter plugin!!! Super dope. Little Jbridge and badda-boom! been making presets ever since. Cant wait to tell my mentor about it! thx again
Came for arduino midi. Then I noticed taranis’ gimbal. Then you started woodworking. Couldn’t hit more precisely.
Great job with the controller! A recommendation if you ever decide to make an updated version of this build... instead of using the software to convert the serial data to MIDI, you can actually flash the 16U2 chip on the Mega or Uno with firmware that makes the Arduino register as a MIDI device, the firmware is called mocoLUFA. It is very easy to install and you can still go back and forth to reprogram the controller.
Yep, but reflashing the IC makes it out of the beginners realm, it's WAY easier to just use an Arduino with a 32u4 chip instead which you can just program as a HID device, such as a midi controller, without the need to reflash anything. In fact, one of my most recent videos is about doing exactly that.
@@SwitchAndLever Oh, nice! I'm new to the channel... so I'll have to see it! I guess the reason one could refresh the IC in a Mega, probably to take advantage of all of the I/O and storage space.
Such steady heands! Such craftsmanship.
Lookmumnocomputer brought me hear now i see why he likes this channel.subscribed thanks
Cool! Welcome to the channel? Where the LMNC mention me? Didn't know he was a viewer, he does so much cool stuff, definitely a huge inspiration to me!
@@SwitchAndLever the sega synth build
I hope you didn’t find yourself in Dire Straits with that ending!
bring out that numbpad so I can play ba Dum Cha
I sub'd when I saw "Shieldy McShieldface".. Nice looking project !!!
Very well produced video. Congrats!
dude, just stumbled on this, your channel is amazing and your tender care of the videos is noted. thank you!!!
Your projects have such great design and fit/finish. Same is true with your videos. Great instructions. Mahalo for sharing! : )
Thank you! I appreciate it 🙂
Nice work, the case is amazing! However, I would install pots with nuts depressed into the case in order to avoid such big gap under the knobs.
Frankly, I like the gap. It gives more to grab onto as the knobs sit a little higher. Also, it would require thinning of the wood, and it's already quite thin. I had to thin the plywood in a planer to be able to mount the components, I don't think it could've taken another pass through the planer without disintegrating.
@@SwitchAndLever Technically this could be done as through holes in face panel and another small wood glued from the back equipped with holes for pot nuts. Just an alternative.
Great vid! Inspired me to make my own. I decided to go with the Arduino Teensy though which has an ARM chip and can easily pretend to be a MIDI device. . . Much simpler on the software side of things.
Musically inclined or not, you’re a fucking genius for this 😤
I always dreamt about getting Sanwa denshi arcade buttons in my midi controller and map them to program up/down function. This give me hopes that is is quite possible :) Great video man, thanx!
Hi! I am sorry that you are anot a musician but a great technician/builder. I am just the opposite...a musician full of ideas but I have no technical/building/soldering/woodworking skills at all. In all great bands an collaborations, there were always people of various skills working together, the composer together with the guy who writes lyrics and vocal arrangements. Unfortunately there is nobody helping me with my ideas, so I keep watching Arduino videos, and just came across your channel. Very good. More music stuff please! :-)
Wow So much information! in just a few minutes,thanks for share.
You’re a genius! Beautifully made product!
Fabulous production!
I love this. This is my dream since I was a kid. Now I can make it real. Me auto like and subscribe.
Thank you so much, dude...
Great idea with that phone keyboard! Neat and awesome build.
For your Input Problem, try multiplexing the inputs. It may have some little delay but i don t think you use it for high reaction things.
As I've said many times in the comments already. Multiplexing convolutes both the code, and the wiring. Also, it's doubtful that I could've fit everything even with multiplexing. The keypad is already multiplexed and takes up seven pins, the encoders need two each (correct me if I'm wrong but I don't think you can multiplex those). We are up to 11 then, and since using pin 0 and 1 when you're using a program relying on serial communication isn't the best idea in the world we really only have two pins left, and 10 inputs. Using the MEGA was the right way to go, for ease of use, and since there were no real space restrictions.
Most epic soldering scene😎🤓
you make sounds you like, then you are a musician... that's really all it is
Beautiful! Awesome! Makes me want start building those stuff right away! :) Congratz for the great job and thank you for the video!
Wouldn't you put together this project to be sold in your on-line store?!
The time involved would mean it'd be a pretty expensive item. You'd be much better either building it yourself, or buying something off the shelf.