PROJECTS
I’ve been doing electronic music instruments for a couple years, for me and for others. They range from simple launchpads to weird ribbon guitar light synths. Here are a couple of the ones that I’ve built.
For full tutorials and a complete course on how to build any MIDI Controller visit:
One Knob Universal Controller
In this video, I'll teach how to build a One Knob Universal Controller, using an Arduino Pro Micro. This controller allows you to take full control of the mouse cursor, this way, you can hover over a parameter, click with the mouse, and control it with the knob. This allows you to take full control over any parameter, in any software, without any mapping! It only takes a breadboard, an Arduino Pro Micro, and a rotary encoder!
Arduino Code Generator (basic)
The Code Generator offers two versions to cater to different user needs. The first is the simple version, which is adept at producing code for buttons and potentiometers. Meanwhile, the advanced version extends its capabilities to include buttons, potentiometers, encoders, multiplexers, and promises even more features in the near future.
Faduino
The Theremidi uses two infrared distance sensors, instead of the capacitive antenas, and can track the position of your hands in the air. This position is then converted into MIDI notes, or pitch bend – right hand, or MIDI CC – left hand.
There’s also an OLED display and some buttons that allow you to change octave, transpose, MIDI channel, and switch between scales and pitch bend!
MIDI Programming for the Arduino
Here you’ll find all the examples I use in the series “MIDI Programming for the Arduino”
ThereMidi
The Theremidi uses two infrared distance sensors, instead of the capacitive antenas, and can track the position of your hands in the air. This position is then converted into MIDI notes, or pitch bend – right hand, or MIDI CC – left hand.
There’s also an OLED display and some buttons that allow you to change octave, transpose, MIDI channel, and switch between scales and pitch bend!
Fliper RGB
The Fliper RGB is a DIY RGB arcade launchpad, great for clip launching, finger drumming, etc. It was built using the Arduino platform, potentiometers, arcade buttons and addressable LEDs that lit up according to the incoming MIDI messages. Totally open-source.
XT Synth
The XT Synth is a mix of guitar, violin and midi controller. My inspiration was to make an instrument that could be played like a guitar, with the expression of a violin, with the sounds of a synthesizer. The neck has 4 soft potentiometers that can be played similar to an string instrument. They can be tuned however the player wants. Because instead of strings it has soft pots, the instrument is not tempered, like a violin, allowing vibratos, portamentos, and microtones. The XT Synth was a finalist at the Guthman New Musical Instrument Competition 2018.
Midimood
The Minimoog is the most iconic analogue synthesizer of all times, with great plugin versions like the Arturia Mini V and the Moog’s Minimoog iPad app. I always wanted to have better control over my synths and I thought that building a MIDI controller with the layout of the Minimoog was the best way to go. Although it is based on the Minimoog, it can be used with any virtual synth, like Massive, Omnisphere, Sylenth, etc. This MIDI controller was made using an Arduino Pro Micro, and two multiplexers, besides the potentiometers and toggle switches. Totally open-source
Traktorino
The Traktorino is a powerful low-cost DIY MIDI Controller. It is based in the Arduino platform and it comes in DIY kit, or assembled. In its core, there’s a shield that connects to an Arduino Uno, which uses open-source code, making it totally hackable. The Traktorino is a MIDI class compliant device, designed for controlling Traktor. It has several features and custom made mappings, so you can take the most of the software. However, it can do much more than that. The Traktorino can control any software that accepts MIDI, like Ableton Live, Serato, FL Studio, Logic, etc.
Fliper DJ
The Fliper DJ is a MIDI controller which is based in the Arduino platform. It contains 16 arcade buttons, 7 rotary potentiometers and 3 slider potentiometers. One of the potentiometers allows you to change the midi channel of the buttons, making it possible to have four banks of buttons, 16×4. The Fliper DJ is a USB-Midi class compliant device, no drivers or converters needed!
Fliper
The Fliper is a great starter DIY MIDI Controller since it only uses one Arduino and no multiplexers of any sort, only an Arduino Pro Micro, 4 pots and 12 Arcade Buttons!
The Transport
This small guy is great if you just want to have three buttons in your workflow, like
play, stop
and
record, or if you just want to start learning how to build a MIDI controller, without having to commit to a bigger project.