The NTH is a fun-to-use, sonically-rich, hackable music synthesizer.  It features digital oscillators, an analog low-pass filter, an integrated step sequencer, MIDI I/O, and simple, intuitive controls.

The NTH is available for purchase from February 2, 2012 to March 1, 2012 via Kickstarter:

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/holland/nth-music-synthesizer

Upon successful funding, production of the NTH will begin and the entire design will be open-sourced.

Audio examples, product photos, and additional documentation can be found at the NTH website:

http://nthsynth.com/

The NTH was designed by Kevin Holland (sineqube.com) and John Staskevich (highlyliquid.com).

Beijing-based Meng Qi used a MIDI CPU to build a Wicki-Hayden keyboard MIDI controller.  The controller features 49 arcade-style keys, octave & velocity controls, and 5 CC knobs.  More information can be found at the related HL forum threads.

Our favorite 3 ton, 65 horsepower, 4 cylinder, 620 gallon, 100 PSI sound module returns for a collection of Christmas carols.  “The world’s loudest mobile musical instrument” uses MSA-T and MD24 MIDI decoders for valve solenoid control.  More information can be found at the Horn & Whistle Discussion Forums, HL forum, and previous blog entries.

From Seaweed Factory comes the Trojan Chorus, a piñata MIDI controller implemented with a MIDI CPU and a collection of piezo elements.  More coverage at GetLoFi and Hack a Day.

The new Make: Ultimate Kit Guide 2012 from MAKE magazine includes a review of the MSA-R by Michael Una.  More kits can be found at the new Make: Kit Reviews website.  Highly Liquid products were previously featured in MAKE volumes 11 and 15.

Thank you to our customers around the world. With the recent additions of Ukraine and Bulgaria, HL products have now been shipped to customers in over 50 different countries. Extra thanks to the growing user community found at the forums and Facebook. It’s a privilege to serve and correspond with such a sophisticated and diverse group.

- John Staskevich

Monster Piano uses special-firmware MIDI CPUs in their pianos for MIDI output and light control.

The piano shown was provided for the Children’ s Cancer Association‘s “Hero Gala” at the Portland Art Museum, September 2011. Thanks to Ken at Monster Piano for the video.

Bob Harris of Charlottesville, Virginia used two MD24 MIDI decoders and an array of 24-volt solenoids to automate the operation of the pedals on his Flentrop tracker pipe organ.  Cakewalk Music Creator sequences the pedals while the human operator concentrates on the manuals, aided by an MD24-controlled LED metronome.

Bob’s excellent video details the mechanical & electronic operation of the system.  Bob introduced the project at the HL forums in this thread.

Randy Moe of Encore Organ Technology uses the MIDI CPU for MIDI conversions of vintage organ consoles.  A MIDI organ console combined with virtual organ software like Hauptwerk can re-create the sounds of some of the world’s finest organs at a fraction of the cost.

Encore, based in Plymouth, Minnesota, creates virtual organ systems for both home and church.

Randy has completed 14 full MIDI conversions, including consoles made by Rogers, Allen, Conn, and Kilgen.  He writes:

“I’ve tried midi encoders from a couple of other vendors, but I’ve settled on the Highly Liquid boards because they’re very flexible and cost effective, and–once I learned how to use them–quite easy to work with.”

A gallery of converted consoles can be found at the Encore products page.  For more information, contact Randy at info@encoreorgan.com.

Composer, pianist, teacher, and author Misha V. Stefanuk used the MIDI CPU to create a “serious Wurlitzer style theatre organ console” for use with Hauptwerk virtual organ software.

More information about the project can be found in his article for the American Theatre Organ Society titled “Theatre Organ For Less“.  Misha has also posted a series of videos featuring the organ.

Technical support was provided at the MIDI CPU support forum.  The primary project threads are here and here.