Archive for February, 2008

Kaseo posted a new video response to the MSA-R MIDI-controlled Pikachu from the last user project roundup: an octet of toys, each tuned to a different pitch, sequenced through the MSA-R as a single instrument.

MIDI kit user projects on the web:

• MSA-T-controlled MIDI animatronic Halloween skull quartet (Mindshaft Music)
• MSA-R-controlled MIDI circuit bent Pikachu (Kaseo)
• Rock Band MSA-P MIDI drum mod demo using a Simmons SD7K
• Modified Casio SK-8 with VCF and SKM MIDI retrofit (Graham Meredith)
• Wii controller-triggered MIDISpeak & SKM (Bill Byrne)

Firmware has been updated for the MIDISpeak, MIDI2600, MPA, SKM and UMR kits. The updates address an incompatibility with some MIDI controllers & sequencers which can cause an imperfect note response. The recent MSA firmware update also addresses this issue.

Products purchased after February 1, 2008 include the updated firmware. Microcontroller ICs from earlier products may be returned for a free upgrade. Please send email for additional information.

Several Rock Band drummers have used the MSA-P to provide MIDI control over hacked game controllers, allowing the game to be played using an electronic drum set. The mod is supported by the recent MSA firmware update.

See the ongoing discussion at the Rock Band forums and a resulting how-to. David from Toronto created the diagram below and a demo video featuring the Roland VD-20.

Firmware for the MSA-P, MSA-R, and MSA-T MIDI decoder kits has been updated.

Included are new “note trigger” output modes which generate fixed-length pulses independent of note length. Pulse length is user-defined in 0.5 millisecond increments within a range from approximately 0 to 8 seconds. Output modes from previous firmware versions are retained.

Special thanks to the beta testers of this update.