DIY 10x MIDI Thru Box

Posted on July 7, 2011 by John

Pete Brown at 10rem.net is building a custom 10x MIDI Thru box based on the 5x MIDI Thru circuit available at the Highly Liquid library.

To date, Pete has written 5 detailed blog posts for the ongoing project:

Potentially useful information for those attempting a MIDI project or DIY circuit board design.

MIDI Note Numbers

Posted on February 22, 2011 by John

The MIDI protocol identifies notes using a 7-bit number. Below are the musical notes and their corresponding MIDI note number.

Octave numbering is not standardized. Therefore, “C4″ on one device may correspond to “C5″ on another.

Musical Note	Note Number (decimal)	Note Number (hex)
C(-1)	0	00
C#(-1)	1	01
D(-1)	2	02
D#(-1)	3	03
E(-1)	4	04
F(-1)	5	05
F#(-1)	6	06
G(-1)	7	07
G#(-1)	8	08
A(-1)	9	09
A#(-1)	10	0A
B(-1)	11	0B
C0	12	0C
C#0	13	0D
D0	14	0E
D#0	15	0F
E0	16	10
F0	17	11
F#0	18	12
G0	19	13
G#0	20	14
A0	21	15
A#0	22	16
B0	23	17
C1	24	18
C#1	25	19
D1	26	1A
D#1	27	1B
E1	28	1C
F1	29	1D
F#1	30	1E
G1	31	1F
G#1	32	20
A1	33	21
A#1	34	22
B1	35	23
C2	36	24
C#2	37	25
D2	38	26
D#2	39	27
E2	40	28
F2	41	29
F#2	42	2A
G2	43	2B
G#2	44	2C
A2	45	2D
A#2	46	2E
B2	47	2F
C3	48	30
C#3	49	31
D3	50	32
D#3	51	33
E3	52	34
F3	53	35
F#3	54	36
G3	55	37
G#3	56	38
A3	57	39
A#3	58	3A
B3	59	3B
C4 “Middle C”	60	3C
C#4	61	3D
D4	62	3E
D#4	63	3F
E4	64	40
F4	65	41
F#4	66	42
G4	67	43
G#4	68	44
A4	69	45
A#4	70	46
B4	71	47
C5	72	48
C#5	73	49
D5	74	4A
D#5	75	4B
E5	76	4C
F5	77	4D
F#5	78	4E
G5	79	4F
G#5	80	50
A5	81	51
A#5	82	52
B5	83	53
C6	84	54
C#6	85	55
D6	86	56
D#6	87	57
E6	88	58
F6	89	59
F#6	90	5A
G6	91	5B
G#6	92	5C
A6	93	5D
A#6	94	5E
B6	95	5F
C6	96	60
C#7	97	61
D7	98	62
D#7	99	63
E7	100	64
F7	101	65
F#7	102	66
G7	103	67
G#7	104	68
A7	105	69
A#7	106	6A
B7	107	6B
C8	108	6C
C#8	109	6D
D8	110	6E
D#8	111	6F
E8	112	70
F8	113	71
F#8	114	72
G8	115	73
G#8	116	74
A8	117	75
A#8	118	76
B8	119	77
C9	120	78
C#9	121	79
D9	122	7A
D#9	123	7B
E9	124	7C
F9	125	7D
F#9	126	7E
G9	127	7F

MIDI CPU: Instant DIY MIDI Controller

Posted on May 17, 2010 by John

The new MIDI CPU accepts input from switches, potentiometers, rotary encoders, switch matrices and external digital & analog signals. In response, it generates virtually any type of MIDI message. Buy now!

The MIDI CPU ships fully assembled. Simply attach MIDI connectors, control components, and a battery or DC power supply.

Features include:

24 independent input terminals
Monitors up to 128 switches, 14 potentiometers, or 12 encoders
Allows mixed input types
Merges MIDI input with locally generated messages—multiple units share a single MIDI Out port
Powered via battery or DC supply between 3.3V and 12V
Measures only 66mm x 38mm (2.6″ x 1.5″)
Configured via MIDI SysEx message
User-upgradeable firmware

The MIDI CPU has a long list of potential applications. Build your own traditional footswitch, keyboard, or “knob box” controller. Build your own alternative MIDI controller—optical theremin, fret-based controller, etc. Generate MIDI note patterns or CC waveforms from digital or analog signals. Re-purpose a “consumer” keyboard, calculator, game controller, or other electronic device as a MIDI controller.

These possibilities will be explored with “how-to” information at the blog and forums.

Have you registered yet? The forums are the best place to ask for product information or technical support.

Alien-Devices

Posted on June 24, 2009 by John

Robert at Alien-Devices (MySpace) has been producing quality modified & circuit bent gear for almost a decade. Alien-Devices now offers installation service for Highly Liquid MIDI retrofits and has begun to add MIDI control to projects via Highly Liquid MIDI decoders.

See Robert’s MySpace blog for projects such as this modified MIDI SK-5:

User Project Roundup, Part 8

Posted on May 26, 2009 by John

exFade‘s modified Synsonics drum machine, MIDI-controlled via MSA-T MIDI decoder:

Bryan Benting’s MIDI-controlled electrical outlets and 48-output MIDI-to-gate box (with MSA-T-driven power relays and two MD24 kits for gate triggers) with MIDI-controlled lighting videos (video 1, video 2):

SYNCHRO‘s externally-housed MIDISpeak installations:

Concretedog‘s MSA-R mini review:

k1ds3ns4t10n‘s MSA-P assembly photos:

CS01-MIDI

Posted on April 6, 2009 by John

Add a MIDI input to your Yamaha CS01 with the new CS01-MIDI kit. The kit triggers the entire 68-note range of the keyboard without user adjustment of the octave select switch.

Inline MIDI Connectors

Posted on March 16, 2009 by John

Male and female inline MIDI connectors are now available. An inline connector can be hardwired to a MIDI decoder or MIDI encoder board in applications where a panel-mounted socket is not desirable.

User Project Roundup, Part 7

Posted on March 12, 2009 by John

Forum member GoatBoy used the MSA-R to provide MIDI control for an array of solenoid-activated bells. (Note: The MSA-T and MSA-P may be better choices for solenoid-based projects.)

Spunky Toofers used an Akai EWI 3000 to trigger a MIDISpeak and effects.

Siempre La Luna documented the MIDISpeak assembly process and installation process.

Thomas S. photographed his MIDI Xbox controller for use with music games.

DIY 5x MIDI Thru / Repeater Circuit

Posted on January 30, 2009 by John

The circuit below is a MIDI standard-compliant 5 x MIDI Thru Circuit. Each MIDI Thru port generates an exact replica of the MIDI signal on the MIDI In port.

MIDI connector pin numbering can be found here.

Parts List: