Eric Szollosy used the MIDI CPU to create a home-brew MIDI controller and documented the process in a photo diary. More info can be found at the project’s forum thread and in the demo video.
More from Eric Szollosy, Design, Animation & Interactive Professional: web, YouTube.
Highly Liquid Forum member Labelwhore used 3 MIDI CPUs to create an FL Studio controller with 8 slide pots, 16 buttons, and 24 rotary encoders. The controller is housed inside a Pactec KE-20 enclosure with custom panels laser cut and engraved by Ponoko.
All of the project details including parts list, MIDI CPU configuration files, Reaktor ensemble file and FL Studio dashboard file can be found in the excellent project article by Labelwhore. Additional discussion can be found in the project’s HL forum thread.
Organists, guitarists, synthesists, DJs and experimenters continue to create unique DIY MIDI controllers using the MIDI CPU. Explore the MIDI CPU forum to find strategies for generating MIDI output from ribbon controllers, breath sensors, foot switches, organ bass pedals, second touch organ manuals, joysticks, accordions, 128-switch pushbutton arrays, light detectors, Hall effect sensors, piezo elements, and lasers.
Have you joined the forum to discuss your DIY MIDI project idea?
Here are some recent highlights from the forum:
VFXcompositor’s concept for a “next level MIDI performance controller”:
DIY MIDI bass pedal projects from Robrolley and ham hands:
Korg Radias foot switch controller by michaelh:
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.
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.
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.
A group of ENSIM students created a unique MIDI controller by combining a ngoni (a type of West African harp), custom sensor electronics and a MIDI CPU. Pure Data provides customizable tunings.
A portion of the project discussion can be found at the MIDI CPU forum. The students worked with Jobaga during the project.
The MIDI CPU makes it easy to build a MIDI controller of any shape and size. This howto describes the process of building a wall-sized MIDI controller. The example project is the “Living Schematic” MIDI controller / exhibit.
Here are the basic steps:
This zip file includes the parts list (Open Office .ods), design drawings (Corel Draw .cdr & .png) and MIDI SysEx files (.txt and binary .syx) used in the project. Discuss this howto at the forums.
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:
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.
