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:
Jeremy M. Parker (forum member jrsone) has used the MIDI CPU to build a set of MIDI contacts for his Hammond A-100 bass pedals.
Details can be found in the project’s forum thread and Flickr photo set.
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.
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.
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.
