BLE MIDI Drum Machine

In this video, I'll show you how I built this strange looking MIDI controller. It features six capacitive touch pads that trigger MIDI notes. It also features a step sequencer so you can record and playback a pattern. The 16 NeoPixel ring displays a glowing dot for each step which also follows the beat of a given tempo. It can also change settings, such as pitch, tempo, shuffle, length, velocity and even MIDI channel.

Full Tutorial:

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[DMonZ]

really awesome dude! this is such a clean, well accomplished project! love it! the machined aluminium really takes it up a notch.

[myksmith]

Beautiful device and complete project combining multiple disciplines - very nice. The 16 neopixel is a particularly nice-looking addition.
As a musician, I'm surprised you went with capacitive sensors, since piezoelectric sensors would allow you to do velocity-sensitive pads, and might be cheaper. (Although piezoelectric might have "bleed" between pads without shock insulation.)
Fantastic project overall though.

[MrAlFuture]

This is a very cool project and an excellent video. Thank you! *And* as if that wasn't enough, as the cherry on top, your pronunciation of "solder" was perfectly correct :)

[wpherigo]

Great project. Thanks for the video and I'm looking forward to trying it, especially the *soddering*! Thumbs up!

[savvyeyemedia]

I totally love your video, I am building one as soon as I get the parts from Adafruit, purchasing NOW!!!

I have a 3d printer so I will print the bits, however, I ABSOLUTELY love the aluminum so would it be possible for you to provide me with 6 pads at a cost?

[ryanbeckwith]

Amazing!! I was wondering how to remove the sequencer in the code? I basically want the pads to operate just as simple triggers. Thanks!

[kevinmanoj]

May I know how to add more touch pads to the MPR121 sensor? It seems that there are only 12 points in it to solder. Correct me if I'm wrong. Great build. Keep up the good work.

[sandcobainer]

Is it velocity sensitive? big question iguess.

[CraigHollabaugh]

what's receiving the ble packet stream? thanks, project is great BTW.

[tboorer]

I’ve hacked your midi sequencer and turned into an electronic plunger mute. I’ve added transducer microphones, as I’m using a patch on Max/MSP to use the vibrations to trigger samples and events as the trombone plays into the mute. Three of these mics are used conventionally and plugged into an audio interface. But I’ve added a piezo mic to A1 of the feather and a home made force resistive sensor (FRS for sake of Arduino IDE) to control velocity or other parameters. However I’m having some problems combining sketches for the FRS and Piezo mic, A0 and A1 respectively, with the midi sequencer. Would you be able to help? I want both to send midi data - FRS for velocity (or to control various Ableton knobs/potentiometers). On the last attempt things would work for a while but eventually, ​the sequencer seemed to crash. Also when trying to connect Bluetooth all was fine, but the Apple midi studio could not see it. 
I’d appreciate any help or advice.

[kavtech_midi]

can adafruit arduino change with arduino uno+bluetooth, cause that adafruit feather is expensive in here...

[no-trick-pony]

I mean, it's a cool project, but you are giving us hints where to get a 3D print which is like 100 bucks to buy yourself but not where I can get Aluminum CNCed?

[sonderskooler]

is there a how-to for the 16 arcade button version shown at the end of the video? that looks exactly like what i´d like to build.

[anandquest]

Where do I find the code? Can't seem to find it on the link mentioned under full tutorial

[no-trick-pony]

How do you charge that battery? Do I need to worry about charging circuits/low voltage protection?

[frankmyers]

What if you put in a speaker and add the right software and have a portable drum kit or what ever instrument

[TheKishinhunter]

What's the point of the copper tape? Couldn't you have just soldered the cables to the aluminum? And could you also use aluminum tape wrapped around blocks to achieve the same effect?

[DankDaddyz]

Is this product open source or have fair use?

[ROY-pvso]

hi! I was just wondering, is the Adafruit MPR121 12 touch sensor capable of detecting velocity? like piezo sensors?

[vocalead]

So just to clarify, if I were to use actual buttons instead of touch pads, I could skip having the capacitive touch sensor, and just solder the buttons directly to the feather, is that correct?