Arduino MIDI Controller Build, Part 1

I'm finally building one of my dream projects: an Arduino-powered MIDI controller created in the image of a DJ Tech Tools MIDI Fighter. I'm using mini LED arcade buttons along with a Sparkfun Pro Micro as the main hardware for the build.

In Part 1, I go over the thoughts behind the build, the electronics and the code. In Part 2, I'll go over building a final housing and soldering the electronics to a circuit board.

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[friwan]

This is way over my head. I just wanted a button with led to control a servo.

Whatever your doing looks amazing.

[jarmolade]

I believe that part is called a dip socket. As a guy, I think it's great when women do stuff like this. Microcontrollers, diy electronics, robots, and etc. is a passion of mine too. I found this video to be very helpful. Thank you :)

[minkloco]

Great video🙏🏾👍🏿 It’s about time someone did a midi controller video without abelton

[Clunkage]

I feel your pain with the multiplexers. I have been trying to build a few midi devices with a UNO, but without a mux its pretty limited. The pro micro looks like a good way to go, and USB midi is nice... I'm a bit of a noob, I mainly just wanted to make some cool instruments, (my first project was the Auduino Granular synth) but now I'm spending more time tinkering than making music, and probably being more creative too.

[MEvansMusic]

what changes would need to be made in order for the note to sound when the button is pressed as opposed to when its released?

[interlinkknight]

Very nice. You are making great projects and are very lovely. Someday your channel is going to be big. I play piano so I know a bit about MIDI. I am planning to put sensors on an acoustic piano to send data to a computer. But instead of MIDI, I am going to use serial protocol because is what the software I am going to use supports. But anyway, the problem is that I need 89 inputs (88 keys + pedal). Your project reminds me a little about mine so I want to ask you if you have any suggestion. So far my plan is to use 11 arduino nanos. Each have 8 analog inputs (I need them to be analog), all connected to another arduino by I2C that is going to send the data to the PC by serial.

You might ask: Why use so many arduinos, instead of using multiplexer? Because I want to use as little cables as possible. Everything is going to be hidden on the bottom of the keys of an acoustic piano so it has to be thin/compact.

Any suggestion or warnings? So far I don't have anything build.

[kguerrero]

The arduino mega would work great because it has plenty of anolog inputs used for drum triggers.

[davidianmusic]

Nice work, seeing this is helping my MMC transport project. I had the same issue with the note sounding on the release of the button, not the start. I inverted the logic on the edge detection, from LOW to HIGH, and got the rising edge. Was confusing for a while, couldn't figure where the latency was coming from. Hope this helps.

[thenetimp]

FYI: The "standoffs" for the promini are not "for the pro mini" While they are the same size (which is nice) so you can use them with the pro mini they are designed for larger ICs.

[jesuishalil]

I've ordered a 9 button mechanical key tester, to wire the buttons in sort-of the same way, but for macro's instead, I should add MIDI functionality too. =)

[Crowdraws_]

Hi, how many pins do the XH connectors have? I'm wondering because the link on the website is broken and I'm wanting to do this project. :)

[btvkbyy]

I've been looking for a tutorial on this! Thank you. While I was searching youtube, I came across a project using Pro Trinket as a USB keyboard. It's similar to a previous project you have, but no firmware swap is needed. It dawned on me that VSTis and DAWs can be macroed to keyboard, so I could make a button controller that outputs as USB keyboard instead of MIDI... Any thoughts on which project might be simpler/better?

[patrickw]

Thank you for the video; very informative. Did you ever get a multiplexer to work with the Pro Micro? I'm struggling to get multiple pins working on a 4067. I used 3 successfully connected to an Uno using address pins 2, 3, 4, 5 to S0-S3.

[MajorArchitect-]

if it can theoretically handle all of the buttons being pressed at the same time, you could just use the alt output from a micro switch (ex. default closed or open) and have immediate reactions. right?

[CRAugustoSalazarMontes]

Thank you for your work, it looks very interesting project (I will immediately see the second part), you have a new subcritor, by the way (and I hope it is not inappropriate), !!Wow¡¡ you have very beautiful eyes as well as smile, it has been very Nice to find your video, Thanks again and greetings from Mexico.

[zerokyojin]

im sorry for asking this but is your build recognized as a midi controller or do you need a converter software?

[abhinfrndz]

Can I use arduino pro micro or micro instead of the sparkfun pro micro ?

[DallasKruse]

Have you had a problem with Bounce? I used this application for a pushbutton to trigger samples but I need to DeBounce as the switch is triggering with some anomalies regarding bouncing. Is there ANY way you could add a debounce to your code for us less intelligent people? please and THANK YOU!

[daniel]

Love the code and it runs great, but I'm having trouble adding an ANALOG input into it. Any tips or pointers on how I might go about it?

[TriangleWaveRecords]

is there any way to have the buttons play the note as you press instead of as you release? also, could you use this circuit/code to map it with knobs or faders?