http://www.audiomulch.com/midipic/
anyone here ever built their own?
diy midi controllers
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- addled muppet weed
- 111294 posts since 26 Jan, 2003 from through the looking glass
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- KVRian
- 995 posts since 4 Mar, 2004
No I haven't but after buying one of those BCF jobbies
what with the lack of proper support and the editor that's still not been released, I'm thinking maybe I should've just got one from one of those geeky university guys who make them at least I might get my emails answered .. bloody Behringer I should have known better
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- KVRAF
- 6937 posts since 4 Jun, 2004 from Utrecht, Holland
I got this 4-channel line mixer collecting dust. Built around 1980, cost around $10, lotsa noise, could be Radio Shack to get an idea.
I got actual plans to give it a second life as a fader box generating Midi CC's, but not through midi itself. I'll do it through the PC Game (Joystick) port. Don't have to hassle with ICs, only passive components needed (pots & switches, thats all)
I got actual plans to give it a second life as a fader box generating Midi CC's, but not through midi itself. I'll do it through the PC Game (Joystick) port. Don't have to hassle with ICs, only passive components needed (pots & switches, thats all)
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- KVRAF
- 3364 posts since 16 Feb, 2004 from atop a katamari
@cookie that's exactly what i'm doing at the moment.
i'm making a central unit which connects to the joystick port, and has a selection of connection ports (probably just jacks), each one for a different 'axis' of joystick movement (because they basically just measure resistance between two terminals). i'll then have several different 'interface' modules, which basically provide ways of applying different resistances between the terminals of the connector wire. really simple stuff.
this will be coupled with a main 'brain' VSTi, which takes the joystick data from the operating system, and outputs each axis measurement as a separate audio channel. the final part of the unit will be 'trigger modules'. one trigger module is basically a vst plugin that can be 'taught' a trigger (input) value, and told to respond to that value (with a tolerance threshold) with a MIDI message. as many as necessary can be connected to each axis output, and then you have a modular MIDI trigger. other modules can be made for the system that interpret the axes in different ways; e.g. MIDI CC values.
it's designed to work within energy XT; this means you can create your modular MIDI 'brain' and save it as a preset for use anytime with the interface units.
when i've got it all working i'll post a guide on how to do it for anyone interested. it's really basic!
one thing i'm working on for it is a 'barrel sequencer'; a rotating barrel with a cork outer layer which you can press pins into. as you turn the handle, the pins push triggers at the 'playhead', which trigger midi events. it's all rather ridiculous but fun for tinkering with when bored!
i'm making a central unit which connects to the joystick port, and has a selection of connection ports (probably just jacks), each one for a different 'axis' of joystick movement (because they basically just measure resistance between two terminals). i'll then have several different 'interface' modules, which basically provide ways of applying different resistances between the terminals of the connector wire. really simple stuff.
this will be coupled with a main 'brain' VSTi, which takes the joystick data from the operating system, and outputs each axis measurement as a separate audio channel. the final part of the unit will be 'trigger modules'. one trigger module is basically a vst plugin that can be 'taught' a trigger (input) value, and told to respond to that value (with a tolerance threshold) with a MIDI message. as many as necessary can be connected to each axis output, and then you have a modular MIDI trigger. other modules can be made for the system that interpret the axes in different ways; e.g. MIDI CC values.
it's designed to work within energy XT; this means you can create your modular MIDI 'brain' and save it as a preset for use anytime with the interface units.
when i've got it all working i'll post a guide on how to do it for anyone interested. it's really basic!
one thing i'm working on for it is a 'barrel sequencer'; a rotating barrel with a cork outer layer which you can press pins into. as you turn the handle, the pins push triggers at the 'playhead', which trigger midi events. it's all rather ridiculous but fun for tinkering with when bored!
Kick, punch, it's all in the mind.
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- KVRAF
- 8114 posts since 13 Jan, 2003 from Darkest Kent, UK
I'm planning on building one too, got some neat notes (and software) from here : http://www.spacetaxi.de/sf/toaster.html
.g
.g
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- KVRAF
- 6937 posts since 4 Jun, 2004 from Utrecht, Holland
I'll have a look at the Toaster Control Centre, might do exactly what I want. I also was looking at TobyBears MidiControlCenter but other software suggestions are welcome!
I also will have input jacks to allow a fader to be replaced by a standard expression pedal. Now the only real problem I have is my faders probably are log instead of lin, since it was a mixer. We'll just see what happens...
@Haydxn: Great idea btw, this cork-pin-barrel sequencer. I love the concept, sure by now its free of patents. And remember, it was me that introduced you to your new friend the Game Port
I also will have input jacks to allow a fader to be replaced by a standard expression pedal. Now the only real problem I have is my faders probably are log instead of lin, since it was a mixer. We'll just see what happens...
@Haydxn: Great idea btw, this cork-pin-barrel sequencer. I love the concept, sure by now its free of patents. And remember, it was me that introduced you to your new friend the Game Port
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- KVRian
- 574 posts since 6 Jan, 2003 from Somewhere between ))o Left and Right o((
Yes. I built ManMidi. 4 knobs. It was fun making it, i don't have time to play with it
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- KVRer
- 21 posts since 1 Nov, 2002 from land of the dead
I built the Midibox Plus. It was alot of work but not really difficult. The plans are on www.uCApps.de The guy who runs this site is great! He gives very good support if you have questions and he even programed the PIC for me (for free!)
I just checked the site and saw that there are alot of new projects now... looks interesting...
Ex
I just checked the site and saw that there are alot of new projects now... looks interesting...
Ex
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- KVRAF
- 3964 posts since 31 Aug, 2003 from In a foreign town, in a foreign land
Friend of mine built one of those uCapps thingies into a suitcase.
I'm thinking about asking him to assist in buiding MIDI-controllers from motion-detectors. I don't see how that would be hard (the not seeing bit might be the problem).
Groet, Erik
I'm thinking about asking him to assist in buiding MIDI-controllers from motion-detectors. I don't see how that would be hard (the not seeing bit might be the problem).
Groet, Erik
Pop music delenda est.
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- KVRist
- 76 posts since 31 Jan, 2003 from Outer Bongolia
I am actually right now in the process of building a MidiBox SID from plans at the www.ucapps.de site. I have just got it working, but I'm having trouble finding a healthy SID chip.
Working on these projects are a lot of fun, I think. But it requires quite a lot of patience, and won't necessarily work as it should the first time. My next project will an ASM-2 modular analog synth.
You don't need to know much about electronics to build one of the MidiBox midi controllers. You can buy complete sets of PCBs and components, all you have to do is put them together according to the plans. And find a suitable box, pots and buttons. And put all that together. Takes a few weeks on and off.
Working on these projects are a lot of fun, I think. But it requires quite a lot of patience, and won't necessarily work as it should the first time. My next project will an ASM-2 modular analog synth.
You don't need to know much about electronics to build one of the MidiBox midi controllers. You can buy complete sets of PCBs and components, all you have to do is put them together according to the plans. And find a suitable box, pots and buttons. And put all that together. Takes a few weeks on and off.
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- KVRAF
- 7540 posts since 7 Aug, 2003 from San Francisco Bay Area
Doepfer has a growing assortment of DIY hardware which can be used to build MIDI controllers, etc.
http://www.doepfer.de
http://www.doepfer.de
Incomplete list of my gear: 1/8" audio input jack.
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- KVRist
- 362 posts since 11 Sep, 2002 from Scotland
Damn, I thought I was the only person who had thought of using a joystick to control audio software 
. I'm just about finished writing a vst host that allows you to control vst parameters from a joystick. (there's an old beta at http://www.niallmoody.com/downloads/Nia ... lBoard.zip, with no joystick support)I'm a guitarist, so I'm going to build a pedal board out of a usb joystick I just bought, and hopefully replace my old Boss GT3 multi-fx pedal with my laptop...
- Niall.
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- Banned
- 12367 posts since 30 Apr, 2002 from i might peeramid
midi barrel.. heheh..
before you sink money into stuff like this, serch for 'midi cube' or something.. modular control interface stuff, knee bend pads, ir sensors, et c.
before you sink money into stuff like this, serch for 'midi cube' or something.. modular control interface stuff, knee bend pads, ir sensors, et c.
you come and go, you come and go. amitabha neither a follower nor a leader be tagore "where roads are made i lose my way" where there is certainty, consideration is absent.
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- KVRAF
- 3364 posts since 16 Feb, 2004 from atop a katamari
this stuff is costing roughly ten pounds to make so far. the only stuff that costs money really is the plastic boxes to put them in (about £4) and the wires to connect them up. everything else is just resistors (which cost a pound for a big bag) and junk from around the house to make various 'devices' with.
i'll certainly post my progress when i've got some done on it.
i'll certainly post my progress when i've got some done on it.
Kick, punch, it's all in the mind.
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- KVRAF
- 3964 posts since 31 Aug, 2003 from In a foreign town, in a foreign land
If you mean the iCube, it's hideously expensive.xoxos wrote:midi barrel.. heheh..
before you sink money into stuff like this, serch for 'midi cube' or something.. modular control interface stuff, knee bend pads, ir sensors, et c.
Anyway, it's here.
Groet, Erik
Pop music delenda est.