I've made a gadget which takes 6.35 or 3.5mm TRS input and outputs USB MIDI.
It can operate in one of 3 modes:
Would anyone in the US, UK or EU like to test? No charge (in fact you get a free gadget!)
Hit me up if you're interested.
Thanks,
Charlie.
Does anyone know any videos that explain how I can use MIDI with my boss ES-5 for changing amp presets on things like my Tonex plus pedal? I’ve never used MIDI before so I’m a noob when it comes to it.
Hey everyone!
This year I have grown my hobby-studio a lot and with this I had to also grow my MIDI-capabilities.
For this I had bought an iConnectivity MioXL MIDI-hub, which works wonderfully in "DAWless" mode BUT
it does not seem to work with my DAW!
If I fire up ableton and open the MIDI-Settings I can see all the connections from the MioXL.
But once I open up a MIDI-channel and ask it to send to e. g. "Channel 9 MioXL", nothing happens.
It feels as if Ableton can currently only receive data coming in from the MioXL, but it is not sending data out to the MioXl (and thus not to my connected gear).
Could anybody perhaps help me setting this up correctly?
Hello, I am trying to incorporate a device into my rig that is only set up to receive MIDI messages via a USB-B input on the back of the device.
My current rig, I use an interface that only sends out MIDI via 5-pin, is there a simple way to convert the 5-pin output from my interface to the USB-B input on the device so I can do MIDI program changes?
SOLVED SOLVED SOLVED!! DOUBLE-CLICK TO TOGGLE SHIFT. MY BAD
I bought this device 15 days ago, and the shift key worked perfectly. All of a sudden, after a day of not using it, the shift key started to randomly toggle. It's supposed to be held down to access the different settings, but now it stays on. Anyone know why this happens and how to solve it?
Your help is greatly appreciated, thanks!
So after months of building, debugging, rewiring, breaking things and fixing them again, I finally finished my DIY keytar.
The project started with a Yamaha PSR-E303 keybed. I kept the key mechanism and rebuilt basically everything around it to turn it into a standalone MIDI controller.
The main controller is an ESP32-S3, which handles the key scanning, velocity calculation, sensors, controls, OLED, MIDI processing and wireless communication.
The keybed has 36 velocity-sensitive keys with aftertouch. I built a custom matrix-scanning system for the key contacts and measure the timing between the key contacts to calculate velocity.
The controller also has:
Most of the analog controls are read through the ESP32-S3's ADC inputs and converted into MIDI CC values.
The pitch and ribbon inputs have software-based dynamic centering, so the controller can detect the center position and return the value to the configured center when released.
The SoftPot was one of the more annoying parts to get working reliably because it needs continuous analog scanning and filtering while still responding quickly enough for live playing.
The ESP32-S3 handles the MIDI generation directly.
Key presses are converted into:
Key matrix → contact timing → velocity calculation → MIDI Note On/Off
while the other controls generate MIDI CC, pitch bend and other appropriate MIDI messages.
I also implemented filtering/debouncing and value handling so the controls don't constantly spam duplicate MIDI messages when they're sitting still.
The OLED is updated with things like octave, transpose, ribbon bank/value, connection state and the currently active CC/value.
For wireless MIDI I built my own Wi-Fi transport instead of relying on Bluetooth MIDI alone.
The ESP32 creates the wireless connection and sends MIDI data using UDP packets.
The basic architecture is:
ESP32-S3 → Wi-Fi → UDP → Receiver application → MIDI output → PC / synth
The receiver listens for the incoming UDP MIDI packets and converts them back into normal MIDI messages.
I also built the receiver application myself. It shows the connection state and MIDI activity and can route the received MIDI to the computer or a supported external synthesizer.
This ended up being a whole separate project by itself lol 💀
The hardware was only one part of it.
I had to debug:
There were definitely points where I thought:
"yeah this thing is never getting finished" 💀
But eventually everything started behaving properly and I ended up with an actual playable instrument.
I'm also planning another part of the project: a Raspberry Pi-based sound engine that isn't limited to this keytar.
The idea is to make a standalone sound module that can accept MIDI from basically any MIDI controller, process the MIDI and generate the sounds directly on the Pi.
So eventually the setup could be something like:
Any MIDI controller → Raspberry Pi sound engine → audio output
I'll post a proper video demo tomorrow showing the keytar being played and going through the controls, wireless MIDI and receiver.
For now, here's the finished build. Would love to hear what you guys think!
So I got the minifreak and want to play it in a bigger keybed but I have a Yamaha PSR E463 which have no 5-pin MIDI, only usb-to-host connectivity. Is there a way to hook these two up so I can enjoy the great sounds of minifreak on a bigger, more expressive keybed?
I uploaded two photos of the back of both keyboards. Thanks in advance, if I'm in the wrong thread please direct me.
Whether I’m using the iPad or MPC or even computer to sequence, I’m always running up against the reality of not having enough midi ports to connect to multiple synths. What is the general solution to get like three or four or more synths all being controlled by one sequencer?
Also, some of my synthesizers are keyboards where I’d like to be able to play into the sequencer and have the midi route back into the same keyboard with local off. (as opposed to one master keyboard controlling every synth) so I need to be running multiple midi input into the sequencer as well as output
Whatever the solution is, I’m looking for it. I’d like to be able to hook up USB keyboards along with the traditional midi din and would prefer one box that does this rather than a whole ton of them. Any of you guys have an all-in-one solution? And if not, whatever the solution is, I’d like to hear thanks!
Edit: i would like to keep the price (of an all in one box) under 300, preferably under 250. Need more money for synths!
Hey all, so I have an sr-16 drum machine that is connected midi out to my summit midi in. The summit has midi out connected to the midi in of a modwave module as a keyboard controller. The summit gets its clock signal from the sr-16 (successfully) but doesn't pass the clock to the modwave. If I connect the summit through port to the modwave then clock is seen by the modwave but I can't trigger notes. How can I combine the keyboard control with the clock signal to keep everything in sync? Is a midi merge device really required for this? Thanks!
All the keys work fine but I'm certain areas I can't play multiple notes aka chords because it will play a key/note that I didn't press and it'll tremolo like crazy and it's basically unplayable
So basically, I've seen quite a lot of complaints about some key notes lag on the SMK 37 Pro and Elite (UNRELATED TO BLUETOOTH). I've noticed that, as soon as the "KEYS" screen (note/chord reader) disappears and goes to the main page, there's a time window were, for some reason, it doesn't register the first two MIDI notes played (if fast). Has anyone else noticed this? Did you find a workaround? There's also a lag on PATCH mode.
hi, i’m thinking of getting an ableton move for my live setup as i’m using ableton note a lot recently and love it. i am wondering what happens when you sync move via an external clock / transport signal (e.g. from an octatrack) and then change projects on move?
i’d love to use move projects kinda like “banks” in a way i’d use them on my elektron devices and combine it with my octatrack as a live looper to blend over the sound gap that happens to happen when move projects are switched.
does anyone here have any intel if this is something that could be possible? do projects start in sync with the external clock when switched while the clock signal is already present or does move need a new transport signal to sync again?
Would a “Donner STARRYKEY-37 PLAY MIDI Keyboard Controller” be good for me?
For anyone still using an Artiphon INSTRUMENT 1: I was having a bunch of issues with the old Windows editor, especially presets/techniques not saving correctly to the device.
I ended up digging into the Electron app and patching it.
The fix includes:
I've tested it on Windows 10/11 with firmware 1.0.23.
It's an unofficial community fix, so obviously use it at your own risk / keep a backup of the original files.
GitHub + instructions:
https://github.com/MrPyroTek/artiphon-editor-WIN-FIX
Hopefully this helps some other INSTRUMENT 1 owners keep these things alive. If anyone still uses one and runs into an issue with the fix, let me know.
Hi, I got an M-Audio synth and it comes with quite a lot of software... That I have to make an account in order to use. Would it make any difference if I put in fake details in the "About you" section? The synth wasn't even bought with my name since it was a gift, so I'm not sure if MY name even matters here.
A few years back I wound up with a bunch of gear, some of it pretty niche, from an estate (really wish I could have met this guy!). This included the Drummer and Strummer from the short-lived Oberheim Perf/x series (great article about them: https://www.perfectcircuit.com/signal/oberheim-perfx-series?srsltid=AfmBOoqtJNYE8lWi0cW3OAJxG1FPy9_IZa8H9oZg9V8a-4svfJmPqaR7).
I’m trying to figure out whether or not they work (my hunch is that they do, everything else in his collection was super well maintained and functional) but things are getting complex quickly and making my head spin. Essentially the Drummer and Strummer are complex MIDI processors and were made before MIDI was standardized.
I have a pretty standard setup to use in testing them: MIDI controllers (mostly Arturia), audio interface with MIDI in/out, Ableton, a few Korg and Arturia synths, and also some MIDI converters/adaptors from RetroKits that seem like they could maybe come in handy (RK002, RK006, some TRSAxB adaptors). It’s been a few years since I was deep down the rabbit hole that led me to the RK stuff, so I’m not sure if and how they could fit in here.
For the Strummer, I was thinking of sending from Keystep Pro into the unit and then feeding the output into Ableton with a soft synth channel. My hope is this will avoid adding any other MIDI complications from feeding to a hardware synth. Does this seem like a reasonable approach? Are there any compatibility issues I’m overlooking?
For the Drummer, which was made to be compatible with several different drum machines of the time, all with their own non-standardized MIDI encoding, I’m really not sure where to start. If I feed it MIDI from a controller and then output into Ableton, will the signal be interpretable or is there some third party conversion that I’ll need to use?
Can anyone with a deeper knowledge of MIDI (especially pre/post standardization) help point me in the right direction? Does anyone out there have experience with the Perf/x line?
Edit: audio interface is Native Instruments Komplete Audio 6
Howdy!
I've been trying to set up a Windows 98 Hewlett-Packard Pavilion to play DOS games, but I've seemed to run into a wall when it comes to MIDI.
The HP has the (infamous) CS4235 Soundcard, which I've hooked a gameport-to-MIDI adapter to, which I have hooked up to a female-to-female MIDI adapter, which finally leads to a MIDI-to-USB adapter connected to my laptop, which has munt's MT-32 emulator and MIDIView to track any MIDI commands sent in.
I've been using Day of the Tentacle to test, with the game set to output via Gen. MIDI (though I have tested Roland as well) via port 330 (as per the soundcard's manual). Normally, it seems no commands are received/sent, as the MIDI-to-USB cable's MIDI-in light does not light up. However, when I first plug the MIDI-to-USB cable into the MIDI female-to-female converter while the MIDI out from the HP is plugged in, the cable briefly lights up and MIDIView detects a command (Usually an out meta event of channel 0, hex ff), though this seems to happen when DOTT is set to output via the 332 as well.
Frankly, I'm at a loss as to where in the chain of converters the issue may be occurring, so any help would be greatly appreciated!
hey there!
i recently acquired an Akai EWI USB which i love, but i haven't been able to get it to be as expressive on midi on Bitwig - when i use it on garageband on my phone, it works great, but breath controlling velocity and volume is pretty on or off binary as soon as the note starts, and the cutoff for both volume and when a note should start is also off.
the only thing that seems to work is pitch bending. when i set up controls on the instrument itself through the software, they save and im able to take it to garageband or bitwig but the parameters don't seem to be read properly in bitwig.
the parameters on the EWI itself are Breath CC1/CC2, Bite CC1/CC2, Velocity, Pitchbend Up/Down - and then the sensitivities to each - which bitwig doesn't QUITE ignore but it might as well ignore.
i have breath CC1 set to "Breath Controller (coarse)" and CC2 set to "Volume (coarse)" - CC2 default is aftertouch but that doesn't seem to do anything in bitwig either - i've gotten the best results switching it to volume.
is there any way i can get bitwig to behave here?
Can anyone shed light on if I can send midi cues (from logic) via USB out to another device via the midi out on the XR18?
Had a go last week and been reading loads from the manual and online but can’t find a concrete answer
My Chain is:
Logic (via USB) > XR18 (midi out) > Helix Rack
I’m seeing different comments on if this can/can’t be done? Having tried myself I’m thinking not as I’ve exhausted all options I can think of but have seen posts saying it can be done with XR18 but not X32 which made me think again
Appreciate any help
Hi, this is my first post.
The other day, while talking to my bandmate, I told him I’m tired of having to change presets with the mouse… and that I should get a MIDI controller for the Neural DSP.
But he said to me, “Why don’t you just use your POD HD500X as a MIDI footswitch controller?”
That hadn’t occurred to me…
Now I’m using ChatGPT to try to set that up and make the connection.
Here’s the thing: the AI has recommended the following for the connection:
1- Roland UM One MK2
2- ESI Midimate eX
3- CME C2MIDI Pro
Has anyone here tried doing something like this?
What do you guys use?