Turn your Arduino Uno into an USB-HID-Mididevice

While building an Arduino Uno based Midi-Controller for Ableton Live, I came across the HIDUINO project ( http://code.google.com/p/hiduino/ ). It allows you to turn your Arduino Uno (or any other device using an AVR-USB chipset like the 8u2) into a driverless HID/Midi device. It's much more comfortable than using a software based serial to midi converter which has to run in the background all time.
The only downside is that you loose the ability to upload your sketches over USB while using the custom firmware. Therefore an ISP programmer is helpful!

This is just a short Instructable describing how to set up your Arduino as an HID/Midi device with the help of an ISP programmer.

More informations are avaliable under: http://code.google.com/p/hiduino/w/list

Step 1 Gather your materials

Things you need:
- A compatible Arduino board. I'm using the Arduino Uno here.
- An AVR-ISP programmer. The AVRISP mkII works great and is used here.
- Software to use your ISP programmer; up and running. I'm using the AVR crosspack with avrdude on my MacBook Pro.
- The HIDUINO software from here http://code.google.com/p/hiduino/downloads/list

To get ready for the next steps you have to unpack the HIDUINO archive.

In the unpacked file move to the folder "Arduino Libraries". Inside you will find another folder called "HIDUINO_MIDI_Lib".
Move this folder into your Arduino - Libraries folder.
The final result should look like this /Users/phil/Documents/Arduino/Libraries/HIDUINO_MIDI_Lib

We haven't moddified the original USB firmware yet, so it's still intact and you can use it to flash an example sketch to your Arduino.
Try the first sample from the HIDUINO archive. It's located under "Arduino Example Sketches" and really easy to understand.
You don't have to do this yet, but it allows you to test your device immediately after reflashing the USB firmware.

Comments

[arduinopowered]

could u plz post the board files with the attiny85 and atting45

[-philicity-]

Hey, take a look at this site: http://hlt.media.mit.edu/?p=1229
You will find the files there :)

[arduinopowered]

Thank u

[fjohn]

ur arduino is ....somethings wrong coz the atmega 8u2 is kept side ways ?????? wat does that mean??

[-philicity-]

Yeah you are right! I haven't noticed it before! I don't know why it's place side ways. The Arduino I'm using is really new. Maybe it got redesigned in newer versions?!

[lewisb42]

How is the lag between triggering a note on a controller (e.g., midi keyboard) and hearing a note on the computer? Is it quick enough for live playing?

Also, I don't have an ISP programmer. Can I assume HIDUINO would keep me from using, say, an FTDI programmer connected to Tx/Rx pins on the UNO?

[-philicity-]

Momentarily I'm using 4 linear sliders and 12 potentiometers to control Ableton.
It works quite fast. There is no noticable lag ;)
Working live with it should be no problem :)

There is a tutorial on how to flash the new USB firmware without an ISP adapter, but i haven't tried it yet. Working with an ISP is far more comfortable. Check out this link: http://code.google.com/p/hiduino/wiki/UsingHiduinoDFU

But then you have to restore the original USB firmware every time you want to upload a sketch to your Arduino over USB.
Afaik can not use your FTDI to program the USB chip. But you can use it to upload sketches to your Arduino.

[randofo]

Thanks for showing everyone how to do this. I can't wait to see your next project.