MIDI Controller With Keyboards
Intro: MIDI Controller With Keyboards
Today we're building the 400 key MIDI controller using an Arduino and computer keyboards!
For the budget conscious music producers out there, this project is a great way to build an inexpensive control board for your digital audio workstation.
Or if you're just a musician with an odd taste for instruments, this geeky looking device will surely give you some strange looks.
STEP 1: Watch the Video!
Check out this quick video to see how this mega MIDI device translates to an instrument and for a run-through of all the steps below from start to finish.
STEP 2: What We'll Need...
We're going to build a box that translates signals from multiple keyboards into standard MIDI out signals.
To do so, we'll need:
- An Arduino (I'll be using the UNO, but any other variants will work fine)
- 2 PS/2 ports (as many as you'd like, as long as there's enough digital pins on the Arduino for it)
- MIDI female port
- Cardboard
- A 220Ω resistor
- Perboard
- Wires
Keyboards!
Where to buy
- PS2 jacks: http://amzn.to/2dPQ3lj
- Arduino UNO: http://amzn.to/2dq41Mv
- MIDI port: http://amzn.to/2dt5Tmp
- Resistor pack: http://amzn.to/2d8uQaw
- Perfboard: http://amzn.to/2cQcN7q
- Keyboards: http://amzn.to/2dc95Bl
Soldering gear:
- Weller WES51 Analog Soldering Station: http://amzn.to/2dq7Q4m
- MG Chemicals Silver Solder: http://amzn.to/2dHj0nq
- Helping hand: http://amzn.to/2dc553O
Testing gear:
- Multimeter: http://amzn.to/2dc54N6
- Breadboard & Jumpers: http://amzn.to/2dHknm2
STEP 3: Prepare the PS/2 Ports
Push a piece of perfboard through the bottom pins of the PS/2 ports to make soldering easier.
Clamp the PS/2 ports in place and solder wires to the four pins of each of the PS/2 port that we need to access (they are the Vcc, Ground, Clock, and Data pins - see diagram).
Hot glue the PS/2 ports together.
STEP 4: Prepare the MIDI Port
Push a piece of perfboard through the bottom pins of the MIDI port to make soldering easier.
Add a 220Ω resistor in series to the Vcc pin (see diagram).
Solder wires to the three pins we need to access (they are the Vcc, Ground and Serial pins - see diagram).
STEP 5: Wire Up the Arduino
Wire the PS/2 and MIDI ports to the Arduino as follows:
For the PS/2 ports:
- Vcc pins goes to 5V
- Ground to GND
- Clock and Data pins goes to digital pins 4 to 11
For the MIDI port:
- Vcc pin goes to the 220Ω resistor, then to 5V
- Ground to GND
- Serial to TX
STEP 6: Upload the Arduino Program
I've made the source code to this project open-source, so simply head over my GitHub to download the Arduino sketch:
https://github.com/evankale/ArduinoMidiPS2
Plug in the Arduino to the PC, open up the sketch in Arduino IDE, and upload the program to the Arduino.
STEP 7: Make a Box
Cut out a cardboard box template that fits all the components.
I decided to expose the MIDI and PS/2 ports in the front of the box while the Arduino USB port through the back so that it can be USB powered or reprogrammed easily.
Hot glue the components into place.
STEP 8: Close Up the Box
Close up the box with some PVA glue, and admire your work of art.
STEP 9: Find Keyboards
Just for fun, I decided to attach three old keyboards together with some wood pieces and screws.
Attach two strap buttons, put on a strap, and we have a very unique "keytar" to go with our MIDI box.
STEP 10: Plug It in and Give It a Test
Plug in as many keyboards as you'd like and give it a test!
Watch the video to see the MIDI controller in action.
---
That's all I have for you today!
If you liked this Instructable, then perhaps you'll like some of my other projects!
You can check them out over at my YouTube channel.
New projects every Thursday! See you next week!
30 Comments
Rolipo 4 years ago
I've been trying to build this circuit for two weeks now.
No chance. Has anyone built this circuit successfully?
So that you can play well on 4 keyboards.
I noticed that with the PS2 pin assignments.
Can someone assure me that the code is ok.
And I just have to look for a hardware bug.
I thank everyone in advance who help me.
Best regards Roland
tushar5806 5 years ago
Or How to get output from MIDI port?
Tituscenation 6 years ago
harrycool 6 years ago
Is there any way to use USB Type B port instead of MIDI, cuz I already have an Uno and don't wanna waste anything. Plus, anyway to use it with an USB keyboard instead of PS/2?
SirQuintus 6 years ago
So I know I got the circuit right and everything, I set up my MIDI program, and I can see that I'm getting a MIDI signal coming to my computer from the keyboard, but nothing is registering in my actual software. I've tried to do everything I can in the actual MIDI software but nothing is working. Is there something weird in the code that I need to change or anything?
roclish_rola 7 years ago
those who sucessfully built this please help me out to figure out where i went wrong
I_O_STREAM 7 years ago
i was having trouble with that too but when i went up to the top menu bar under the sketch tab there is an option called add file that i added all the stuff in the zip file except the readme and it complied for me
Amit0710 7 years ago
Violets are blue
U are so funny,
And I like You????
roclish_rola 7 years ago
you are using a mega uno arduino, what if I have uno R3
roclish_rola 7 years ago
the ps/2 keyboards wont power up, I am using a clone arduino ;could that
be a problem?
Also you have have messed up the connections, first of all your diagram
shows connections from a ps/2 plug instead of ps/2 socket that you
demonstrated, also your code mentions the clock pin & data pin to be
different than that of your connection,
please clear out the confusion, I really need to build this
ngmacha 8 years ago
Great project and good instructables, thank you Evan! I've built it too, though not without a bit of stumble - your diagram needs to clarify that the PS2 connectors are shown looking from the back of the female connectors, where the wires are soldered... I'm using the TurtleBeach MIDI-to-USB converter and the Universal Keyboard apps on the Windows 10 tablet, and everything works perfectly. Just a question: do you or anyone out there knows of the apps for SurfaceRT tablet that can play form MIDI port?.. That would be a perfect use for this abandoned but otherwise great tablet!..
Meglymoo87 8 years ago
Sweet! :)
DahaiPon 8 years ago
I like it.
One quenstion,
The connectors in circuit diagram are front view or back view?
WYLMAS 8 years ago
Just wondering, is there any possibility to use Arduino's USB port to connect it as a MIDI device? It would be a great feature (obviously some more coding would be needed) as some of those cheap MIDI to USB adapters might have some unwanted latency. The one adapter I have (then connected to a MIDI keyboard) do have more latency compared to the USB MIDI keyboard (the one that is connected through USB and do not have MIDI port at all).
Why do I have this question? I've never had my hands on any of Arduino boards at all, therefore I don't know all of it's features.
WYLMAS 8 years ago
Probably those cheap MIDI to USB adapters found on ebay would do. I have one shipped from China and I've used it with an old Yamaha MIDI keyboard. Costed no more that £2. It should work with this project too, but you probably have to map it on the DAW yourself (I mean to map certain keys to do certain commands).
iratozer 8 years ago
I am very impressed with your "Multi-Keybord" instrument.
Do you know of any way to take a graphic equalizer and send each filter section to an amplifier that will drive a speaker for each frequency range?
JohnB432 8 years ago
Controllermate for mac can make any usb keyboard into a midi controller. It's incredibly versatile, very straightforwards, and costs about $20.
ZacharyG12 8 years ago
Few comments on this:
First, that's $20. You can make this whole set up for a lot cheaper.
Second, usually with computers won't treat multiple keyboards as their own entities, meaning that you couldn't have the four-keyboard setup shown in this project.
Third, making things is fun, even if you're overcomplicating things
JohnB432 8 years ago
ScottaBlanchat 8 years ago