Arduino MIDI Controller: Part 1 - Potentiometers

[@Bruceanddenise]

Man, I can't tell you how valuable ALL of your videos are! I appreciate how orderly your breadboard work is. It makes it much, much, much easier to follow and copy. It soothes the OCD in me. Wanted to say thanks!

[@NotesAndVolts]

Thank you Bruce!

[@DNBCYPHER]

I'm looking fwd to watching this episode and more after this comment!"

[@Lugubrisimo]

Upon finishing the Arduino MIDI project, I have it without the MIDI connector; it's directly connected via the USB cable from the Arduino for the connection. It provides the values that are reflected, but in the DAW Reaper that I use, it doesn't recognize them for assignment, as turning the potentiometer doesn't assign a value.

[@andrelenz405]

You just convinced me to going in arduino diy project. Perfect videos, even a noob as me now can try :)

[@NotesAndVolts]

Thanks Andre! Good luck with your build

[@dodecafono]

Best tutorial on KZbin, I'll make a mod and pitch wheel for my old Casio keyboard.

[@NotesAndVolts]

Thank you!

[@fredmankph6969]

Man this vid is a life saver ,upload the push button part asap ,gotta finish up a midi controller which i have waited through out my entire life ..............................PLEASE NOTES AND VOLTS UPLOAD THE PUSH BUTTON TUTORIAL ASAP

[@grittyforest1379]

Your tutorials are SO on point! Thanks! I took a mini course about arduino and I felt in love with it and I'm willing to buy my first kit in the next few weeks. Your channel is a gold mine to people who are primaly interest in music things and want to give the first steps without being overwhelmed in the beginning by all the electronic and eletric stuff that fill tons of pages in manuals! I saw some cool ideas about sequencers, but being a totally dummie in arduinos, the videos that I saw didn't covered with such details as yours. I'm just suggesting that would be awesome if you made some project that can sequence samples, or even synth sounds. Thanks for sharing your knowledge!

[@NotesAndVolts]

Thanks Forest! That means a lot :) I'll make a note of your suggestion. Stay tuned

[@MakeItB3tter]

Arduino -> Pure Data -> Loop MIDI -> MIDI OX -> You got it ! :d *edit* The arduino patch that is needed is the "Standard Firmata", you can find it in the core libraries

[@BoobenTzee]

5:58 - 6:29 you saved my life:)

[@NotesAndVolts]

Awesome!

[@mathias5618]

This is really helpful, I might make something like this to add some more knobs to my microkorg

[@azenkwed]

5:46 you can use the MAP() function which takes 5 parameters exemple: (myPot, 0,1023, 0 , 127)

[@pafreformas2699]

wow , man...youre sooo clear and simple to explain , its impossible dont understand, thank you so much and congratulations.

[@NotesAndVolts]

Thanks PAF!

[@josh.graham]

Thanks mate! Fantastic tut, really clear and well explained. Fun project!

[@NotesAndVolts]

Thanks Josh!

[@danielel9191]

Beautiful tutorial! This is a master class on making electronic controllers and midi instruments. Thank you!

[@NotesAndVolts]

Thank you Daniele!

[@nathanwallestad9930]

This is exactly what I was looking for. Planning to adapt this into a eurorack module.

[@fuzzjohn]

Awesome stuff thanks Dave. I had trouble getting this working, pots working fine, tested them separately. I went to the MIDI output tutorial and in that one you recommend to disconnect the wire coming from the TX pin on the Arduino while uploading the code. I was leaving it connected before and I guess that was the problem because now it works great.

[@NotesAndVolts]

Good job! Glad it worked for you.

[@bhajkiewicz]

Hi, could you explain the difference between using 10k and for example 100k potentiometers. I mean what effect will I get using the 100k potentiometer and what 10k. What is the best resistance for potentiometers in midi controllers. Thanks in advance. Good job!

[@JanKowalski-nm1jh]

Absolutely great video - very informative for non-professionals - thank you very much.

[@NotesAndVolts]

You're very welcome!

[@FlightSim2703]

Well done, thanks so much, I will get started as soon as my part orders delivered, thanks for sharing 🥰👍

[@EmuExport1962]

Fantastic tutorial Dave ...Very well presented and clear descriptions of the process.....Well done mate :)

[@NotesAndVolts]

Thanks Emu!

[@jesusgranadoschanel]

The best Arduino/MIDI tut. Thanks!

[@RoyalTech_2024]

Hi, Great video. I have tried this project, but the Arduino nano's TX led is continuously lights up. When I use a button on pin 2 to send note on/off messages it works fine, and the TX led is only lights up on pressing and releasing button, my midi Synth also playing the note, but with potentiometer there is no change. I have tested analogue read program to see if there is noise in adc reading but the readings are stable. I have changed the analogue pins from A0 to A7 but the result is the same? Please help me to sort this out, please give me a reply.

[@lanfrancosimoncelli3980]

FANTASTIC for a MiniMoog (Arturia) MIDI control... many Thanks

[@NotesAndVolts]

Glad you like it!

[@lanfrancosimoncelli3980]

@@NotesAndVolts Would it be possible to use the Arduino's USB socket instead of the 5-pole socket to control a Synth through a DAW? many thanks.

[@brendanmccloskey9601]

Another great video from notesandvolts; love your work man

[@NotesAndVolts]

+Brendan McCloskey Awesome! Thanks Brendan

[@brendanmccloskey9601]

+Notes and Volts Srsly; very professionally put together, great delivery. Esp the Arduino stuff, check out my builds. I must give the Audiuno a go, looks amazing. Looking forward to many more in-depth Arduino builds.

[@araguet]

Hi, this video is marvelous and the way you explain is perfect, and I want to try but I'm new with Arduino. I know that this was in 2016 and I want to know if there are an updated version, or I can use the Arduino One that is available today. Saludos desde Buenos Aires.

[@kewlbns69]

hey man just wanted to say thanx for this. i built a midi controlled wah with this that i can run with my hand cuz i got 2 bum legs and can't work a traditional one...now i just need to figure out how to get all this stuff in a lil box that i can put on my guitar. :D

[@NotesAndVolts]

Thant's awesome KB! Sounds like a really cool project.

[@kewlbns69]

still working on it. i had it working set up the way you do it but when i tried to install the pot into an extra enclosure suddenly it didn't work. i used a couple TRS plugs and TRS cable to connect the two...i think my soldering job is just garbage and i need to redo it lol.

[@FedericoLucchi]

Awesome!!! I was able to create a multi-channel 3-D MIDI control using joysticks to control the 3-D pan of live surround sound systems! Thanks a lot for your work, programming isn't my strength!

[@ghada2235]

how did you get the code for this program it dosen't exist in github

[@FedericoLucchi]

@@ghada2235 Video description...

[@JamesSBaker-de6sd]

Thanks Dave, your Arduino - Midi videos are very informative !

[@NotesAndVolts]

+James S. Baker Thanks James! Glad you like them.

[@mrfudd13]

What a great video! Thank you for your attention to very clear and concise details, with no extraneous static - a gem!

[@axel.foley.1984]

8:50 With the software I downloaded from Notes & Volts the line of code you highlight is commented out, gotta delete the "//"

[@diy_rabbithole]

This video is perfect! Is there any way we can send pitch bend message through pots? I am trying to make a control surface using MCU protocol, and it requires pitch bend messages to be sent for controlling faders in the DAW.

[@robertsimmons6997]

Love your tutorials on the builds, got some stuff on the way to make me a diy midi to go along with some of my other projects, but would I be able to make the diy controller Bluetooth?

[@ognevsky]

Great! Thanks! What about encoders (infinite pots) and motorized faders? Would be great to have such video. I started (and already freezed) a project couple months ago making something like Mackie MCU (or any other control surface) with Arduino. Their price is very high and it would be great to have such video on this subject as everybody would want to make something similar at home for their home studio. Thanks again for such useful video.

[@andrewj.682]

Try opendeck

[@nahjokesusa]

I have two pots set up, PO1 and PO2. I have tried them on different pins, A0 thru A5) but no matter how I connect it, one pot will trigger both control changes at once. no matter which pot I use, or even if I only wire one of them up. Any idea what to look for?

[@GenesisKeyboardCovers]

Hello! This might not be the best place to ask for support but I've started having problems with this project recently. I've updated my system recently and have now found that the midi controller built with this code doesn't work anymore. My computer and DAW recognise the USB midi cable coming from the project and the light indicating that there is CC going through the cable is blinking when I turn controls yet none are reaching my DAW. I have also tried switching cables but I just came to the same result. Have there been any cases like this before? I haven't tried reuploading the code yet but that shouldn't really affect anything since nothing changes in the code right? Worked amazing before though and the code has sparked some really great projects for me.

[@johndouglas4039]

Fantastic, would this work on a Tinsee 2?

[@Omt2424]

it is sooooooo well explained it is mindblowing

[@NotesAndVolts]

Thanks :)

[@marcomarvil5788]

Great video thank you, i would like to take example for a flight simulator application. What is the limit of potentiometers and buttons that can be added to an arduino? thank you so much. Marco

[@TheOriginalJarvees]

It may be a basic question/answer, but why do we attach the 220Ohm resistor between the transmit on the Arduion and Pin 5 on the MIDI port? Is this similar to adding the 4.7K between Pin 7 on the 6N138 to help discharge capacitive charges?

[@tazgti]

This is part of the MIDI hardware interface specification. The signal will drive an optocoupler.

[@nico_moro_]

Hi. Excelent tutorials. Thanks for the information. Im working on this controller but I have 160 ohm resistors. This could work or I need 220ohms? Thanks. Cheers from Buenos Aires

[@Galova]

Great video! I have a specific question: is it possible to build a midi contrroller with several voltage outputs? I have an obolete duophonic analog synth and I can't control it using any contoller or computer. The only controller possible is using many hands to turn knobs and smash keys. I've seen some DIY projects but my synth has unusual design and it can't be upgraded using standart midi converters. It needs something customized.

[@OldBiker]

I tried this and used just two pots, the pots are used at foot expression pedals (10k Linear each) when it's set to just one it works perfectly but when I add the second pot the midi info in OX just keeps scrolling, even when the foot pedal is not even plugged in. Also if it is just set to use one pot and I plug the foot controller into the second pot socket it still recognises something is plugged in and keeps scrolling, what's going on here then?!

[@neytaldub1093]

HI, thanks for this tut, its nice and clear. I have a question, will those things with pots, buttons and multiplexing inputs work the same on Arduino Mega2560. I would love to built my self mix console with cca 64 pots and faders plus some buttons and flash reading back midi cc. I read somewhere that Uno has small ram and it would not work. Do you think that it would work the same way as on Uno in your tutorials. I mean the library, coding etc? Thank you again for the tutorial

[@LuisTorres-qz5kr]

Thank you very much for theses videos. I have learnt a significant amount and have watched many of your videos. How does one go about adding a switch to this project to enable the ability to swap MIDI channels? (specifically, using an external Arduino like the older model - Dueminalove)

[@theseagramsynthensemble4696]

Firstly, great video! Extremely helpful and clear. Secondly, has anyone tried using different potentiometer values such as 100k? Are there any significant changes and do you need to adjust the code?

[@gabrielemanniello]

Of course the values will be different, the potentiometer will go from a minimum of 0 to a maximum of 100k, so you need to divide the analog signal by 70 instead of 7 in order to make it work as the same, otherwise the potentiometer will reach the midi limit value 127 really soon and it will not work for the rest of the potentiometer spin

[@Codemarla]

Hi, great tutorial. I can make my standard pots using this, but I also have SoftPots. When I connect those up instead of dials the signal just spams out making it completely un-useable. Any idea why? I assume the code needs adapting for SoftPots?

[@Codemarla]

Nevermind, I figured itout. I just needed a resistor inbetween the wiper and ground.

[@corvokenway.]

Is there any way to change the midi socket to a USB printer socket?

[@quinxx12]

Hey! I wonder why do you have to make these signals MIDI CC? Wouldnt it also be recognized by DAWs if you connect the circuit with the Arduino via USB?

[@Harindu101]

hi... I saw some midi instruments have 2 midi jacks, and this one has one midi jack. can I use only one jack, can you explain why ,or suggest a yt video for me, can you? also your tutorial videos are nice

[@TruestQuest]

great video! can someone teach me how to increase the amount of potentionometers? i am looking to add a piece of connection to the Arduino that allows me to create a box of at least 60 potentionometer knobs for music software midi controls. finally, would it be best to use higher value knobs, or the value for the one in this video is enough? advises plz, thanks.

[@vientosderutaToti]

Buenas, muy buenos los videos, me vienen bien para un proyecto que estoy haciendo. Hago una consulta, como podría agregar un encoder rotativo? En la misma librería. Ya que lo que necesito es usar, botones, faders y unnoar de encoders

[@neytaldub1093]

Hi, i wonder if there is a way how increase read of difference between old and new value on pots. So the pot will not react on small changes. the thing is that i have used cca 30 pots on mixconsole but some of them keep sending messages with very small change. I would like to make all of knobs bit less sensitive so when i want to learn midi knob in software it would not get milions of noise signals. I belive that has to do something with sheet controller.cpp but i am not sure witch part is it. Thank you for any idea

[@shmish]

Do you have a favorite model of rotary and linear potentiometers for midi controllers?

[@mykhayloslobodyan1250]

+Notes and Volts what about 360 degree *clickable* rotary encoders, like on Elektron gear? Any source for them? Is there a way to *_not_* limit yourself with half a 127 with them, but instead use the offset from previous setting, maybe with MIDI Running message or something?

[@JonasHamill]

What's the maximum number of pots that can be used?

[@billwright1620]

Great tutorial - anyway to turn this into a midi out on USB?

[@aleyrecords]

Hello, this mod worked better for me, since it works on any track selected, I have 8 sliders and had assigned them to 1-8, but can’t do anything to tracks 8 and over, I thought it could move like scenes, 1-8, 9-16, 17-24 etc, but couldn’t make it work, any suggestions? Thanks.

[@onzkicg]

Thanks for this very helpful info. How to make this arduino uno send wirelessly via bluetooth?

[@Goodie_bag]

I'm really struggling with the last part of this. When I adjust the pots or push a button the tx LED only lights up if I have the usb connected as well as the MIDI. I am not getting any MIDI signal into my MIDI monitor. I have connected my components exactly as they are in the video and I've tried two different USB-MIDI interfaces. Any ideas would be hugely appreciated!

[@MEvansMusic]

can you do the same with an arduino duemilanove?

[@drunkard103]

hey there. love these videos :D i was wondering if the code would be tweakable to send midi note information for an input on an analogue pin? i'm looking into building a midi guitar and using a series of switches with resistors between them to make the "frets" and i'm wondering if that would be viable of if i should just go for multiplexers on the digital pins :'D cheer for the great tutorials :D

[@danysize]

GREAT TUTORIAL !! Thanxs for your info!!

[@NotesAndVolts]

Thanks Daniel!

Hello and THANK YOU SO MUCH for such an amazing tutorial! Everything is easy to understand, even thought English is not my primary language... I only have one question: Is it possible to set the MIDI CC to be sent in OMNI mode? For example.: I am not sure if my Keyboard is on channel 2 or channel 10, so i simply set up the notes to be sent in OMNI mode, so I dont have to worry about choosing the right channel... I tried to setup the MIDI channel on the code as "0", but it dif not work... Thanks i advance!

[@jackuzy]

YEA ! :D I see the code is full of nice features :D ... waiting for next videos :)

[@TriangleWaveRecords]

Can you do this with a ProTrinket? And would it be possible to add another MIDI Jack to use as a MIDI THRU to daisychain multiple? Thanks!

[@ronaldcoelhomartins2076]

Hello! I followed your step by step throughout. By the way, very good parabens. My problem is that in the end I have no signal coming out of midi jack, what can it be? Sorry because I am Brazilian and I do not speak English, but if you can help me, I thank you.

[@ruhsuzat9291]

Can not I use the usb port instead of the midi jack?

[@OREMETOSMusic]

i wonder that too

[@antoinemay6587]

@@OREMETOSMusic you have to upgrade the firmware of the ATmega16U2. find a way here: www.instructables.com/id/Custom-Arduino-MIDI-Controller/?fbclid=IwAR1FBU34DJCuBUKMIysFRGIWrwnbeWJHJgp_lR2hldM959bS7eZHUCwGj3w

[@krutoyinfo]

You can. Google hiduino

[@mestari33]

Thank you for these videos!

[@DioZambrano]

Amazing, thank you so much, extremely well explained. :)

[@QGMODS]

thank you for the tutorial, i would like to build a project like this but with 8 pots, i have an arduino uno like yours, how can i do it?

[@turtletim55]

you have to use a multiplexer, i'm doing the same project myself right now. Notes and Volts has a few vinds on it. go see the ones with 'multiplexer' in the title!

I can send midi signals with pot1 but I am reading "timing clock", "PC: Trumpet", "PC: FX 7 (echoes)" etc. in MIDI-OX (event section) What is the problem?

[@jacouys4780]

The pot works until it is left alone for 2seconds; it stops sending any midi, unitl the unit is reset.. Any ideas?

[@FlightSim2703]

The main requirement to make it work is the data, which we need to upload in to Arduino, I wish you provided the exact link 😉

[@ReneAlexisPenalozaMunoz]

Interesting. I've neve had the guts to try and make a MIDI controller. How different would be to make a controller with only faders? Thanks for the video.

[@kewlbns69]

so i'm still working on my wah wah thing. i found adding a 10k static resistor between the middle pin to gound and the analog pin keeps the voltage from bouncing around. i have no idea why this works lol. thanx again dave! :D

[@NotesAndVolts]

Thanks for the update Kewl :)

[@easrathena1561]

Hi your project is very nice and instracable, i try your project but when complle coad gatting error "update button was not declard in this scope".what is problem.pless can halp me.

[@BenStoneking]

I've really appreciated your tutorials! Very useful! I have a question. I want to add non-midi buttons to the code that will trigger an if statement that changes the cc number and channel number of pot, thus opening the possibility of pressing a button to access multiple midi CC's. Is it possible to edit the Pots within the void loop()? the code compiles without throwing an error but does not work in practice. I'm wondering if I'm missing something. Also any Serial.print functions are spat out as gibberish unless I comment out MIDI.begin (which obviously is important). Anyways, I'd love to know if there is a way to change the MIDI CC of a pot with a button.

[@BenStoneking]

Example: The switch works. I've checked that. P01 is initially cc 1 channel 1, but doing this seems to have no effect. I apologize for my novice knowledge! if (ccswitch_state == HIGH) { Serial.print(" button pressed "); Pot PO1(A0, 0, 2, 2);

[@Dutch3DMaster]

@@BenStoneking Honestly, I am not exactly unfamiliair with hexadecimal numbers, binary code and the like, but MIDI is a seriously well thought-through and complex protocol that can be seriously hard to understand, I now noticed. You might try to use an if-statement that checks what CC-function and channel is being used at that moment, and then check for a change and what that change should be (this could be inside a specific range by using a for-loop).

[@PrinceWesterburg]

I need a MIDI CC expression controller in a foot pedal - I searched eBay and Google high and low, nothing. I do however have an Arduino and an old wah pedal, hmmm...

[@mano123456]

Hey I need to dig into the code but quick question --- does the current implementation support sending SysEx messages and not CC?

[@5_ina_syncro16]

Did you find your answer? I'm working on to arduino and Sysex messages so as to control specifics parameters on my differents synths.

[@mano123456]

Bruno archi.entpe hey I have code I wrote a couple of years ago that did this, but it's a mess. Look at the MIDI.h library. You can send SysEx the same way the software shown in this video sends CC messages.

[@5_ina_syncro16]

Ok I will see. I hope it will be so easy. Thank you.

[@jamieh9351]

How hard would it be to adapt the software to send NRPNs to a Yamaha XG synth and control things like DSP functions? I've got one of the old Portable Grand keyboards where you have to wade through unfriendly menus to change any of the good stuff...

[@jamieh9351]

I would need to send MSBs and LSBs etc...

[@llundq]

Should the potentiometers still be connected the same if I don't use a midi jack?

[@dariomazzitelli8374]

in my case it works perfect until I put the potentiometer number 4, it sends constantly midi signals although I do not want, could someone help me ?.

[@padlockbeats151]

Sweet vid mate, thanks.. Question... What would I do if I wanted say 20 pots?

[@NotesAndVolts]

Hi Padlock. You can add a 16 channel multiplexer to one of the analog inputs and connect the other 4 pots directly to the board. Watch this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/hJ7boHWaeq96aJo

[@masonmakesnoise]

Hi, do I need to connect the snap-in pins of the potentiometer to GND or can I attach them to a independent soldering point which isn't connected with anything else?

[@NotesAndVolts]

Hi Mason. Only the the three pins on the front need to be connected. The snap tabs just hold it in place.

[@daddydanny5588]

why midi jack .. can we use it as DAW controller without the midi jack ...

[@songmingwu]

Hi, Is there anybody has tried connect this to DAW software via USB MIDI cable? I have connected it by USB MIDI cable. The MIDI cc signal became none continued, CC signal only transmit one data each time I turn the knob. But it worked correctly when I connect it to my Synthsizer. I want to use it to control my able tone live. Is there any suggestion to connect PC which has no MIDI port? I mentioned USB MIDI cable that is I bought it from China. The cable is USB to MIDI 5pin. I connected the 5 pin MIDI to the Arsuino. The USB to my computer.

[@XadyFarias]

Great! How can I use these potentiometers to send MIDI Sysex?

[@syntheticsolace]

can this code be adjusted for an arduino due, and setup for all midi to transfer out the native usb of the due?

[@daddydanny5588]

can i use more than 40 faders and pots

[@mikkelfalling3571]

First of all thank you very much for a whole set of interesting videos. How did you get rid of the Analog input noise. Despite I use Potentiometer setup in the same way, my inputs are fluctuating

[@NotesAndVolts]

Thanks Mikkel! Check for loose wires on your board. "Rats nest" wiring is notorious for being touchy.

[@Clunkage]

Hi, having trouble with this one. Still not transmitting any data. Compiling and uploading fine, Triple checked wiring, midi jack sends data to PC with a regular midi keyboard, but not from the arduino.... A bit stumped...

[@bio303]

Can you do Midi and CV (or just CV) tutorial with Arduino? :D!!!!

[@mathias5618]

+biologik yeah that would be awesome

[@xaricoavila9360]

Compilation error: Controller.h: No such file or directory - this is the error, you didn´t mentioned anything about this library, can you provide comment on what to do pls?

[@jadawson1]

Can you use this tech to control circuit benders, homemade synths, anything electronic at all? Would love to control many things from cubase.

[@NotesAndVolts]

Hi Jeremiah. You can use Midi to control almost anything. This video deals with building a controller. You should check out this video for an example of controlling hardware with a PC and DAW. kzbin.info/www/bejne/d4rbZmikn5qpidE

[@JBCinema911]

HOW MANY KNOBS COULD YOU CONTROL USING ONE ARDUINO BOARD? IS IT POSSIBLE TO HAVE A LOT MORE INPUTS SOMEHOW OR DO THE BOARD PINS REPRESENT THE LIMIT (1 PER PIN?)?

[@NotesAndVolts]

Hi Jamie. Check out my video on Multiplexers. I have connected 64 pots using this method. kzbin.info/www/bejne/hJ7boHWaeq96aJo

[@ivang2490]

Hi. I am a beginner. Can somebody say me whats the examen name of the "midi module" for buy it ? Thanks.

[@petrushka987]

Hi, can somebody tell me how to make the led flashing when i turn the potentiometer or press a button. I mean the led turns on when I change the parameter and when i stop turnig the led stops too. It’s easy with buttons - simply digitalWrite. But I don’t get how to do this when it comes to the pots part of the code

[@francoambrosetti1]

Hello, I am writing to you from Argentina. I want to know what is the interface you use to connect Arduino with computer? Do you have or can you make a video on that? I want to make a DJ controller for the MIXXX open source software and I'm seeing it step by step but I find that you use a MIDI port and these controllers use USB.

[@gguitarwilly]

use a midi to usb cable such as the midimate

[@humbertocornejo8603]

hi notes and volts. i am working with this proyect in my school, but do not make work a rotary encoder as pitch bend or scratch in virtual dj, else work in traktor dj pro, my problem is with program the rotary encoder, can you helpme please? im using your code, i want finish this work, tanks for share this video

[@datlobstaguygenius1792]

Could I possibly build this kind of thing but for 1 single pot that I can install on a guitar?

[@andrelewis3942]

Don't you want a small value capacitor to decouple the midi jack? Some midi devices don't play nicely and could burn out the uno.