RP2040 Midi Controller - Using the Loopster 2 GPIOs to control motors, read accelerometers, and more
Hi.
Been working on this device, and one of the features that the extra GPIO pins from the RP2040 are broken out for use. It also has built in code hooks to make it easy to run your code when certain events happen (like sending a note).
I created a bunch of examples on GitHub in useraddons.py. This vid was made by just selectively un-commenting them one at a time, plugging jumpers onto the right pins, and that's it.
Some of the things shown here:
Using a wrist mounted accelerometer to send mod wheel CC messages
Lighting up neopixels when notes are played (conveniently embedded in a Baja Blast cup full of resin)
Playing simple tones on a piezo buzzer that match the midi values
Using a motor as an input, sending CC values when it spins (faster = higher)
Using motor as an output - spin a barbie leg (???) faster for higher notes, slower for lower ones.
Controlling a relay switch: control higher powered things with the loopster, like a large strand of lights (or a blender, or whatever)
Honestly, breaking the GPIO pins out was an afterthought - just a nice to have for tinkerers that buy or build one of these. But after messing with it a bit, it's actually pretty neat to have a pre-built thing that can do midi stuff, and have a super easy way to add arbitrary inputs our outputs to it. I think this could be pretty fun for beginners, as it's written in CircuitPython - just about the easiest programming language that runs on microcontrollers.
Anyway, here is the GitHub page. Would love to hear your thoughts or ideas.
https://github.com/derrickthomin/DJBB...
Subscribe here for email updates (idk like 5 a year?)
https://djbajablast.gumroad.com/l/mid...
#raspberrypi #rp2040 #circuitpython #arduino #midicontroller #diy #synth #tacobell #dajablast #cheddar #musicproduction #pico