MIDI Adapter for Meowsic Keyboard Pursues Digital Feline Melodies
Embracing the Unconventional: MIDI Hacks and Creativity Unleashed
Picture this: A keyboard that makes cat noises instead of the usual musical notes. Sounds strange, right? Well, believe it or not, that's exactly what the Meowsic keyboard is all about. But this quirky invention doesn't stop there - enter the Meowsic MIDI adapter, a brainchild of tech enthusiast, Steve Gilissen, who wanted to take the Meowsic keyboard to the next level.
Originally, projects have turned the Meowsic keyboard into a MIDI output device, but Steve decided to take it a step further by integrating MIDI input, making it a truly unique musical instrument. The switches in the keys of the original keyboard form a matrix of rows and columns, and Steve's plan was to have a microcontroller read MIDI input, then connect the appropriate row and column to play the desired note.
First, he connected rows and columns manually, a tedious process that mapped connections to notes. After that, Steve designed a PCB (Printed Circuit Board) that hosts an Arduino Nano to accept input, two MCP23017 GPIO expanders to provide enough outputs, and CD4066BE CMOS switches to trigger the connections.
Realizing potential issues, Steve checked the connections before powering the board, which revealed a few problems. A series of bodge wires fixed these issues, but the board still refused to play during testing. After a lengthy debugging session, Steve finally spotted the culprit - two pins on an optoisolator were reversed. After fixing this, the Meowsic keyboard began to play, creating a delightful symphony of cat meows and musical notes.
The world of MIDI hacks is vast and full of surprises. While there's not much information available on the "Meowsic keyboard," there are other MIDI implementations worth exploring. For instance, the Game Boy, initially designed for gaming, has been transformed into a musical instrument through interfaces like the MIDI Game Boy or LSDJ (Little Sound Dj). These tools enable users to control external MIDI devices using the Game Boy’s buttons and sequencer, creating a unique MIDI controller.
Instruments like the ROLI Seaboard and LinnStrument use MIDI Polyphonic Expression (MPE) to enhance expression, assigning separate MIDI channels to each note played. This unique approach allows for independent pitch bend, vibrato, and aftertouch, revolutionizing playing techniques and enabling gestures that were previously impossible.
Electronic drum pads are also used beyond their percussive applications. Mapped to trigger other virtual instruments, finger drumming techniques enable melodic performances, transforming drum pads into versatile controllers for exploring diverse sonic landscapes.
MIDI hacks range from circuit-bending, where artists modify electronic devices to create new sounds and interfaces, sometimes integrating MIDI control, to DIY MIDI controllers built using Arduino or Raspberry Pi, with unique interfaces like gestures, light sensors, or other non-traditional inputs. Breath-controlled synthesizers are another example of inclusivity in MIDI control, enabling users to control instruments with breath.
Embracing the unconventional and pushing the boundaries of music creation and control, MIDI continues to amaze and inspire. The fusion of technology and creativity never ceases to surprise, albeit in the most delightful - and sometimes purr-fectly odd - ways.
In the realm of MIDI hacks, an Arduino Nano was integrated onto a custom-designed PCB to create a more advanced Meowsic keyboard, transforming the quirky cat-sounding device into a unique musical instrument capable of data-and-cloud-computing integration. Furthermore, other gadgets like the Game Boy, initially a gaming device, have been reimagined as MIDI controllers, illustrating the endless possibilities of technology and creativity in the data-and-cloud-computing era.
