Music projects

last updated: 2025-06-17

I can't guaranty a faultless project, so using the information is at one's own risk.

Nano_synth SAM2695 battery powered and with USB)


The SAM2695 includes a complete GM-wavetable (38-64 voice polyphony) synthesizer and different effects. While experimenting with my DRUMPPY software I wanted a little Synth near my computer with speakers and perhaps a battery and USB to reduce cable mess. I still had two old speakers from a radio (60 mm diameter, 6 Ω ) and a spare battery (10000 mAh). I could use a Teensy to get USB to MIDI, but wanted to try the Pi pico chip. More about this on a separate page: https://www.weigu.lu/music/midi_usb_pi_pico/index.html.

The SAM2695 includes a complete GM-wavetable (38-64 voice polyphony) synthesizer and different effects. While experimenting with my DRUMPPY software I wanted a little Synth near my computer with speakers and perhaps a battery and USB to reduce cable mess. I still had two old speakers from a radio (60 mm diameter, 6 Ω ) and a spare battery (10000 mAh). I could use a Teensy to get USB to MIDI, but wanted to try the Pi pico chip. More about this on a separate page: https://www.weigu.lu/music/midi_usb_pi_pico/index.html.

MIDI-USB interface with Pi Pico


	MIDI-USB interface. The MIDI data is passed from the computer via MIDI USB to an Raspberry PI Pico that mirrors it to a serial port. The serial data can be passed to a MIDI synth.

Reviving old hardware 2x2 MIDI interface with MBHP STM32F1)


The MIDIbox Operating System (MIOS) has been developed by Thorsten Klose (starting 1998!) for the requirements of flexible MIDI applications like MIDI controllers, processors, synthesizers, sequencers. Look here: http://www.ucapps.de/mios.html. I own an older STM32F1 MBHP board that was replaced in my sequencer with a newer STM32F4. The board has 2 Midi In and 2 Midi Our channels and USB, so I use it as a 2x2 USB MIDI interface (with integrated MIDI monitor). Thorstens PC Software Studio 2 helps to debug and hack Midi SYSEX commands :).

The MIDIbox Operating System (MIOS) has been developed by Thorsten Klose (starting 1998!) for the requirements of flexible MIDI applications like MIDI controllers, processors, synthesizers, sequencers. Look here: http://www.ucapps.de/mios.html. I own an older STM32F1 MBHP board that was replaced in my sequencer with a newer STM32F4. The board has 2 Midi In and 2 Midi Our channels and USB, so I use it as a 2x2 USB MIDI interface (with integrated MIDI monitor). Thorstens PC Software Studio 2 helps to debug and hack Midi SYSEX commands :).

Midi wireless (Xbee)


	I wanted to use Midi over the air and found this interesting page on adafruit: https://learn.adafruit.com/xbee-radios/midi-link. With a handful of components, no need to draw a layout. The circuits are mounted on breadboards. After reprogramming the XBEE modules, MIDI `ota` is ready :)

Midi monitor


This is an absolute minimal Midi monitor, using a Teensy 3.6 from pjrc and an OLED display SSD1351 from adafruit. Thanks to the Teensy midi library the software is a piece of cake.

Archived Projects: No Longer Maintained

Kyub hacks


	The Kyub is a special MIDI keyboard in the shape of a cube with capacitive sensing and an internal accelerometer based on a Teensy 2.0. Kyubmusic.com does not exist anymore, but some infos are on hackaday.io. Here you find hacks to power the Kyub over MIDI and to connect the Kyub direct to a synth. The software was reprogrammed in assembler.