Enhance Your Reading Experience with a MIDI Bookmark

Reading physical books, depending on the subject matter, can be a great diversion, a fundamental learning tool, or perhaps even both. Unlike reading on computers or other devices, however, you need to keep tabs on where you are, typically with a bookmark.

Misfit Maker's MIDI bookmark is far from your typical bookmark, though. It keeps track of the page that you’re on, and provides a way to play music when you need a break.

The brains of the bookmark/MIDI controller is an ESP32 dev board and an MPR121 capacitive touch sensor module to sense key inputs. A potentiometer is also implemented for switching between octaves, though one could conceivably program this for other purposes as needed. A battery and TP4056 module, along with other supporting elements, are implemented for plug-in USB charging.

Code for this device is listed in the write-up, which includes Bluetooth functionality to connect to a phone that acts as the actual MIDI instrument. On the phone side, Misfit Maker is using Synprezfm for music generation, though other apps may work with it as well.

The bookmark’s structure and keys are made from sections of 2mm and 2.5mm foam board, with super glue and adhesive used to stick everything together. The keys are topped with conductive tape, in this case aluminum, for touch sensing, with an optional carbon fiber vinyl sheet on top of that to enhance its appearance.

As seen in the video below, the build looks like a lot of fun. It could also serve as great inspiration for your own creative bookmark build, MIDI-enabled or otherwise!