Published April 15, 2019

Arduino MIDI Controller with Encoder + OLED Display + EEPROM

Unlimited MIDI channels, XY plotter, faders, buttons, and settings. Also visual support with OLED display!

AdvancedWork in progress36,788

Things used in this project

Hardware components

Arduino Nano R3

Rotary Encoder with Push-Button

Graphic OLED, 128 x 64

Analog joystick (Generic)

Rotary potentiometer (generic)

Switch Actuator, Head for spring return push-button

Jumper wires (generic)

USB-A to Mini-USB Cable

Breadboard (generic)

MIDI Socket

Software apps and online services

Hairless MIDI

Arduino IDE

loopMIDI

Hand tools and fabrication machines

Soldering iron (generic)

CNC Machine

Story

MI am a musician so I use recording software, vst instruments, playback devices and more. It is easy to use physical knobs or faders but if you are in front of the computer, you have to follow the screen.

It is impossible if you are a drummer :)

I built simple OLED encoder menu system before. In this project I improved that so much and combined with MIDI system.

Specifications

1 joystick to control XY plotter
4 faders (can be increased due to board)
9 buttons
OLED display
Encoder controller
Enable / disable
Settings menu
Enable / disable
Easy to use (for me)

MIDI messages flows over the USB cable to computer. Hairless MIDI receiver takes the serial port signals and sends to MIDI channels.

Subtitle will be added

Wiring is really easy. I will explain step by step

1 - Oled SDA to A4

2 - Oled SCL to A5

3 - Oled GND to GND, VCC to +5

4 - Encoder GND to GND, VCC to +5

5 - Encoder sw to switch pin defined in code

6 - Encoder CLK to Digital 2 pin

7 - Encoder Data to Digital 3 pin

8 - Joystick GND to GND, +5 to +5,

9 - Joystick x to A0, y to A1,

10 - Potantiometers to other analog pins

Hairless MIDI tracks serial messages so baud rates must be same. Hairless midi default baud rate is 115200.

Hairless MIDI receives serial messages so you have to get this data and send to MIDI port. loopMIDI can handle this job really nicely. It provides virtual MIDI input and output ports.

Case for components. I will manufacture this on my DIY CNC.

There is a video about project. I finished that and I am using this now in my school. I will add subtitles. Until that you can see the controls

Arduino MIDI Controller + OLED + Encoder + EEPOROM

Progressing specs:

- Editable notes for buttons: Done

- Encoder sensitivity settings Done

- MIDI Input/Output -Done (not with opto isolator. I took risk)

- Bank Select Done for buttons.

- EEPROM for saving changes Done

- Adding notes by pressing multiple buttons (Looks like not useful)

- Mozzi Processing. (I will not do it with Atmega328)

**- Baud Rate select from menu to use USB or MIDI face Done

- Now i am trying to control 12 channel slider with 4 physical buttons.

I want to add simple synth operations to my project. I need 2 serial communication. Hardware serial to pc over serial, software serial out to midi out(done) and serial input for mozzi synth operation.

I did something but i guess it will not work properly with arduino nano or uno. Because software serials are not fast enough to take midi notes from midi keyboard. Also 2 kilobyte program memory and global variable spaces are not enough for all midi, serial, software serial, gfx libraries, mozzi...

I will end this project due to program memory. I want to do something more so i started to work with STM32, esp32 (it is good because it has DAC converter) and Teensy board.

Stay tuned. I will be back!

Note: I guess it will take a while.

This code and configuration is tested and working properly.

Update: I finished this project. Arduino Nano is not fast enough to handle bigger operations. I wanted to add more controls but it looks like not useful. I will start to new project with Arduino Mega.

Because i need more faders, buttons, feedback lights, bigger screen while playing instruments or broadcasting. Thank you for your attention. As i said, stay tuned!

Important Update!

Arduino Nano or Uno is not enough to handle for smoothing fader signals, generating sound or driving screens.

I have to change the chip to STM32 or ESP. That means I need time...

If you want to tinker on it, please share this with us on github.

https://github.com/yilmazyurdakul/ArduinoOledMidiController

Arduino IDE Codes

#include <SPI.h>
#include <Wire.h>
#include <Adafruit_GFX.h>
#include <Adafruit_SSD1306.h>
#include <EEPROM.h>
#define SCREEN_WIDTH 128 // OLED display width, in pixels
#define SCREEN_HEIGHT 64 // OLED display height, in pixels

#define OLED_RESET     4 // Reset pin # (or -1 if sharing Arduino reset pin)
Adafruit_SSD1306 display(SCREEN_WIDTH, SCREEN_HEIGHT, &Wire, OLED_RESET);


#define encoder0PinA  9
#define encoder0PinB  2

byte selectedVal = 0;
float inc = 0;

const byte rxPin = 12; // not used for the moment
const byte txPin = 11;

byte clk = 4;
long buttonTimer = 0;
long longPressTime = 500;
boolean buttonActive = false;
boolean longPressActive = false;

byte val1;
byte val1Last;
byte val2;
byte val2Last;
byte val3;
byte val3Last;
byte val4;
byte val4Last;
byte val5;
byte val5Last;

int xVal;
byte xValLast;
int yVal;
byte yValLast;
int aVal;
byte aValLast;
int bVal;
byte bValLast;
int cVal;
byte cValLast;
int dVal;
byte dValLast;

byte b1Val; //button series
byte b1ValLast;

byte b2Val;
byte b2ValLast;

byte b3Val;
byte b3ValLast;

byte b4Val;
byte b4ValLast;

byte b5Val;
byte b5ValLast;

//values for screen
byte xVals;
byte yVals;
byte aVals;
byte bVals;
byte cVals;
byte dVals;

byte yValsOld;
byte xValsOld;

byte ch = 1;
int oldVal;

bool enabled = false;

byte noteON = 144;//144 = 10010000 in binary, note on command
byte noteOFF = 128;//128 = 10000000 in binary, note off command

byte note1 = 47;
byte note1Old;
byte note2 = 48;
byte note2Old;
byte note3 = 50;
byte note3Old;
byte note4 = 52;
byte note4Old;
byte note5 = 53;
byte note5Old;
byte velocity;
byte velocityOld;

byte octave = 0;
char octaveBank = 'A';

byte countLimit = 10;
int changeVal = 1;

bool flag1 = false;
bool flag2 = false;

byte baudSet;
byte baudNum = 1;
byte baudSetOld;

const char noteNames[12] = {'C', 'C', 'D', 'D', 'E', 'F', 'F', 'G', 'G', 'A', 'A', 'B'};
const char noteNames2[12] = {' ', '#', ' ', '#', ' ', ' ', '#', ' ', '#', ' ', '#', ' '};

void setup() {
  note1 = EEPROM.read(1);
  note2 = EEPROM.read(2);
  note3 = EEPROM.read(3);
  note4 = EEPROM.read(4);
  note5 = EEPROM.read(5);
  velocity = EEPROM.read(6);
  baudSet = EEPROM.read(7);

  note1Old = note1;
  note2Old = note2;
  note3Old = note3;
  note4Old = note4;
  note5Old = note5;
  velocityOld = velocity;
  baudSetOld = baudSet;

  pinMode(encoder0PinA, INPUT_PULLUP);
  pinMode(encoder0PinB, INPUT_PULLUP);
  pinMode(clk, INPUT_PULLUP);

  pinMode(5, INPUT_PULLUP);
  pinMode(6, INPUT_PULLUP);
  pinMode(7, INPUT_PULLUP);
  pinMode(8, INPUT_PULLUP);
  pinMode(10, INPUT_PULLUP);

  attachInterrupt(0, doEncoder, CHANGE);  // encoder pin on interrupt 0 - pin 2
  if (!display.begin(SSD1306_SWITCHCAPVCC, 0x3C)) { // Address 0x3D for 128x64
    Serial.println(F("SSD1306 allocation failed"));
    for (;;); // Don't proceed, loop forever
  }
  display.clearDisplay();
  display.setRotation(2);
  display.setTextSize(2);
  display.setCursor(0, 0);

  pinMode( rxPin, INPUT_PULLUP );
  pinMode( txPin, OUTPUT);

  if (baudSet == 1) {
    Serial.begin(115200);
  }
  if (baudSet == 2) {
    Serial.begin(31250);
  }

}

void loop() {
  if (selectedVal != oldVal || yVals != yValsOld || xVals != yValsOld) {
    display.clearDisplay();
    oldVal = selectedVal;
    yValsOld = yVals;
    xValsOld = xVals;
    valKeep();
  }

  buttonCheck();

  if (digitalRead(10) == LOW) {
    b5Val = noteON;
  } else {
    b5Val = noteOFF;
  }
  if (digitalRead(8) == LOW) {
    b1Val = noteON;
  } else {
    b1Val = noteOFF;
  }
  if (digitalRead(7) == LOW) {
    b2Val = noteON;
  } else {
    b2Val = noteOFF;
  }
  if (digitalRead(6) == LOW) {
    b3Val = noteON;
  } else {
    b3Val = noteOFF;
  }
  if (digitalRead(5) == LOW) {
    b4Val = noteON;
  } else {
    b4Val = noteOFF;
  }

  //Joystick starts here------------------------
  xVal = analogRead(A6);
  xVal = map(xVal, 0, 1023, 0, 127);
  xVals = map(xVal, 127, 0, 121, 80);

  yVal = analogRead(A7);
  yVal = map(yVal, 0, 1023, 0, 127);
  yVals = map(yVal, 127, 0, 0, 40);
  //Joystick ends here--------------------------

  aVal = analogRead(A3);
  aVal = map(aVal, 0, 1022, 0, 127);
  aVals = map(aVal, 0, 127, 0, 70);

  bVal = analogRead(A2);
  bVal = map(bVal, 0, 1022, 0, 127);
  bVals = map(bVal, 0, 127, 0, 70);

  cVal = analogRead(A1);
  cVal = map(cVal, 0, 1022, 0, 127);
  cVals = map(cVal, 0, 127, 0, 70);

  dVal = analogRead(A0);
  dVal = map(dVal, 0, 1022, 0, 127);
  dVals = map(dVal, 0, 127, 0, 70);

  //-XY Plotter---------------------------
  display.drawRect(80, 0, 48, 48, WHITE);
  display.setCursor(xVals, yVals);
  display.println(".");
  //-XY plotter ends----------------------
  //-Val Control--------------------------
  display.setTextSize(2);
  display.setTextColor(WHITE);
  if (ch < 6) {

    //- Pot Val----------------------------
    display.drawRect(0, 16, 70, 6, WHITE);
    display.fillRect(0, 16, aVals, 6, INVERSE);
    //- Pot Val----------------------------
    display.drawRect(0, 24, 70, 6, WHITE);
    display.fillRect(0, 24, bVals, 6, INVERSE);
    //- Pot Val---------------------.
    display.drawRect(0, 32, 70, 6, WHITE);
    display.fillRect(0, 32, cVals, 6, INVERSE);
    //- Pot Val---------------------.
    display.drawRect(0, 40, 70, 6, WHITE);
    display.fillRect(0, 40, dVals, 6, INVERSE);

    display.setTextSize(2);
    display.setCursor(0, 0);
    display.println(ch);
    display.setCursor(20, 0);
    display.println(":");

    display.setCursor(40, 0);
    display.println(selectedVal);
    //-Val Control-----------------------
  } else if (ch == 6) {
    display.setTextSize(1);
    display.setCursor(0, 0);
    display.println("Velocity");

    display.setTextSize(2);
    display.setCursor(0, 20);
    display.println(velocity);

    if (velocityOld == velocity) {
      display.setTextSize(1);
      display.setCursor(35, 30);
      display.println("Saved");
    } else {
      display.setTextSize(1);
      display.setCursor(35, 30);
      display.println("Unsaved");
      if (digitalRead(6) == LOW && digitalRead(5) == LOW) {
        EEPROM.write(6, velocity);
        delay(20);
        velocityOld = velocity;
      }
    }
  } else if (ch == 7) {
    display.setTextSize(1);
    display.setCursor(0, 0);
    display.println("Button 1");
    display.setTextSize(2);
    display.setCursor(0, 20);
    display.println(note1);

    display.setTextSize(1);
    display.setCursor(35, 20);
    display.println(noteNames[note1 % 12]);
    display.setCursor(45, 20);
    display.println(noteNames2[note1 % 12]);
    //-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    if (note1Old == note1) {
      display.setTextSize(1);
      display.setCursor(35, 30);
      display.println("Saved");
    } else {
      display.setTextSize(1);
      display.setCursor(35, 30);
      display.println("Unsaved");
      if (digitalRead(6) == LOW && digitalRead(5) == LOW) {
        EEPROM.write(1, note1);
        delay(20);
        note1Old = note1;
      }
    }
    //------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  } else if (ch == 8) {
    display.setTextSize(1);
    display.setCursor(0, 0);
    display.println("Button 2");
    display.setTextSize(2);
    display.setCursor(0, 20);
    display.println(note2);

    display.setTextSize(1);
    display.setCursor(35, 20);
    display.println(noteNames[note2 % 12]);
    display.setCursor(45, 20);
    display.println(noteNames2[note2 % 12]);

    if (note2Old == note2) {
      display.setTextSize(1);
      display.setCursor(35, 30);
      display.println("Saved");
    } else {
      display.setTextSize(1);
      display.setCursor(35, 30);
      display.println("Unsaved");
      if (digitalRead(6) == LOW && digitalRead(5) == LOW) {
        EEPROM.write(2, note2);
        delay(20);
        note2Old = note2;
      }
    }
  } else if (ch == 9) {
    display.setTextSize(1);
    display.setCursor(0, 0);
    display.println("Button 3");
    display.setTextSize(2);
    display.setCursor(0, 20);
    display.println(note3);

    display.setTextSize(1);
    display.setCursor(35, 20);
    display.println(noteNames[note3 % 12]);
    display.setCursor(45, 20);
    display.println(noteNames2[note3 % 12]);

    if (note3Old == note3) {
      display.setTextSize(1);
      display.setCursor(35, 30);
      display.println("Saved");
    } else {
      display.setTextSize(1);
      display.setCursor(35, 30);
      display.println("Unsaved");
      if (digitalRead(6) == LOW && digitalRead(5) == LOW) {
        EEPROM.write(3, note3);
        delay(20);
        note3Old = note3;
      }
    }
  } else if (ch == 10) {
    display.setTextSize(1);
    display.setCursor(0, 0);
    display.println("Button 4");
    display.setTextSize(2);
    display.setCursor(0, 20);
    display.println(note4);

    display.setTextSize(1);
    display.setCursor(35, 20);
    display.println(noteNames[note4 % 12]);
    display.setCursor(45, 20);
    display.println(noteNames2[note4 % 12]);

    if (note4Old == note4) {
      display.setTextSize(1);
      display.setCursor(35, 30);
      display.println("Saved");
    } else {
      display.setTextSize(1);
      display.setCursor(35, 30);
      display.println("Unsaved");
      if (digitalRead(6) == LOW && digitalRead(5) == LOW) {
        EEPROM.write(4, note4);
        delay(20);
        note4Old = note4;
      }
    }
  } else if (ch == 11) {
    display.setTextSize(1);
    display.setCursor(0, 0);
    display.println("Button 5");
    display.setTextSize(2);
    display.setCursor(0, 20);
    display.println(note5);

    display.setTextSize(1);
    display.setCursor(35, 20);
    display.println(noteNames[note5 % 12]);
    display.setCursor(45, 20);
    display.println(noteNames2[note5 % 12]);

    if (note5Old == note5) {
      display.setTextSize(1);
      display.setCursor(35, 30);
      display.println("Saved");
    } else {
      display.setTextSize(1);
      display.setCursor(35, 30);
      display.println("Unsaved");
      if (digitalRead(6) == LOW && digitalRead(5) == LOW) {
        EEPROM.write(5, note5);
        delay(20);
        note5Old = note5;
      }
    }
  }  else if (ch == 12) {
    display.setTextSize(1);
    display.setCursor(0, 0);
    display.println("Output");
    display.setTextSize(2);

    display.setCursor(0, 20);

    if (baudNum > 10) {
      display.println("USB");
      baudSet = 1;
    } else {
      display.println("MIDI");
      baudSet = 2;
    }

    if (baudSet == baudSetOld) {
      display.setTextSize(1);
      display.setCursor(35, 30);
      display.println("Saved");
    } else {
      display.setTextSize(1);
      display.setCursor(35, 30);
      display.println("Unsaved");
      if (digitalRead(6) == LOW && digitalRead(5) == LOW) {
        EEPROM.write(7, baudSet);
        delay(20);
        baudSetOld = baudSet;
      }
    }
  }
  //Velocity Value View
  display.setTextSize(1);
  display.setCursor(70, 50);
  display.println("V:");
  display.setCursor(80, 50);
  display.println(velocity);
  //Output view
  display.setCursor(102, 50);
  if (baudSet == 1) {
    display.println("USB");
  } else {
    display.println("MIDI");
  }

  //-Enable Disable Control-------
  display.setCursor(0, 50);

  if (enabled == false) {
    flag1 = false;

    if (flag2 == false)
    {
      tone(3, 440, 100);
      flag2 = true;
    }

    display.println("Edit");
    countLimit = 12;
    flag1 = false;

    //Octave Control ------------------------
    if (digitalRead(8) == LOW) {
      octave = 0;
      octaveBank = 'A';
    }
    if (digitalRead(7) == LOW) {
      octave = 12;
      octaveBank = 'B';
    }
    if (digitalRead(6) == LOW) {
      octave = 24;
      octaveBank = 'C';
    }
    if (digitalRead(5) == LOW) {
      octave = 36;
      octaveBank = 'D';
    }
    //Octave Control--------------------------

    //Enabled Section -------------
  } else if (enabled == true) {
    countLimit = 5;
    flag2 = false;

    if (flag1 == false)
    {
      ch = 1;
      tone(3, 880, 100);
      flag1 = true;
    }
    //Enable Section End-----------

    display.println("Run!");
    midiMsg();
  }

  display.setCursor(30, 50);
  display.println("Bank:");
  display.setCursor(60, 50);
  display.println(octaveBank);
  display.display();
}

void MIDImessage(byte command, byte data1, byte data2)
{
  Serial.write(command);
  Serial.write(data1);
  Serial.write(data2);

}

void midiMsg() {
  if (val1 != val1Last) // If the value does not = the last value the following command is made. This is because the pot has been turned. Otherwise the pot remains the same and no midi message is output.
  {
    MIDImessage(176, 1, val1);
  }         // 176 = CC command (channel 1 control change), 1 = Which Control, val = value read from Potentionmeter 1 NOTE THIS SAYS VAL not VA1 (lowercase of course)
  val1Last = val1;
  //---
  if (val2 != val2Last)
  {
    MIDImessage(176, 2, val2);
  }
  val2Last = val2;
  //---
  if (val3 != val3Last)
  {
    MIDImessage(176, 3, val3);
  }
  val3Last = val3;
  //---
  if (val4 != val4Last)
  {
    MIDImessage(176, 4, val4);
  }
  val4Last = val4;
  //---
  if (val5 != val5Last)
  {
    MIDImessage(176, 5, val5);
  }
  val5Last = val5;
  //---

  //--X Y Value to MIDI------------------------------
  if (xVal != xValLast)
  {
    MIDImessage(176, 11, xVal);
  }
  xValLast = xVal;
  //------------------
  if (yVal != yValLast)
  {
    MIDImessage(176, 12, yVal);
  }
  yValLast = yVal;

  //------------------
  if (aVal != aValLast)
  {
    MIDImessage(176, 13, aVal);
  }
  aValLast = aVal;
  //------------------
  if (bVal != bValLast)
  {
    MIDImessage(176, 14, bVal);
  }
  bValLast = bVal;
  //------------------
  if (cVal != cValLast)
  {
    MIDImessage(176, 15, cVal);
  }
  cValLast = cVal;
  //------------------
  if (dVal != dValLast)
  {
    MIDImessage(176, 16, dVal);
  }
  dValLast = dVal;
  //Button Section -------------------------------------
  if (b1Val != b1ValLast)
  {
    MIDImessage(b1Val, note1 + octave, velocity);
  }
  b1ValLast = b1Val;

  if (b2Val != b2ValLast)
  {
    MIDImessage(b2Val, note2 + octave, velocity);
  }
  b2ValLast = b2Val;

  if (b3Val != b3ValLast)
  {
    MIDImessage(b3Val, note3 + octave, velocity);
  }
  b3ValLast = b3Val;

  if (b4Val != b4ValLast)
  {
    MIDImessage(b4Val, note4 + octave, velocity);
  }
  b4ValLast = b4Val;

  if (b5Val != b5ValLast)
  {
    MIDImessage(b5Val, note5 + octave, velocity);
  }
  b5ValLast = b5Val;
}

void buttonCheck() {
  if (digitalRead(clk) == LOW) {
    if (buttonActive == false) {
      buttonActive = true;
      buttonTimer = millis();
    }
    if ((millis() - buttonTimer > longPressTime) && (longPressActive == false)) {
      longPressActive = true;
      enabled = !enabled;
    }
  } else {
    if (buttonActive == true) {
      if (longPressActive == true) {
        longPressActive = false;
      } else {

        if (ch < countLimit) {
          ch++;
          display.clearDisplay();
        } else {
          ch = 1;
          display.clearDisplay();
        }
        valGet();
        inc = selectedVal;
      }
      buttonActive = false;
    }
  }
}

void valGet() {
  switch (ch) {
    case 1:
      selectedVal = val1;
      break;
    case 2:
      selectedVal = val2;
      break;
    case 3:
      selectedVal = val3;
      break;
    case 4:
      selectedVal = val4;
      break;
    case 5:
      selectedVal = val5;
      break;
    case 6:
      selectedVal = velocity;
      break;
    case 7:
      selectedVal = note1;
      break;
    case 8:
      selectedVal = note2;
      break;
    case 9:
      selectedVal = note3;
      break;
    case 10:
      selectedVal = note4;
      break;
    case 11:
      selectedVal = note5;
      break;
    case 12:
      selectedVal = baudNum;
      break;
  }
}

void valKeep() {
  switch (ch) {
    case 1:
      val1 = selectedVal;
      break;
    case 2:
      val2 = selectedVal;
      break;
    case 3:
      val3 = selectedVal;
      break;
    case 4:
      val4 = selectedVal;
      break;
    case 5:
      val5 = selectedVal;
      break;
    case 6:
      velocity = selectedVal;
      break;
    case 7:
      note1 = selectedVal;
      break;
    case 8:
      note2 = selectedVal;
      break;
    case 9:
      note3 = selectedVal;
      break;
    case 10:
      note4 = selectedVal;
      break;
    case 11:
      note5 = selectedVal;
      break;
    case 12:
      baudNum = selectedVal;
      break;
  }
}
void doEncoder()
{
  if (digitalRead(encoder0PinA) == digitalRead(encoder0PinB))
  {
    if (selectedVal < 127) {
      inc = inc + 0.5;
    }
  }
  else
  {
    if (selectedVal > 0) {
      inc = inc - 0.5;
    }
  }
  selectedVal = inc;
}

Arduino MIDI Controller with Encoder + OLED Display + EEPROM

Things used in this project

Hardware components

Software apps and online services

Hand tools and fabrication machines

Story

Specifications

Important Update!

Code

Arduino IDE Codes

Credits

yilmazyurdakul

Comments

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Arduino MIDI Controller with Encoder + OLED Display + EEPROM

Arduino MIDI Controller with Encoder + OLED Display + EEPROM

Things used in this project

Hardware components

Software apps and online services

Hand tools and fabrication machines

Story

Specifications

Important Update!

Code

Arduino IDE Codes

Credits

yilmazyurdakul

Comments

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