Kits: MIDIATOR
by Curious Inventor & help from r.garcia
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Short Description:
This converts a PS2 controller into a MIDI controller. The current firmware
supports remapping of the buttons to different notes or controllers. It's
based on a PIC microchip--full, explained source code and instructions for
making modifications are supplied. As a promotional start, there will
be several cash prizes (thru paypal) for feature additions. See the rest of
the kit page for details.
Skill level: Beginner / Intermediate
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Post mods / hacks, pics, videos and support questions here.
Features / Specs / Video:
- Supports official PS2 controllers, cheap knockoffs and wireless controllers... and now the guitar hero controller, including the wammy bar and tilt sensor.
- Analog joysticks control pitch bend and several controllers (or whatever you want them to do)
- Three modes: buttons play MIDI notes, send controller messages (pressure sensitive buttons), or they toggle on / off controller messages so you can mute and unmute tracks.
- LCD and menu system for mode switching and remapping the buttons. See the instructions below for more info, but you basically press start, the button you want to remap, and then up/down arrows to remap.
- 3 LEDs for feedback: power, sign of life, and/or whatever else you want.
- Requires DC power supply 7-15 VDC, positive centered barrel plug.
Cash for Adding Features:
We'll send you cash through paypal if you're the first person to implement a working and commented version of any of the following features and upload it to our forum.
Pressure Sensing: $50already done - Most controllers support pressure sensitive buttons. Change the code so that notes play louder when you press harder, both initially and after the original press. Or, do the same thing in the controller mode.- Musical Notes: $35 - When you remap notes, make it so that the note names (C4, D#5, etc) are displayed instead of the MIDI note number (0-127).
- USB connectivity: $200 - This PIC (18f4550) supports USB connectivity. Write some code that lets you connect directly to a computer through USB and play MIDI.
- More interesting mappings: $25 - With only 13 or so buttons, you can play a whole scale, but surely there are more interesting things to do that would take advantage of the controller layout. For instance, we partially implemented a "relative mode," where each button press plays a note some interval away. Press Square four times --> C, D, E, F# play, etc. Press R2 three times --> C F Bflat play. The R1 and R2 buttons could switch to different scales or modes for another idea...
Make it work with a Guitar Hero controller: $20already done - Including the wammy bar and tilt sensor.
Buy:
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Just the PCB
in stock
- $24.99
Already have most of the parts? This is the RoHS (lead-free), blue Printed Circuit Board. |
Kit
out of stock, check back in 3-4 days
- $49.99
Everything you need to make the full kit, including pre-cut and drilled enclosure.
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Fully assembled and tested
out of stock, check back in 3-4 days
- $69.99
Works out of the box, no assembly required.
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Parts List and Spec Sheets:
- IC1: PIC18f4550
- 40 pin DIP socket
- IC2: 3.3V regulator 78xxx
- IC4: 5V regulator 7805
- Capacitors:
- C1: 100uF
- C2, C3: 22pF (ceramic)
- C4: .1uF (ceramic)
- C5: 10uF
- C6: .1uF
- Resistors:
- R1: 10k (MCLR pull-up resistor for PIC)
- R2, R3, R4: 380 (led current limiting resistors)
- R6: 200 (for the midi line)
- R7: 10k trim pot
- R8: 200 (for the midi line)
- R9: 1k
- J1: barrel connector
- J2: Female MIDI connector
- PICKIT2 Connector: 6 header pins
- Q1: 8MHz crystal
- LEDS: one red (LED1) (main power), one green (LED2), one yellow (LED3)
- (3) LED holders
- (1) Custom PCB
- LCD Panel
- Custom pre-cut / drilled enclosure
- (2) 4-40 nuts
- (2) 4-40 lock washers
- (6) 4-40 screws (4) 1/4", (2) 3/8"
- (1) PS2 Extension cable
- A few inches of ribbon cable
Kit Building Instructions:
How it Works (in progress...):
- PS2 Controller: Pinouts, protocols and references to several other good web resources.
- The software: Midiator_v1_0_5_13_08.zip This is a zip file containing a MPLAB project and all the C source code. You can download MPLAB (an IDE, or Integrated Developement Environment) for free from Microchip.com, as well as c18, the free compiler that turns the C code into machine code to run on the PIC.
- MIDI hardware connection and relevant protocol, plus good web references.
Feature idea; just thought I’d toss the idea out for adding Beatmania IIDX controller support. It would make a neat drum, pattern selector, or sound sample playback controller. It resembles a musical controller, after all. Perhaps some sort of encoding for the scratch pad also. From what I know, the Beatmania controller sends out different commands than the
standard playstation controller. I know I would be extremely
interested in this converter if it gained this ability.
Why didn’t you design in the USB connector? I would have bought 20 of them for my sensor class….
The Beatmania controller converted to MIDI sounds like a neat idea. Reverse engineering could be fun, too.
The hold up on the USB connector (without doing to much research to know if this is really hard at all) is the software side. I think we’re going to have to write a driver of some sorts to transfer the MIDI notes into whatever software program is out there. Is these a cmpE senior class or music related?
I do very similar things with my cheap £4.99 usb playstation pad rip off made by Saitek. Then you can handle all the MIDI at the software level. I use Max MSP, but you could even use a free version called pure data.
I hate to point it out but your interface seems expensive and unnecessary. Sounds cool tho!
The video should have emphasized driving non-computer devices… it definitely has more of a purpose when you don’t want a computer involved. Also, when we add USB MIDI capabilities, this could be a cleaner path for someone that wants to drive an application other than Max or PD (Reason, Live, etc.). The alternative would be to use the $4.99 USB hub to bring in data to PD (to convert to MIDI) and then re-route the MIDI to your target program.
So can you buy a Midi cable and hook the controller and Midiator straight to an amp with a Midi input without computers or software? Sorry I’m kinda new to Midi devices and I’m starting to get into using them for my band and trying to find out what is really unique and cost worthy.
eltorro: yep, that’s it’s main purpose. we’re working on a new video that doesn’t involve computers or software. Well, you need an instrument like a keyboard / synthesizer, and then u can plug that into an amp. An amp just amplifies sound, it doesn’t generate it. MIDI is a trigger of sorts that tells an instrument when and at what pitch to play. apologies if u already know this.
What about using a PS2 multitap? Would I be able to use one of those and have 4 separate controllers working simultaneously?
I will definitely be buying one of these once you guys figure out the USB connectivity…I’m already using the Rock Band drums through Reason and would love to be able to use a PS2 controller too!
It’s unlikely that the multitap would work… if there’s enough interest we can try to figure out how it works and build it into the code. If you’ve got a MIDI-to-USB adapter already you’re set for playing Reason.
does the program save you music after u play it? if so is there a way to play it back faster? also is there a way to output your music into another device through usb or a ps2 controller port? other wise im going to buy this
right it just converts a PS2 controller into a MIDI Instrument, but the PIC inside has lots of extra horse power for turning it into a looping device of sorts that can warp tempo… C code is open…
it’s not a recorder at the moment… all it does it generate MIDI Out notes that then can trigger sounds on a computer (through a MIDI-to-USB adapter) or a synth / drum machine. Let me know if you have any other questions.
so you are saying it is possible to do. the reason i want to do this is because every1 i know sucks at guitar hero 3 and i need a second player so i want to play and have the pre-recorded notes play the bass guitar. how long do you think untill i could make this a reality with the midiator
first, in its current condition, it will not do what you want at all. What you’re looking for is something to emulate a controller, not read commands from a controller. And even if you could record a sequence and play it back, how would you start at the right time? Also, there’s a good bit of handshaking between the Play station and a controller when one is first connected… you’d have to figure out how to fool the play station into thinking there’s a legitimate controller present, and this is much harder than just reading the commands from one.
It’s a neat idea—making a robot of sorts that could play perfect guitar hero. Perhaps with some color detected sensors mounted right in front of the TV you could determine when to trigger a note. That could be quite a project… good luck!
so theres no way in recording the button sequence and playing it back at all? then does any1 have any ideas that would work?
If you connect through the gameport on your pc then you won’t need usb connectivity. They make midi breakout cords that plug right into that port.
(complete instructions)