How easy is it to create your own MIDI device?

[Mint.]

At least something simple with a few buttons that you can custom map.

[DrGeoff]

These days it is really easy. Any microcontroller with a serial port that can be adapted to the opto-coupled 31.25k port will do. The rest is just software.

[Mint.]

Can you please provide a more detailed description on what kind of components I need to do so and what micro controller?

[David_AVD]

MIDI messages are pretty simple.  I did a contact to MIDI box a while back with a PIC16F628A, 6N137 and various passives.

[westfw]

MIDI is a pretty simple protocol based on standard asynchronous serial communications (UARTs.)
It uses sort of opto-isolated ttl-level schemes instead of "rs232", but the connections are easy and info is all over the web.

[Mint.]

So how would I go about having a few buttons which run using MIDI through a usb into my computer and control a MIDI program?

[David_AVD]

Micro doing MIDI (Opto & DIN Socket) is easy enough.  MIDI via USB is another kettle of fish.

[Mint.]

I am interested in doing it through usb. 

[David_AVD]

I am interested in doing it through usb. 

You'll need your micro to enumerate as a USB-MIDI device I'd say.  Not a beginner's project for sure.

[Sm58]

At least something simple with a few buttons that you can custom map.

http://www.ucapps.de/

This is the source for diy midi

[Things]

I think something like the ATMega32u4 with an inbuilt USB-UART could probably do it, but yeah, it's not really a beginner project.

[jeroen74]

It actually isn't that hard... If you use a Teensy and the Arduino software framework there is whole library that includes USB MIDI.

[ZeroStatic]

Mint.

MIDI is dead easy to generate, it's just serial 8 data bits no parity and 1 stop bit at 31,250 baud.
To send MIDI from buttons all you'll need is a microcontroller, almost any type will do, the buttons, a couple of resistors and a power source for 5V or so at about 25 mA.

If you already have a USB-MIDI interface and you're not using the output from this interface it's often possible to power your circuit from the midi out or thru connectors.

In the past I've used PIC12C508 chips and some very simple code to generate control codes and note codes from buttons or foot switches, but it really depends on how many buttons you want.

If you can give us some more info on what you need I/we can probably help more.

Do you have any preference of microcontroller?
Do you have any programming equipment?
It can be done with just logic chips if you only want to send a couple of codes and don't have any microcontroller stuff.

Brenden

[nctnico]

Here is something nice for old school lovers:
http://www.armory.com/~rstevew/Public/Micros/8051/MIDI_kybd/midikybd.htm

[ivan747]

If you need MIDI though USB you can just do regular MIDI with a microcontroller and then use a USB-MIDI adapter. Easy.

[westfw]

a MIDI over USB shouldn't be any harder than any other device over USB (not that that is so easy.)
Download the libraries provided by the chip manufacturer (or third parties), configure as MIDI, send/receive data, and hope the standard host driver works...

[rec]

MIDI over USB is dead easy. 

1. Use a Teensy 2.0, http://pjrc.com/teensy/.
2. Install Paul's Teensyduino extensions to Arduino, http://pjrc.com/teensy/teensyduino.html.
3. And pick a few of the dozen MIDI projects at http://pjrc.com/teensy/projects.html as template's to copy.

Or use one of the later ATMEGA32U4 Arduinos or Arduino look-alikes.