Bill:  Is this "configur(ing) your lcd object constructor to include backlight parameters"?
I just added and removed some // to expose the BL control lines.  BL remains off.

// vi:ts=4
// ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
// HelloWorld - simple demonstration of lcd
// Created by Bill Perry 2016-07-02
// bperrybap@opensource.billsworld.billandterrie.com
//
// This example code is unlicensed and is released into the public domain
// ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
//
// This sketch is for LCDs that are directly controlled with Arduino pins.
//
// Sketch prints "Hello, World!" on the lcd
//
// See below for configuring the Arduino pins used.
//
// While not all hd44780 use the same pinout, here is the one that most use:
// pin 1 is the pin closest to the edge of the PCB
//  1 - LCD gnd
//  2 - VCC (5v)
//  3 - Vo Contrast Voltage
//  4 - RS Register Select (rs)
//  5 - Read/Write
//  6 - Enable (en)
//  7 - Data 0 (db0) ----
//  8 - Data 1 (db1)     |-------- Not used in 4 bit mode
//  9 - Data 2 (db2)     |
// 10 - Data 3 (db3) ----
// 11 - Data 4 (db4)
// 12 - Data 5 (db5)
// 13 - Data 6 (db6)
// 14 - Data 7 (db7)
// 15 - Backlight Anode (+5v)
// 16 - Backlight Cathode (Gnd)
//
// ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
// LiquidCrystal compability:
// Since hd44780 is LiquidCrystal API compatible, most existing LiquidCrystal
// sketches should work with hd44780 hd44780_pinIO i/o class once the
// includes are changed to use hd44780 and the lcd object constructor is
// changed to use the hd44780_pinIO class.

#include <hd44780.h>
#include <hd44780ioClass/hd44780_pinIO.h> // Arduino pin i/o class header

// declare Arduino pins used for LCD functions
// and the lcd object

// Note: this can be with or without backlight control:

// without backlight control:
// The parameters used by hd44780_pinIO are the same as those used by
// the IDE bundled LiquidCrystal library
// note that ESP8266 based arduinos must use the Dn defines rather than
// raw pin numbers.
//#if defined (ARDUINO_ARCH_ESP8266)
//const int rs=D8, en=D9, db4=D4, db5=D5, db6=D6, db7=D7; // for esp8266 devices
//#else
//const int rs=8, en=9, db4=4, db5=5, db6=6, db7=7;       // for all other devices
//#endif
//hd44780_pinIO lcd(rs, en, db4, db5, db6, db7);

//with backlight control:
// backlight control requires two additional parameters
// - an additional pin to control the backlight
// - backlight active level which tells the library the level
// needed to turn on the backlight.
// note: If the backlight control pin supports PWM, dimming can be done
// using setBacklight(dimvalue);
//
// WARNING: some lcd keypads have a broken backlight circuit
// If you have a lcd keypad, it is recommended that you first run the
// LCDKeypadCheck sketch to verify that the backlight circuitry
// is ok before enabling backlight control.
// However, the hd44780_PinIO class will autodetect the issue and
// work around it in s/w. If the backlight circuitry is broken,
// dimming will not be possible even if the backlight pin supports PWM.
//
      #if defined (ARDUINO_ARCH_ESP8266)
      const int rs=D8, en=D9, db4=D4, db5=D5, db6=D6, db7=D7, bl=D10, blLevel=HIGH;
      #else
      const int rs=8, en=9, db4=4, db5=5, db6=6, db7=7, bl=10, blLevel=HIGH;
      #endif
    hd44780_pinIO lcd(rs, en, db4, db5, db6, db7, bl, blLevel);

// LCD geometry
const int LCD_COLS = 16;
const int LCD_ROWS = 2;

void setup()
{
// initialize LCD with number of columns and rows:
//
// note:
// begin() will automatically turn on the backlight if backlight
// control is specified in the lcd object constructor
//
lcd.begin(LCD_COLS, LCD_ROWS);
// if backlight control was specified, the backlight should be on now

// Print a message to the LCD
lcd.print("Hello, World!");
}

void loop() {}

Hi All,

I'm very close to giving up on my project after 3 months of trying to figure this out, I know it's not that hard but I have no idea what I am doing.

I have attached photos.

I want to be able to send MIDI data from my DAW to the Arduino then have it trigger 2 solenoids to hit a hi-hat, and also to control a servo that opens/closes it, or controlled by one of the potentiometers. I preferably want control over velocity too. I also want the 6 potentiometers to be able to act as macro knobs to control DAW functions of my choosing, probably a sequencer. Hardware wise it is all finished. The solenoids are on D3 and D5, the Servo is on D2. Pots on 0-5 inputs.

I managed to use the Ableton connection kit for Arduino, and was able to use the knobs as macro, and trigger the solenoids but only with key triggers, or as macro, I couldn't send any midi notes. I realise I need to use the IAC driver, and have figured that out. I have tried hairless MIDI, MIDIbus, processing etc. etc. But I have no idea how to even code or anything, I tried some examples, but don't understand what to change or if i can combine things together.

I would consider paying someone to just do this for me at this stage so I can just paste the code into my Arduino and finally finish this.

I appreciate any help given,

Thanks,

Sadamo

No. It must be attached to a pin.

If you want to know if a variable "fell" or "rose" simply compare the new value to the previous value.

Without context it is hard to give you a better answer.

@outsider The motor I am using is is a (FF-180PA 2955V). Sadly the only other transistor I have is the (BC547). I tried my best to connect everything according to the diagram you provided, integrating it with a push-button. Following the schematic you provided, I feel as though the motor is even weaker than before. I'm very new to this, maybe I made a mistake somewhere? Was your diagram supposed to circumvent my transistor not having enough power, or was it just a better way to connect things if I did happen to have the right transistor?

Well it is so hard to tell because you have no actual parts in there you can use for lookup.

If it were me I would use a 2 or 3A 5V power supply. That should see you through.