Hi all!
New to Arduino, very excited about my first project - a Arcade style MIDI Controller/sample triggering/drum machine w led lights that can be programmed to either a 'light show' or follow users taps etc.
It's basically a MIDI Fighter clone - using arcade buttons and some RGB LED Rings - seen here:
https://paradisearcadeshop.com/home/electrical/leds/button-leds/582_pele-24mm-led-rings?search_query=pele&results=18
My question is - what board options are there for this purpose?
I'm not trying to reinvent the wheel just yet, so something simple, with excellent Ableton Live sketches ready, would be a plus. Also how would I connect to an Arduino using these LED rings? The have a 4-pin output which I've only seen connect to an arcade I/O.
Could I somehow replicate the MIDI Fighter PCB? Has someone already?
Any advice gratefully received!
Thanks
It's basically a MIDI Fighter clone -
I've never heard of that (except I just Googled it).
Making a MIDI controller is doable but to make a "clone" you'll have to know the exact MIDI commands. Do you have that documentation?
I'd recommend you start by making a very simple MIDI controller that just plays a couple of notes in a loop without pushing any buttons, etc. Once you can reliably send MIDI commands you can program it to be more "useful".
Also how would I connect to an Arduino using these LED rings? The have a 4-pin output which I've only seen connect to an arcade I/O.
I don't see any specs... Do you have a multimeter to measure the current & voltage? You can probably drive them directly from 3 Arduino I/O pins (like a regular RGB LED) but we don't know if they are common anode or common cathode. Also, LEDs require a current-limiting resistor (or some kind of current limiting) and we don't know if the resistor is built-into the device.
Another issue is if the thing is bi-directional... Does it receive commands from the computer (for example to activate the LEDs), or are the LEDs directly-activated from the controller when you press a button?