Possible to get 32 midi channels with one Arduino?

Projects General Guidance
1

Hello!

I'm planning to do a hardware midi sequencer with Arduino Giga (or Teensy 4.1).

Question: Is it possible to get two MIDI outputs from the Arduino at the same time? So that I could get 32 midi tracks playing at the same time with two independent midi outputs (so that for example Cubase would recognize them as a separate midi outputs).

Thanks!
, Pete.

2

At the very exact nano second, no. With a delay of some micto seconds, yes.

3

Great, thanks. Does some midi libraries support making two midi outputs at once or how it could be done?

4

The Control Surface library supports multiple virtual MIDI over USB cables (on boards that support it, like the Teensy):

#include <Control_Surface.h> // Include the Control Surface library

// The MIDI over USB interface to use
USBMIDI_Interface midi;

void setup() {
  midi.begin(); // Initialize the MIDI interface
}

// MIDI note number, channel, virtual cable, and velocity to use
MIDIAddress address {MIDI_Notes::C[4], Channel_1, Cable_2};
const uint8_t velocity = 0x7F;

void loop() {
  midi.sendNoteOn(address, velocity);
  delay(500);
  midi.sendNoteOff(address, velocity);
  delay(500);

  midi.update(); // Handle or discard MIDI input
}

You'll have to select the "MIDI x4" USB Type in the Arduino IDE. The Teensy will then show up as 4 virtual MIDI devices, and the code above will send as the second one (Cable_2).

See Control Surface: MIDI Tutorial for details.

Control Surface also supports instantiating multiple serial MIDI interfaces if that's what you're after.

5

Great info, PieterP! Thank you. I have to check out that library now.