Lab: Arduino to Digital Audio Workstation

Introduction

This lab covers the process of taking MIDI messages sent from the Arduino and creating sound with them via a Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) such as Ableton LIVE, Logic or Garageband.

What You’ll Need to Know

To get the most out of this lab, you should be familiar with the following concepts. You can check how to do so in the links below:

Things You’ll Need

Photo of a solderless breadboard
Figure 1. A solderless breadboard.
Photo of flexible jumper wires
Figure 2. 22 AWG hookup wire
An Arduino Uno. The USB connector is facing to the left, so that the digital pins are on the top of the image, and the analog pins are on the bottom.
Figure 3. An Arduino Uno or…
Photo of an Arduino Nano 33 IoT module. The USB connector is at the top of the image, and the physical pins are numbered in a U-shape from top left to bottom left, then from bottom right to top right.
Figure 4. Arduino Nano 33 IoT
Photo of a 5-pin MIDI socket. Three wires protrude from the back.
Figure 5. A 5-pin MIDI socket (for the Uno version only)
Photo of a handful of 220-ohm resistors.
Figure 6. 220-ohm resistors (for the Uno version only)
Force-sensing resistor (FSR). These sensors have a resistive rubber inside that changes its resistance depending on the force with which you press on the sensor. The one shown is a flat disc about 5cm in diameter
Figure 7. Force-sensing resistor
Photo of a handful of 10-kilohm resistors
Figure 8. 10-kilohm resistors.
Photo of four breadboard-mounted pushbuttons
Figure 9. Pushbuttons
Photo of a MIDISport USB-to-MIDI adaptor.
Figure 10. MIDISport 2×2 or other USB-to-MIDI interface (Serial versions only). ITP has some in the equipment room.

MIDI approaches: Serial, SoftwareSerial, or MIDIUSB

There are three approaches you can take to MIDI output, depending on the board you’re using and the application you have in mind.

If you’re communicating with a MIDI sound module like a synthesizer or sample, you’ll need to use either Serial or SoftwareSerial output. On the Uno, SoftwareSerial is best. On most other Arduino models, there is a second hardware serial port, Serial1, that you can use for MIDI output.

If you’re communicating with a MIDI program like Ableton, GarageBand, or a soundFont synth like Sforzando, either on a laptop or mobile device, then MIDIUSB is the way to go. The Uno can’t communicate using MIDIUSB, but the Nano 33 IoT, the MKR series, the Leonardo, Micro, or Due can.

SoftwareSerial Approach

If you’re using an Uno or any board with only one serial port, the SoftwareSerial library is your best bet. This section describes how to wire and program your board for SoftwareSerial.

Build the MIDI Circuit

Use the MIDi circuit from the MIDI Output lab, or any variation on it you want, as long as it sends MIDI:

Schematic view of an Arduino connected to a voltage divider and a switch. The switch and voltage divider are connected as shown above. the MIDI connector's pin 2 is connected to a 220-ohm resistor, and the other side of the resistor is connected to +5 volts. Pin 3 of the MIDI connector is connected to ground. Pin 4 of the MIDI connector is connected to the Arduino's digital pin 3.
Figure 11. Schematic view of an Arduino connected to a voltage divider and a switch, with a MIDI connector as well.
Breadboard view of an Arduino connected to a voltage divider, a switch, and a MIDI connector. This view builds on the breadboard view above. The voltage divider and the switch are connected to analog pin 0 and digital pin 10 as described above. The MIDI connector's pin 2 is connected row 19 in the right center section of the breadboard. A red wire connects it to row 21. From there, a 220-ohm resistor connects to the right side voltage bus. The MIDI connector's pin 3 connects to the right side ground bus. The connector's pin 4 connects to row 14 in the right center section, and a blue wire connects from there to digital pin 3 on the Arduino.
Figure 12. Breadboard view of an Arduino connected to a voltage divider, a switch, and a MIDI connector.

This circuit doesn’t actually match the MIDI specification, but it works with all the MIDI devices we’ve tried it with. This circuit includes an analog and a digital sensor to allow for physical interactivity, but those aren’t necessary to send MIDI data.

Photo of an Arduino connected to a breadboard. The breadboard contains a MIDI output circuit like the one shown above.
Figure 13. An Arduino MIDI circuit ready to play

Here we have a little Arduino instrument we whipped up using the MIDI Output Lab. It features two photocells, one controlling the pitch (or note being sent) and the other controlling the volume. Now that we are sending MIDI messages, we need to get them into the computer.

Photo of a USB-to-MIDi interface.
Figure 14. The MIDISport 2×2 USB-to-MIDI interface

USB-to-MIDI Interfaces

To get the MIDI messages into the computer, you will need a USB MIDI interface. A MIDISport 2×2 like the one pictured can be found in the Equipment Room. For more information see the technical details on the MIDISport. The interface connects to your computer via the USB cable and to the Arduino via a MIDI cable. Connect the Arduino to the MIDI In port of the interface.

Alternatively, you can use the MIDIUSB library to send MIDI via USB if you are using an ARM-based Arduino board like the MKR series. Doing so will eliminate the need for a USB-to-MIDI adapter like the MIDISport. Your Arduino will communicate directly with the computer as a MIDI device over USB.

Note on MIDIUSB and Serial Ports

The MIDIUSB library on the SAMD boards (MKRZero, MKR1xxx, Nano 33IoT) has an unusual behavior: using it changes the serial port enumeration. When you include the MIDIUSB library in a sketch, your board’s serial port number will change. For example, on MacOS, if the port number is /dev/cu.usbmodem14101, then adding the MIDIUSB library will change it to /dev/cu.usbmodem14102. Removing the MIDIUSB library will change it back to /dev/cu.usbmodem14101. Similarly, if you double-tap the reset button to put the board in bootloader mode, the serial port will re-enumerate to its original number.

Windows and MIDIUSB

You may have trouble getting these MIDI sketches to work on Windows. On Windows, the default Arduino drivers must be uninstalled so the system can recognize the Arduino as both serial device and MIDI device. Read this issue and follow the instructions there.

Audio MIDI Setup

To connect with your device on MacOS you’ll need the Audio MIDI Setup application. It’s in the Utilities directory of your Applications directory.

A screenshot of the Audio MIDI setup window in MacOS. The window shows the MIDi devices that the operating system recognizes.
Figure 15. The Audio MIDI setup window in MacOS

If you’re not using the MIDIUSB library, you will need to download drivers for the MIDI interface you are using. Go to the manufacturer’s website (for example, M-Audio’s driver page, where you can find the MIDISport under MIDI Interfaces) and download the drivers that correspond to your interface and operating system. Once the drivers are installed, the interface should be recognized by your computer. To check this, open up Audio MIDI Setup. If you only see the Audio setup, click Window in your task bar and select Show MIDI Studio. You should then see the window pictured here and the interface should appear colored in. Interfaces that are not connected will appear faded as shown above.

Preferences in your DAW Software

Screenshot of the MIDI Sync Control Panel in Ableton Live, showing the MIDI ports turned on.
Figure 16. The MIDI Sync control panel in Ableton Live

Now that your computer recognizes the MIDI interface, you need to set up your preferences in the DAW. In this case, we are using Ableton Live so open up the preferences window. Ableton will recognize the interface but the ports need to be set. Find your interface and where it says Input, turn on the button listed under Track. Now Live will receive MIDI messages on these ports.

Screenshot of the Ableton Live Devices window, showing the MIDISport enabled for a given track.
Figure 17. Screenshot of the Ableton Live Devices window

Select a MIDI track and add an instrument. Live has some instruments built in or you can use a third party plugin as a sound generator. In the screenshot above, the Operator FM synthesizer is selected. If you only have one device going in to Live, it is fine to leave the track’s MIDI input set to “All Ins.” If you have more than one, you will probably want to select a specific port as shown in the image above.

Ableton Live Screenshot of an track armed to take input from a MIDI input.
Figure 18. Arm your tracks with your MIDI inputs

The last step is to Arm the track by clicking the Arm button on the bottom of the channel strip. Now you are ready to go. Start sending MIDI from the Arduino and you should be hearing your lovely new instrument.

MIDI Monitor App

Screenshot of MIDI monitor app, showing note on and note off messages coming from a USB MIDI source.
Figure 19. Snoize MIDI monitor is like a Serial Port monitor for MIDI

The Snoize MIDI monitor is a useful application to have if you do lots of MIDI input to your computer. You can download it from Snoize’s download page.

When running the application, MIDI Monitor will show you all the information that is coming in through the MIDI interface, such as the source, channel, message and note values. This is especially useful for debugging your MIDI instrument.