Permacomputing Workshop: MIDI Controllers from Scraps

A MIDI controller is a versatile piece of hardware for your music and video productions that can be utilised in a coding and software environment, as well as in hardware live gear. In this permacomputing workshop, we will be building our own MIDI controllers using the Arduino MIDI library and scavenged components from obsolete machines and/or electronic waste.

We will salvage parts from midi controllers that cannot be used anymore (broken, no software support, etc). Additionally, we will gather parts from a range of interesting electronic devices such as:

• radios
• old amplifiers
• devices with interface buttons, switches & potentiometers

This workshop is especially suitable for those who have previously attended Hardware Hacking and Electronics Components Foraging, or who have prior basic knowledge in electronic components, MIDI or programming with Arduino. The Arduino part is not very big in this workshop, but it is handy to be familiar with the platform.

We will also be working with MIDI over DIN cable, not midi over USB! (you can use a midi to usb dongle though to bypass that).

Take one more dive in your local dump, like a true wastelander looking for treasures in the ruins of the old world. Or trade with a wandering merchant ór ask your music buddies if they have some nice, weird or totally out of control machines laying around to be rebuilt into your own MIDI controller!