Replicating a NanoKontrol using a teensy?

Scornil01 · February 4, 2013, 5:44am

Replicating a NanoKontrol using a teensy?

Has anyone ever tried this?

I love the nanokontrol and like most I hate the way it is built/designed. I’ve seen many people on here use the Nanokontrol pcb to create great controllers with different switches and pots.

I want to integrate the nanokontrol into an existing mixer/controller but the problem I’m having is that the nanokontrol pcb won’t fit. Since I have very limited freespace inside the mixer the teensy can be the next best thing.

The thing I really like about the Nanokontrol is the “Scene” button which is what I’m really trying to create with the teensy. I’m really aiming to have only 15-20 buttons and but each button to have 3-4 different uses by changing the “scene”

Has anyone had any success in doing this? I’m still a super noob when programming the teensy (2.0++) with the arduino software. I’ve only successfully programmed all the digital Inputs and 2 potentiometers. But I would really like to minimize the amount buttons with the scene button.

Any help, info, or references would be great! Thanks in advance

ErikMinekus · February 4, 2013, 10:35pm

If you already know how to read and write digital inputs, it shouldn’t be that much trouble. Assuming you want 4 scenes and have 4 LEDs, one for each scene, create some global variables:

#define SCENES_COUNT 4

const int buttonPin = 2;
const int ledPins[SCENES_COUNT] = {7, 8, 9, 10};

int scene = 0;

Set inputs and outputs:

void setup()
{
pinMode(buttonPin, INPUT);

for (int i = 0; i < SCENES_COUNT; i++)
{
pinMode(ledPins[i], OUTPUT);
}
}

Then inside the loop, increment scene and enable corresponding LED:

void loop()
{
// If scene button is pressed
if (digitalRead(buttonPin) == HIGH)
{
// Increment scene by 1, and if it's greater than the scene count, reset to 0
if (++scene >= SCENES_COUNT)
{
scene = 0;
}

// Loop through all LEDs
for (int i = 0; i < SCENES_COUNT; i++)
{
// If i equals the current scene, enable this LED, otherwise disable it
digitalWrite(ledPins[i], i == scene ? HIGH : LOW);
}
}

switch (scene)
{
// First scene
case 0:
/* Read other buttons and do stuff here */
break;
// Second scene
case 1:
/* Read other buttons and do stuff here */
break;
// Third scene
case 2:
/* Read other buttons and do stuff here */
break;
// Fourth scene
case 3:
/* Read other buttons and do stuff here */
break;
}
}

Sorry if things like ++, ? :, for or switch are still new to you, I tried to explain them in the comments. It also doesn’t anticipate contact bounce, not sure if that will be a problem.

Scornil01 · February 6, 2013, 4:56am

Thanks friend!
This is incredibly helpful! A couple more questions is you don’t mind. Would the wiring be the same on the teensy board? Or would I be hooking up multiple teensy pins to a single switch? Would any additional hardware be needed?

Scornil01 · February 6, 2013, 5:00am

Also I will be using Serato scratch live if that is any help

Scornil01 · February 6, 2013, 5:12am

Sorry if I am being redundant but just wanted to clarify. For example: If I use the above code with four scenes, and since there are 46 inputs on the teensy 2.0+, does it mean it is possible to have 46x4 different inputs which is total 184 different inputs. As in using 46 buttons can control 184 different things on Serato? I know I will never use that many inputs but jus for the sake of the example.

ErikMinekus · February 6, 2013, 5:43am

A button only uses one input, just like a regular LED only uses one output. Some other components have multiple inputs (slide switches) or outputs (LCDs, RGB LEDs). Even so, if you learn how to use shift registers you can connect dozens of inputs or outputs to one pin on the Teensy, in case you needed more than 46 pins.

Next to that you can give buttons as many functions as you want from code, in my code you would just change SCENES_COUNT and add a new case-statement if you wanted more scenes. Look at it as a shift-button which most controllers have nowadays, where holding it gives the other buttons an entirely different function. If you want to send a unique note or CC for each button you’re only limited to the MIDI protocol, which I believe supports 127 notes and 127 CCs per channel.

Scornil01 · March 2, 2013, 12:12am

hey ErikMinekus so i finally had some free time today to fiddle around with the code you gave me but i haveing trouble compileing it.

so i pre wrote this code( taken straight from the USB MIDI example) for 5 input buttons which was a successfull compile:

#include <Bounce.h>

const int channel = 1;

Bounce button0 = Bounce(0, 5);
Bounce button1 = Bounce(1, 5);  // 5 = 5 ms debounce time
Bounce button2 = Bounce(2, 5);  // which is appropriate for good
Bounce button3 = Bounce(3, 5);  // quality mechanical pushbuttons
Bounce button4 = Bounce(4, 5);

void setup() {
pinMode(0, INPUT_PULLUP);
pinMode(1, INPUT_PULLUP);
pinMode(2, INPUT_PULLUP);
pinMode(3, INPUT_PULLUP);
pinMode(4, INPUT_PULLUP);
}

void loop() {
button0.update();
button1.update();
button2.update();
button3.update();
button4.update();

if (button0.fallingEdge()) {
usbMIDI.sendNoteOn(60, 99, channel);  // 60 = C4
}
if (button1.fallingEdge()) {
usbMIDI.sendNoteOn(61, 99, channel);  // 61 = C#4
}
if (button2.fallingEdge()) {
usbMIDI.sendNoteOn(62, 99, channel);  // 62 = D4
}
if (button3.fallingEdge()) {
usbMIDI.sendNoteOn(63, 99, channel);  // 63 = D#4
}
if (button4.fallingEdge()) {
usbMIDI.sendNoteOn(64, 99, channel);  // 64 = E4
}

if (button0.risingEdge()) {
usbMIDI.sendNoteOff(60, 0, channel);  // 60 = C4
}
if (button1.risingEdge()) {
usbMIDI.sendNoteOff(61, 0, channel);  // 61 = C#4
}
if (button2.risingEdge()) {
usbMIDI.sendNoteOff(62, 0, channel);  // 62 = D4
}
if (button3.risingEdge()) {
usbMIDI.sendNoteOff(63, 0, channel);  // 63 = D#4
}
if (button4.risingEdge()) {
usbMIDI.sendNoteOff(64, 0, channel);  // 64 = E4
}
}

Now i just pasted it into the areas where u wrote “/* Read other buttons and do stuff here */”. i tried making only 2 scenes just for testing so i ended up with this code:

#define SCENES_COUNT 2

const int buttonPin = 2;
const int ledPins[SCENES_COUNT] = {7, 8};

int scene = 0;

void setup()
{
pinMode(buttonPin, INPUT);

for (int i = 0; i < SCENES_COUNT; i++)
{
pinMode(ledPins[i], OUTPUT);
}
}

void loop()
{
// If scene button is pressed
if (digitalRead(buttonPin) == HIGH)
{
// Increment scene by 1, and if it's greater than the scene count, reset to 0
if (++scene >= SCENES_COUNT)
{
scene = 0;
}

// Loop through all LEDs
for (int i = 0; i < SCENES_COUNT; i++)
{
// If i equals the current scene, enable this LED, otherwise disable it
digitalWrite(ledPins[i], i == scene ? HIGH : LOW);
}
}

switch (scene)
{
// First scene
case 0:
/* Read other buttons and do stuff here */
#include <Bounce.h>

const int channel = 1;

Bounce button0 = Bounce(0, 5);
Bounce button1 = Bounce(1, 5);  // 5 = 5 ms debounce time
Bounce button2 = Bounce(2, 5);  // which is appropriate for good
Bounce button3 = Bounce(3, 5);  // quality mechanical pushbuttons
Bounce button4 = Bounce(4, 5);

void setup() {
pinMode(0, INPUT_PULLUP);
pinMode(1, INPUT_PULLUP);
pinMode(2, INPUT_PULLUP);
pinMode(3, INPUT_PULLUP);
pinMode(4, INPUT_PULLUP);
}

void loop() {
button0.update();
button1.update();
button2.update();
button3.update();
button4.update();

if (button0.fallingEdge()) {
usbMIDI.sendNoteOn(60, 99, channel);  // 60 = C4
}
if (button1.fallingEdge()) {
usbMIDI.sendNoteOn(61, 99, channel);  // 61 = C#4
}
if (button2.fallingEdge()) {
usbMIDI.sendNoteOn(62, 99, channel);  // 62 = D4
}
if (button3.fallingEdge()) {
usbMIDI.sendNoteOn(63, 99, channel);  // 63 = D#4
}
if (button4.fallingEdge()) {
usbMIDI.sendNoteOn(64, 99, channel);  // 64 = E4
}

if (button0.risingEdge()) {
usbMIDI.sendNoteOff(60, 0, channel);  // 60 = C4
}
if (button1.risingEdge()) {
usbMIDI.sendNoteOff(61, 0, channel);  // 61 = C#4
}
if (button2.risingEdge()) {
usbMIDI.sendNoteOff(62, 0, channel);  // 62 = D4
}
if (button3.risingEdge()) {
usbMIDI.sendNoteOff(63, 0, channel);  // 63 = D#4
}
if (button4.risingEdge()) {
usbMIDI.sendNoteOff(64, 0, channel);  // 64 = E4
}
}
break;
// Second scene
case 1:
/* Read other buttons and do stuff here */
#include <Bounce.h>

const int channel = 1;

Bounce button0 = Bounce(0, 5);
Bounce button1 = Bounce(1, 5);  // 5 = 5 ms debounce time
Bounce button2 = Bounce(2, 5);  // which is appropriate for good
Bounce button3 = Bounce(3, 5);  // quality mechanical pushbuttons
Bounce button4 = Bounce(4, 5);

void setup() {
pinMode(0, INPUT_PULLUP);
pinMode(1, INPUT_PULLUP);
pinMode(2, INPUT_PULLUP);
pinMode(3, INPUT_PULLUP);
pinMode(4, INPUT_PULLUP);
}

void loop() {
button0.update();
button1.update();
button2.update();
button3.update();
button4.update();

if (button0.fallingEdge()) {
usbMIDI.sendNoteOn(60, 99, channel);  // 60 = C4
}
if (button1.fallingEdge()) {
usbMIDI.sendNoteOn(61, 99, channel);  // 61 = C#4
}
if (button2.fallingEdge()) {
usbMIDI.sendNoteOn(62, 99, channel);  // 62 = D4
}
if (button3.fallingEdge()) {
usbMIDI.sendNoteOn(63, 99, channel);  // 63 = D#4
}
if (button4.fallingEdge()) {
usbMIDI.sendNoteOn(64, 99, channel);  // 64 = E4
}

if (button0.risingEdge()) {
usbMIDI.sendNoteOff(60, 0, channel);  // 60 = C4
}
if (button1.risingEdge()) {
usbMIDI.sendNoteOff(61, 0, channel);  // 61 = C#4
}
if (button2.risingEdge()) {
usbMIDI.sendNoteOff(62, 0, channel);  // 62 = D4
}
if (button3.risingEdge()) {
usbMIDI.sendNoteOff(63, 0, channel);  // 63 = D#4
}
if (button4.risingEdge()) {
usbMIDI.sendNoteOff(64, 0, channel);  // 64 = E4
}
}
break;
}
}

it wont compile at all. sorry for being such a newb at all this trying to learn as much as possible before i post and ask questions. if you dont mind please look over the code and let me know where i made mistakes.

thanks again for oyur help

ErikMinekus · March 2, 2013, 11:49am

Yes, just pasting the entire code multiple times isn’t going to work. I suggest you read some tutorials on basic C-programming and Arduino, so you at least understand variables and procedures. You can also find the similarities between my code and the USB MIDI example to see which parts you need to paste where.

Scornil01 · March 2, 2013, 3:59pm

Thanks ErikMinekus! I have a lot of arduino homework to do now. Haha I appreciate the help!

Scornil01 · March 6, 2013, 8:53pm

hey ErikMinekus, so ive gone through all the tutorials on the link you posted and figured out why my code wouldnt compile. i had too many void loops and setups when there should only be one of each on this code so i ended up with this:

#define SCENES_COUNT 4
#include <Bounce.h>
const int channel = 1;

Bounce button0 = Bounce(0, 5);
Bounce button1 = Bounce(1, 5);  // 5 = 5 ms debounce time
Bounce button3 = Bounce(3, 5);  // quality mechanical pushbuttons
Bounce button4 = Bounce(4, 5);

const int buttonPin = 2;
const int ledPins[SCENES_COUNT] = {7, 8, 9, 10};

int scene = 0;

void setup()
{
pinMode(buttonPin, INPUT);
pinMode(0, INPUT_PULLUP);
pinMode(1, INPUT_PULLUP);
pinMode(3, INPUT_PULLUP);
pinMode(4, INPUT_PULLUP);

for (int i = 0; i < SCENES_COUNT; i++)
{
pinMode(ledPins[i], OUTPUT);
}
}

void loop()
{
button0.update();
button1.update();
button3.update();
button4.update();

// If scene button is pressed
if (digitalRead(buttonPin) == HIGH)
{
// Increment scene by 1, and if it's greater than the scene count, reset to 0
if (++scene >= SCENES_COUNT)
{
scene = 0;
}

// Loop through all LEDs
for (int i = 0; i < SCENES_COUNT; i++)
{
// If i equals the current scene, enable this LED, otherwise disable it
digitalWrite(ledPins[i], i == scene ? HIGH : LOW);
}
}

switch (scene)
{
// First scene
case 0:
/* Read other buttons and do stuff here */

if (button0.fallingEdge()) {
usbMIDI.sendNoteOn(60, 99, channel);  // 60 = C4
}
if (button1.fallingEdge()) {
usbMIDI.sendNoteOn(61, 99, channel);  // 61 = C#4
}
if (button3.fallingEdge()) {
usbMIDI.sendNoteOn(63, 99, channel);  // 63 = D#4
}
if (button4.fallingEdge()) {
usbMIDI.sendNoteOn(64, 99, channel);  // 64 = E4
}

if (button0.risingEdge()) {
usbMIDI.sendNoteOff(60, 0, channel);  // 60 = C4
}
if (button1.risingEdge()) {
usbMIDI.sendNoteOff(61, 0, channel);  // 61 = C#4
}
if (button3.risingEdge()) {
usbMIDI.sendNoteOff(63, 0, channel);  // 63 = D#4
}
if (button4.risingEdge()) {
usbMIDI.sendNoteOff(64, 0, channel);  // 64 = E4
}

break;
// Second scene
case 1:
/* Read other buttons and do stuff here */

if (button0.fallingEdge()) {
usbMIDI.sendNoteOn(60, 99, channel);  // 60 = C4
}
if (button1.fallingEdge()) {
usbMIDI.sendNoteOn(61, 99, channel);  // 61 = C#4
}
if (button3.fallingEdge()) {
usbMIDI.sendNoteOn(63, 99, channel);  // 63 = D#4
}
if (button4.fallingEdge()) {
usbMIDI.sendNoteOn(64, 99, channel);  // 64 = E4
}
if (button0.risingEdge()) {
usbMIDI.sendNoteOff(60, 0, channel);  // 60 = C4
}
if (button1.risingEdge()) {
usbMIDI.sendNoteOff(61, 0, channel);  // 61 = C#4
}
if (button3.risingEdge()) {
usbMIDI.sendNoteOff(63, 0, channel);  // 63 = D#4
}
if (button4.risingEdge()) {
usbMIDI.sendNoteOff(64, 0, channel);  // 64 = E4
}

break;
// Third scene
case 2:
/* Read other buttons and do stuff here */

if (button0.fallingEdge()) {
usbMIDI.sendNoteOn(60, 99, channel);  // 60 = C4
}
if (button1.fallingEdge()) {
usbMIDI.sendNoteOn(61, 99, channel);  // 61 = C#4
}
if (button3.fallingEdge()) {
usbMIDI.sendNoteOn(63, 99, channel);  // 63 = D#4
}
if (button4.fallingEdge()) {
usbMIDI.sendNoteOn(64, 99, channel);  // 64 = E4
}
if (button0.risingEdge()) {
usbMIDI.sendNoteOff(60, 0, channel);  // 60 = C4
}
if (button1.risingEdge()) {
usbMIDI.sendNoteOff(61, 0, channel);  // 61 = C#4
}
if (button3.risingEdge()) {
usbMIDI.sendNoteOff(63, 0, channel);  // 63 = D#4
}
if (button4.risingEdge()) {
usbMIDI.sendNoteOff(64, 0, channel);  // 64 = E4
}

break;
// Fourth scene
case 3:
/* Read other buttons and do stuff here */

if (button0.fallingEdge()) {
usbMIDI.sendNoteOn(60, 99, channel);  // 60 = C4
}
if (button1.fallingEdge()) {
usbMIDI.sendNoteOn(61, 99, channel);  // 61 = C#4
}
if (button3.fallingEdge()) {
usbMIDI.sendNoteOn(63, 99, channel);  // 63 = D#4
}
if (button4.fallingEdge()) {
usbMIDI.sendNoteOn(64, 99, channel);  // 64 = E4
}
if (button0.risingEdge()) {
usbMIDI.sendNoteOff(60, 0, channel);  // 60 = C4
}
if (button1.risingEdge()) {
usbMIDI.sendNoteOff(61, 0, channel);  // 61 = C#4
}
if (button3.risingEdge()) {
usbMIDI.sendNoteOff(63, 0, channel);  // 63 = D#4
}
if (button4.risingEdge()) {
usbMIDI.sendNoteOff(64, 0, channel);  // 64 = E4
}

break;
}
}

so ive gotten a successfull compile and able to use the midi push buttons but the scene button was still not working. i have push buttons connected to D0-D4 on my teensy 2++ and i programmed the d0,d1,d3,d4 as my midi buttons and left d2 for the scene button. should i have used different I/O’s on the teensy board for each case?

thanks for all your help by the way.

ErikMinekus · March 7, 2013, 3:27pm

Did you connect a resistor to your scene button? If not, it should be set to INPUT_PULLUP like your other buttons. I’d also use Bounce for the scene button, I’ve found out bouncing can get pretty bad. Everything else looks great!

Topic		Replies	Views
diy controller Hardware: Controllers, Mods and Gear	154	23381	February 12, 2013
Teensyduino Hardware: Controllers, Mods and Gear midi , code , arduino , teensy , teensyduino	67	18917	April 17, 2012
Nevermind U-HID, Midibox and usb joypads.. anyone tried "GenericHID" with a Teensy? Hardware: Controllers, Mods and Gear	39	23543	July 25, 2012
[DIY] "Generic midi controller" Build-log Hardware: Controllers, Mods and Gear diy , build , midi , controller , log	34	32805	March 29, 2020
another first timer DIY midi controller Hardware: Controllers, Mods and Gear diy , traktor , midi , controller , diy-controller	18	6051	March 2, 2013

Replicating a NanoKontrol using a teensy?

Related topics