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MMD > Archives > February 2013 > 2013.02.06 > 05Prev  Next


MIDI to Arduino Computer to Bells
By Bill Clark

I have a glockenspiel in my home-built band organ that I have been
driving with electrical hardware and I thought it would be fun to
play with an Arduino electronics prototyping platform.  Here's the
shortened version of what I did.

MIDI [wireline] data comes from Power Tracks Pro Audio or other MIDI
device into a $35 Arduino computer from Radio Shack.  I've programmed
the Arduino to read the MIDI data and turn it into information to
drive the electro-magnets.  The Arduino has two 16-output driver cards
that can handle more than an ampere on each output.  These outputs go
to the door bell magnets that strike the bells.  A video of the bells
is at this link:

  http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=iKco428HveQ 

More details of the Arduino and the program listing for the Arduino is
at this link:  http://arduino.cc/forum/index.php/topic,147240.0.html 

The next step in this adventure is using this same device to power
pallet magnets or make a mechanical flute.

Enjoy!
Bill Clark

 [ More at http://arduino.cc/en/  -- Robbie


(Message sent Thu 7 Feb 2013, 00:21:10 GMT, from time zone GMT-0500.)

Key Words in Subject:  Arduino, Bells, Computer, MIDI

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