Text Editor
Adafruit recommends using the Mu editor for editing your CircuitPython code. You can get more info in this guide.
Alternatively, you can use any text editor that saves files.
To use with CircuitPython, you need to first install a few libraries, into the lib folder on your CIRCUITPY drive. Then you need to update code.py with the example script.
Thankfully, we can do this in one go. In the example below, click the Download Project Bundle button below to download the necessary libraries and the code.py file in a zip file. Extract the contents of the zip file, open the directory MIDI_CLUE_BLE_Glove/ and then click on the directory that matches the version of CircuitPython you're using and copy the contents of that directory to your CIRCUITPY drive.
Your CIRCUITPY drive should now look similar to the following image:
# SPDX-FileCopyrightText: 2020 John Park for Adafruit Industries
#
# SPDX-License-Identifier: MIT
"""
CLUE BLE MIDI
Sends MIDI CC values based on accelerometer x & y and proximity sensor
Touch #0 switches Bank/Preset patches
Touch #1 picks among the three CC lines w A&B buttons adjusting CC numbers
Touch #2 starts/stops sending CC messages (still allows Program Change)
"""
import time
from adafruit_clue import clue
import adafruit_ble
from adafruit_ble.advertising.standard import ProvideServicesAdvertisement
import adafruit_ble_midi
import adafruit_midi
from adafruit_midi.control_change import ControlChange
from adafruit_midi.program_change import ProgramChange
# from adafruit_midi.note_on import NoteOn
# from adafruit_midi.pitch_bend import PitchBend
import simpleio
import displayio
import terminalio
from adafruit_display_text import label
from adafruit_display_shapes.rect import Rect
# --- Pick your midi out channel here ---
midi_channel = 1
# --- Pick your MIDI CC numbers here ---
cc_x_num = 71
cc_y_num = 72
cc_prox_num = 73
# --- Pick Bank & Preset pairs here ---
touch_patch = [ # first number is the Bank, second is the Preset
(4, 16), # minimoog: Leads > Original MINI
(5, 8), # Pads > Intergalactic Pass
(0, 13), # Bass > Kraft Bass
(6, 9), # Percussion > Space Hat
]
patch_count = len(touch_patch)
patch_index = (
patch_count - 1
) # start on the last one so first time it is pressed it goes to first
cc_x = 0
cc_y = 0
cc_prox = 0
# Use default HID descriptor
midi_service = adafruit_ble_midi.MIDIService()
advertisement = ProvideServicesAdvertisement(midi_service)
ble = adafruit_ble.BLERadio()
if ble.connected:
for c in ble.connections:
c.disconnect()
midi = adafruit_midi.MIDI(midi_out=midi_service, out_channel=midi_channel - 1)
print("advertising")
ble.name = "CLUE BLE MIDI"
ble.start_advertising(advertisement)
clue.display.brightness = 1.0
clue.pixel.brightness = 0.2
screen = displayio.Group()
ORANGE = 0xCE6136
GRAY = 0x080808
BLACK = 0x121212
BLUE = 0x668190
SILVER = 0xAAAAAA
BROWN = 0x805D40
# --- Setup screen ---
# BG
color_bitmap = displayio.Bitmap(240, 240, 1)
color_palette = displayio.Palette(1)
color_palette[0] = GRAY
bg_sprite = displayio.TileGrid(color_bitmap, x=0, y=0, pixel_shader=color_palette)
screen.append(bg_sprite)
column_a = 20
column_b = 168
# positions that are distributed relative to cc_x and cc_prox y positions
row_a = 80
row_c = 170
row_b = int(row_a + ((row_c - row_a) / 2))
line_row_a = int(row_a + ((row_b - row_a) / 2))
line_row_b = int(row_b + ((row_c - row_b) / 2))
picker_box_row = [row_a, row_b, row_c]
# trim
top_trim_box = Rect(0, 0, 240, 8, fill=BROWN, outline=None)
screen.append(top_trim_box)
bottom_trim_box = Rect(0, 232, 240, 8, fill=BROWN, outline=None)
screen.append(bottom_trim_box)
# title text
title_label = label.Label(terminalio.FONT, text="MIDI CLUE", scale=4, color=SILVER)
title_label.x = 14
title_label.y = 27
screen.append(title_label)
# title box
title_box = Rect(0, 54, 240, 8, fill=BROWN, outline=None)
screen.append(title_box)
# cc x num
cc_x_num_label = label.Label(
terminalio.FONT,
text=("CC {}".format(cc_x_num)),
scale=3,
color=ORANGE,
)
cc_x_num_label.x = column_a
cc_x_num_label.y = row_a
screen.append(cc_x_num_label)
# cc x value
cc_x_label = label.Label(terminalio.FONT, text=str(cc_x), scale=3, color=ORANGE)
cc_x_label.x = column_b
cc_x_label.y = row_a
screen.append(cc_x_label)
# picker box
picker_box = Rect(3, row_a, 6, 6, fill=ORANGE, outline=None)
screen.append(picker_box)
# mid line
mid_line_a = Rect(0, line_row_a, 240, 2, fill=SILVER, outline=None)
screen.append(mid_line_a)
# cc y num
cc_y_num_label = label.Label(
terminalio.FONT, text=("CC {}".format(cc_y_num)), scale=3, color=BLUE
)
cc_y_num_label.x = column_a
cc_y_num_label.y = row_b
screen.append(cc_y_num_label)
# cc y value text
cc_y_label = label.Label(terminalio.FONT, text=str(cc_y), scale=3, color=BLUE)
cc_y_label.x = column_b
cc_y_label.y = row_b
screen.append(cc_y_label)
# mid line
mid_line_b = Rect(0, line_row_b, 240, 2, fill=SILVER, outline=None)
screen.append(mid_line_b)
# cc prox num text
cc_prox_num_label = label.Label(
terminalio.FONT,
text=("CC {}".format(cc_prox_num)),
scale=3,
color=SILVER,
)
cc_prox_num_label.x = column_a
cc_prox_num_label.y = row_c
screen.append(cc_prox_num_label)
# cc prox value text
cc_prox_label = label.Label(terminalio.FONT, text=str(cc_prox), scale=3, color=SILVER)
cc_prox_label.x = column_b
cc_prox_label.y = row_c
screen.append(cc_prox_label)
# footer line
footer_line = Rect(0, 192, 240, 2, fill=SILVER, outline=None)
screen.append(footer_line)
# patch label
patch_label = label.Label(terminalio.FONT, text="Patch _", scale=2, color=BLUE)
patch_label.x = 4
patch_label.y = 216
screen.append(patch_label)
# footer label
footer_label = label.Label(terminalio.FONT, text="connect BLE", scale=2, color=ORANGE)
footer_label.x = 102
footer_label.y = 216
screen.append(footer_label)
# show the screen
clue.display.root_group = screen
cc_num_pick_toggle = 0 # which cc to adjust w buttons
cc_send_toggle = True # to start and stop sending cc
debug = False # set debug mode True to test raw values, set False to run BLE MIDI
while True:
if debug:
accel_data = clue.acceleration # get accelerometer reading
accel_x = accel_data[0]
accel_y = accel_data[1]
prox_data = clue.proximity
print("x:{} y:{}".format(accel_x, accel_y,))
print("proximity: {}".format(clue.proximity))
time.sleep(0.2)
else:
print("Waiting for connection")
while not ble.connected:
pass
print("Connected")
footer_label.x = 80
footer_label.color = BLUE
footer_label.text = "BLE Connected"
time.sleep(2)
footer_label.x = 110
footer_label.color = SILVER
footer_label.text = "sending CC"
while ble.connected:
# Clue sensor readings to CC
accel_data = clue.acceleration # get accelerometer reading
accel_x = accel_data[0]
accel_y = accel_data[1]
prox_data = clue.proximity
# Remap analog readings to cc range
cc_x = int(simpleio.map_range(accel_x, -9, 9, 0, 127))
cc_y = int(simpleio.map_range(accel_y, 0, 9, 0, 127))
cc_prox = int(simpleio.map_range(prox_data, 0, 255, 0, 127))
# send all the midi messages in a list
if cc_send_toggle:
midi.send(
[
ControlChange(cc_x_num, cc_x),
ControlChange(cc_y_num, cc_y),
ControlChange(cc_prox_num, cc_prox),
]
)
cc_x_label.text = str(cc_x)
cc_y_label.text = str(cc_y)
cc_prox_label.text = str(cc_prox)
# If you want to send NoteOn or Pitch Bend, here are examples:
# midi.send(NoteOn(44, 1column_a)) # G sharp 2nd octave
# a_pitch_bend = PitchBend(random.randint(0, 16383))
# midi.send(a_pitch_bend)
if clue.button_a:
if cc_num_pick_toggle == 0:
cc_x_num = cc_x_num - 1
cc_x_num_label.text = "CC {}".format(cc_x_num)
time.sleep(0.05) # Debounce
elif cc_num_pick_toggle == 1:
cc_y_num = cc_y_num - 1
cc_y_num_label.text = "CC {}".format(cc_y_num)
time.sleep(0.05)
else:
cc_prox_num = cc_prox_num - 1
cc_prox_num_label.text = "CC {}".format(cc_prox_num)
time.sleep(0.05)
if clue.button_b:
if cc_num_pick_toggle == 0:
cc_x_num = cc_x_num + 1
cc_x_num_label.text = "CC {}".format(cc_x_num)
time.sleep(0.05)
elif cc_num_pick_toggle == 1:
cc_y_num = cc_y_num + 1
cc_y_num_label.text = "CC {}".format(cc_y_num)
time.sleep(0.05)
else:
cc_prox_num = cc_prox_num + 1
cc_prox_num_label.text = "CC {}".format(cc_prox_num)
time.sleep(0.05)
if clue.touch_0:
patch_index = (patch_index + 1) % patch_count
midi.send( # Bank select
[
ControlChange(0, 0), # MSB
ControlChange(32, touch_patch[patch_index][0]), # LSB
]
)
midi.send(ProgramChange(touch_patch[patch_index][1])) # Program Change
patch_label.text = "Patch {}".format(patch_index + 1)
time.sleep(0.2)
if clue.touch_1:
cc_num_pick_toggle = (cc_num_pick_toggle + 1) % 3
picker_box.y = picker_box_row[cc_num_pick_toggle]
time.sleep(0.1)
if clue.touch_2:
cc_send_toggle = not cc_send_toggle
if cc_send_toggle:
footer_label.x = 110
footer_label.color = SILVER
footer_label.text = "sending CC"
else:
footer_label.x = 114
footer_label.color = ORANGE
footer_label.text = "CC paused"
time.sleep(0.1)
print("Disconnected")
print()
ble.start_advertising(advertisement)
How It Works
The code does a few key things at startup:
- Import necessary libraries, including the adafruit_ble_midi and adafruit_midi libraries
- Creates variables to store:
- output MIDI channel (can be set to 1-16)
- three CC numbers (e.g. CC#1 = modulation)
- list of MIDI Band/Preset pairs for changing patches
- Advertises the CLUE BLE MIDI peripheral over BLE so devices can connect to it
- Uses displayio to lay out the screen text and dividers
- Checks the two buttons and three touch pads to make any adjustments to variables and UI
- Waits for a BLE connection
Sending Data
Once a connection has been established between the CLUE and a BLE MIDI device, here's what takes place:
- CLUE accelerometer readings on x- and y-axis are read and remapped using
simpleio.map_range()command. Each axis reading ranges from -9 to 9 and needs to re-map to MIDI CC ranges which is 0-127. Depending on how you want to tilt your hand, you can pick and subset of the accelerometer's range per axis - CLUE proximity sensor is remapped from 0-255 to 0-127
- The remapped sensor data is sent as CC data over MIDI
- Similarly, when the CLUE's touch sensor #0 is pressed, a MIDI message is sent to toggle among the pre-selected Bank/Patch pairs. Note, the Bank choice is sent via CC0 and/or CC32 (Most Significant Bit and/or Least Significant Bit for Bank select varies by MIDI device manufacturer). The Patch choice is sent via ProgramChange
CLUE UI
The CLUE's buttons and touch pads act as user inputs to adjust these things:
- Touch #0 toggles between Bank/Preset patches
- Touch #1 selects between the three CC lines on the screen (look for the small dot next to the selected line) to enable adjusting the CC numbers over which to send the sensor data
- Buttons A and B decrease and increase the MIDI CC number of the selected CC line
- Touch #2 toggles on/off the sending of CC data (to give your arm a rest!)
Build the Glove
Now that the CLUE is coded, you'll want to attach it to a glove back. You can use some double-stick foam tape or adhesive Velcro to attach it, or even a few stitches of strong thread.
You can also attach the battery pack the same way, or simply hold it in your hand during use.
Use the MIDI Glove
To use the Power Glove MIDI controller with a mac os machine, follow these setup instructions.
On iOS devices, you can use the MIDI Wrench app to create and test the BLE MIDI connection, and then use it to "port" the MIDI messages to other apps, such as AudioKit Synth One and Moog Minimoog which you can see in action below:
Most of these software synths will provide a way to map CC values to any function you like, often with a "MIDI learn" mode as well as explicit number entry.
You can also use BLE MIDI with some hardware synthesizers, as well as with BLE MIDI add-on dongles, such as this one from Yamaha which adds BLE MIDI to synths with classic DIN-5 MIDI.
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