Musical robots controlled by incoming MIDI messages are a popular project. This example will show how you can use MIDI in messages to affect a servo motor.

Circuit Diagram

Servo GND to Metro M4 Express GND
Servo power to Metro M4 Express 5V
Servo signal to Metro M4 Express pin D2

Setup the Metro M4 Express

This example uses a Metro M4 Express microcontroller board. To make sure it is setup properly with CircuitPython, please follow the steps in the guide below.

Metro M4 Express CircuitPython Setup

CircuitPython Code

Once you've finished setting up your Metro M4 Express with CircuitPython, you can access the code and necessary libraries by downloading the Project Bundle.

To do this, click on the Download Project Bundle button in the window below. It will download as a zipped folder.

Download Project Bundle

Copy Code

# SPDX-FileCopyrightText: 2022 Liz Clark for Adafruit Industries
# SPDX-License-Identifier: MIT

import board
import pwmio
import usb_midi
import adafruit_midi
from adafruit_midi.note_off import NoteOff
from adafruit_midi.note_on import NoteOn
from adafruit_motor import servo

#  pwm setup for servo
pwm = pwmio.PWMOut(board.D2, duty_cycle=2 ** 15, frequency=50)

#  servo setup
motor = servo.Servo(pwm)

#  midi setup
midi = adafruit_midi.MIDI(
    midi_in=usb_midi.ports[0], in_channel=0, midi_out=usb_midi.ports[1], out_channel=0
)

while True:
    #  receive midi input
    msg = midi.receive()

    if msg is not None:
        #  if a NoteOn message is received...
        if isinstance(msg, NoteOn):
            #  servo set to 180 degrees
            motor.angle = 180
        #  if a NoteOff message is received...
        if isinstance(msg, NoteOff):
            #  servo set to 0 degrees
            motor.angle = 0

# SPDX-FileCopyrightText: 2022 Liz Clark for Adafruit Industries
# SPDX-License-Identifier: MIT

import board
import pwmio
import usb_midi
import adafruit_midi
from adafruit_midi.note_off import NoteOff
from adafruit_midi.note_on import NoteOn
from adafruit_motor import servo

#  pwm setup for servo
pwm = pwmio.PWMOut(board.D2, duty_cycle=2 ** 15, frequency=50)

#  servo setup
motor = servo.Servo(pwm)

#  midi setup
midi = adafruit_midi.MIDI(
    midi_in=usb_midi.ports[0], in_channel=0, midi_out=usb_midi.ports[1], out_channel=0
)

while True:
    #  receive midi input
    msg = midi.receive()

    if msg is not None:
        #  if a NoteOn message is received...
        if isinstance(msg, NoteOn):
            #  servo set to 180 degrees
            motor.angle = 180
        #  if a NoteOff message is received...
        if isinstance(msg, NoteOff):
            #  servo set to 0 degrees
            motor.angle = 0

Upload the Code and Libraries to the Metro M4 Express

After downloading the Project Bundle, plug your Metro M4 Express into the computer's USB port. You should see a new flash drive appear in the computer's File Explorer or Finder (depending on your operating system) called CIRCUITPY. Unzip the folder and copy the following items to the Metro M4 Express's CIRCUITPY drive.

lib folder
code.py

Your Metro M4 Express CIRCUITPY drive should look like this after copying the lib folder and the code.py file.

How the CircuitPython Code Works

This code is an example of having another peripheral react to a MIDI input. Every time a NoteOn message is received, the servo turns to 180 degrees. When a NoteOff message is received, the servo turns back to 0 degrees.

Usage

You can connect your Metro M4 via USB to either your computer or a USB MIDI host. Send MIDI NoteOn and NoteOff messages to the Metro and you should see the servo move back and forth accordingly.

Musical robots are a popular music technology project that often incorporate MIDI. Using techniques like this can also be useful in interactive installations where folks can see a physical reaction to a digital input.