Overview

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CircuitPython MIDI

Build a MIDI drum kit using solenoids and CircuitPython! 3D print parts to create a solenoid driven mallet to trigger snare drums, cymbals and much more! Use the Adafruit Feather M4 and ULN2803A darlington driver to create your own custom USB MIDI percussion ensemble.

Plug and Play

The Feather M4 and ULN2803A darlington driver are fitted onto a Perma-Proto board housed inside a snap fit case. DC jacks on the side of the case allow for plug and play of the solenoids.

DIY Drum Kit

DIY your own cymbals, tom toms, snare and kick drum. Use the mallets to hit any surface to make  programmable percussion instruments.

Modular Design

To make the kick drum, a solenoid is mounted to a piece of 2020 extrusion that hovers over a practice drum pad. This creates a direct hit and makes a nice 'thud'.

Parts

Angled shot of a Adafruit Feather M4 Express.
It's what you've been waiting for, the Feather M4 Express featuring ATSAMD51. This Feather is fast like a swift, smart like an owl, strong like a ox-bird (it's half ox,...
$22.95
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Large push-pull solenoid
Solenoids are basically electromagnets: they are made of a big coil of copper wire with an armature (a slug of metal) in the middle. When the coil is energized, the slug is pulled into...
$14.95
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Top view of Adafruit Perma-Proto Half-sized Breadboard PCB.
Customers have asked us to carry basic perf-board, but we never liked the look of most basic perf: it's always crummy quality, with pads that flake off and no labeling. Then we...
$4.50
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ULN2803 8 Channel Darlington Driver. Solenoid/Unipolar Stepper chip.
Bring in some muscle to your output pins with 8 mighty Darlingtons! This DIP chip contains 8 drivers that can sink 500mA from a 50V supply and has kickback diodes included inside for...
$1.95
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1 x 10-Wire Cable
Silicone stranded-core 28AWG
5 x DC barrel jack
Panel Mount 2.1mm DC barrel jack
4 x 2.1mm DC Plug
DC Jack Adapter Cable
1 x 12V 5A Power supply
12V 5A switching power supply
1 x Feather Header Kit
Header Kit for Feather - 12-pin and 16-pin Female Header Set
1 x USB Cable
Fully Reversible Pink/Purple USB A to micro B Cable - 1m long
1 x 10-wire silicone ribbon cable
10-wire silicone ribbon cable
6 x JST PH 2-Pin Cable
Female Connector 100mm
6 x JST PH 2-Pin Cable
Male Header 200mm
1 x Toggle Switch
Mini Panel Mount SPDT Toggle Switch
1 x 18 Pin DIP Socket
18 (2 x 9) Pos DIP, 0.3" (7.62mm) Row Spacing Socket Tin Through Hole
1 x 2020 Extrusion
Slotted Aluminum Extrusion - 20mm x 20mm - 610mm long
1 x Slim T-Nuts
Aluminum Extrusion Slim T-Nut for 20x20 - M4 Thread - pack of 50
1 x M4 Machine Screw
Button Hex - 8mm long - pack of 50
1 x Remo Drum Pad
Gray Tunable Practice Pad with Ambassador Coated Drumhead
1 x Small Cymbals
2pc First Note FN240 Firstnote Cymbals

Hardware List

Screws, standoffs hex nuts and locknuts used to assemble and fasten parts.

 Mallet Assembly (Single Set)

  • 12x M3x6mm screws
  • 4x M3x10mm standoffs
  • 2x M3x16mm screws
  • 3x M3 locknuts
  • 1x M3x14mm screw

Kick Drum Assembly

  • 1x 2020 Aluminum Extrusion – 305mm long
  • 4x M4x8mm screws
  • 4x M4 slim t-nuts
  • 2x M3x10mm screws
  • 2x M3 hex nuts
  • 4x M3x6mm screws
  • 4x M5x30mm screws
  • 6x M5 hex nuts

Cymbal Assembly

Circuit Diagram 

This guide was first published on Aug 05, 2020. It was last updated on Aug 05, 2020.

This page (Overview) was last updated on Jun 22, 2022.

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