Macro/MIDI controller for external switches?

[Ginger Penguin]

Hi all. I'm sure something like this must exist but I can't get quite the right words into Google to get there. I'm wanting to set up a bunch of external buttons to fire some light and sound cues for a little thing I'm putting together.

 

I know you can do this with macro controllers like a Streamdeck but I'm looking for something that I can wire these buttons up to and integrate into a little set piece. Then run software to assign macros or MIDI commands to each button. 

 

Is there a product I could get that would do this? Otherwise, is this something that could be DIY'd in some way?

[Blue4130]

13 minutes ago, Ginger Penguin said:

Hi all. I'm sure something like this must exist but I can't get quite the right words into Google to get there. I'm wanting to set up a bunch of external buttons to fire some light and sound cues for a little thing I'm putting together.

 

I know you can do this with macro controllers like a Streamdeck but I'm looking for something that I can wire these buttons up to and integrate into a little set piece. Then run software to assign macros or MIDI commands to each button. 

 

Is there a product I could get that would do this? Otherwise, is this something that could be DIY'd in some way?

An arduino. This is a trivial task for an arduino.

[BuggedCookie]

48 minutes ago, Ginger Penguin said:

Hi all. I'm sure something like this must exist but I can't get quite the right words into Google to get there. I'm wanting to set up a bunch of external buttons to fire some light and sound cues for a little thing I'm putting together.

 

I know you can do this with macro controllers like a Streamdeck but I'm looking for something that I can wire these buttons up to and integrate into a little set piece. Then run software to assign macros or MIDI commands to each button. 

 

Is there a product I could get that would do this? Otherwise, is this something that could be DIY'd in some way?

What kind of stuff you want to "assign" as macros to your midi device?
Could you do a list?

Also what OS are you using Windows or Linux?

[Ginger Penguin]

29 minutes ago, BuggedCookie said:

What kind of stuff you want to "assign" as macros to your midi device?
Could you do a list?

Also what OS are you using Windows or Linux?

Just regular keyboard shortcuts was my first thought. There's going to be about 15-20 buttons that make different things happen. It's going to be have those commands go into QLab most likely to fire groups of sound and light cues so we'll be using MacOS for that end.

 

As for an arduino, I've not really ever looked into them though this may be an excuse to.

[BuggedCookie]

12 minutes ago, Ginger Penguin said:

Just regular keyboard shortcuts was my first thought. There's going to be about 15-20 buttons that make different things happen. It's going to be have those commands go into QLab most likely to fire groups of sound and light cues so we'll be using MacOS for that end.

 

As for an arduino, I've not really ever looked into them though this may be an excuse to.

Arduino would probably be over complicating it, you just need an app that should do 100% the job, there's a lot of repos on Github with exactly with what you ask, compatible with MacOS I don't know but probably, and from what I know some Linux versions of those apps could run on MacOS !

Just be careful to not install any viruses !

[Ginger Penguin]

19 minutes ago, BuggedCookie said:

Arduino would probably be over complicating it, you just need an app that should do 100% the job, there's a lot of repos on Github with exactly with what you ask, compatible with MacOS I don't know but probably, and from what I know some Linux versions of those apps could run on MacOS !

Just be careful to not install any viruses !

Yeah I figured there would be lots of key mapping software. The sticking point is really the hardware of how to get generic buttons to interface with the software. Something that when say button 1 presses and the circuit is closed, the controller sends to the computer Ctrl+Alt+M or whatever. It's that middle bit of kit I can't find. Whatever variation of 'macro controller' I put into Google just results in gamepads with macro buttons.

[BuggedCookie]

1 minute ago, Ginger Penguin said:

Yeah I figured there would be lots of key mapping software. The sticking point is really the hardware of how to get generic buttons to interface with the software. Something that when say button 1 presses and the circuit is closed, the controller sends to the computer Ctrl+Alt+M or whatever. It's that middle bit of kit I can't find. Whatever variation of 'macro controller' I put into Google just results in gamepads with macro buttons.

Search "Midi2Macro" or "Midi To Macro" I did find a few results try searching on github too

I was thinking maybe I could come up with something but I never programmed stuff for MacOS, I may check on that tomorrow and maybe check if I can come up with some quick prototype for you! (If I can) but I can't assure anything, hope you find what you need !

 

[Ginger Penguin]

8 minutes ago, BuggedCookie said:

Search "Midi2Macro" or "Midi To Macro" I did find a few results try searching on github too

I was thinking maybe I could come up with something but I never programmed stuff for MacOS, I may check on that tomorrow and maybe check if I can come up with some quick prototype for you! (If I can) but I can't assure anything, hope you find what you need !

 

Honestly just MIDI would work if I could translate each button press into a MIDI note as QLab can take MIDI notes as triggers as well. I just figured a macro hotkey controller would be easier to find.

[Blue4130]

Ahh if you are using a computer to control this, then you don't need an arduino. I thought this was some stand alone device.

[Aeroslow]

I'm going to chuck an option out there.

I made a "midi controller" using one of these kits https://shop.pimoroni.com/products/pico-rgb-keypad-base?variant=32369517166675

 

I was just looking to make something to send basic midi note messages to a DAW so I could tap in drums with a super portable peripheral, and I had the keypad lying around from another project I never got off the ground. It's a while ago now. I had to search around finding the right code and then making tweaks. I'm not up on programming at all. I might have the code I used saved somewhere but it's probably not that efficient. 

 

Adafruit make a similar product with a screen and rotary encoder. Schematics are probably available for both. I don't know if you'd need to consider switch de-bouncing with what you're trying to do. 

[Blue4130]

1 hour ago, Aeroslow said:

I'm going to chuck an option out there.

I made a "midi controller" using one of these kits https://shop.pimoroni.com/products/pico-rgb-keypad-base?variant=32369517166675

 

I was just looking to make something to send basic midi note messages to a DAW so I could tap in drums with a super portable peripheral, and I had the keypad lying around from another project I never got off the ground. It's a while ago now. I had to search around finding the right code and then making tweaks. I'm not up on programming at all. I might have the code I used saved somewhere but it's probably not that efficient. 

 

Adafruit make a similar product with a screen and rotary encoder. Schematics are probably available for both. I don't know if you'd need to consider switch de-bouncing with what you're trying to do. 

Yep, That would funtion same as an arduino. Just another option in the microcontroller market.