LE STRUM - MIDI Chord Controller

Published on Jan 13, 2016 midierror

"A unique control surface designed by uber-human Jason Hotchkiss. Le Strum functions something like a cross between a Stylophone and an Omnichord.

Available here: https://www.tindie.com/products/midie..."

An interesting side note is that I own an Oberheim Strummer. It might have been the first if not only piece of kit you could use to generate guitar like cords with your synth. The problem with it was that it wasn't super intuitive to use. It didn't have any strum controls but was rather just a desktop box with a button based menu system where you selected what chords you wanted to use. LE STRUM looks like it would not only easily replace it, but can be used more as a physical controller for your synths. Very, very cool.

"A unique control surface that functions something like a cross between a Stylophone and an Omnichord. Comes FULLY CONSTRUCTED!

Connect LE STRUM to your MIDI synthesizer or computer running synth software, hold down a combination of buttons to select a chord, then use the stylus to play MIDI notes by touching the contact pads on the top right of the board. As the name suggests, you can strum across chords using the stylus, providing an unique and expressive MIDI controller.

LE STRUM's 36 chord buttons give you immediate access to 84 different chords (maj, min, dom7, maj7, min7, aug, dim for 12 root notes). You can also play sus4, add6 and add9 chord variations. It is great for learning about chord progressions and can be a helpful songwriting tool.

LE STRUM has several performance modes which are accessed by holding the MODE button while pressing one of the top row of chord buttons:

Mode+C : Basic mode - Stacked triads mapped across all 16 pads
Mode+D : Guitar strum mode - 6-string guitar open chords used (maj/min/7)
Mode+E : Guitar sustain mode - as above, but chord held after buttons released
Mode+F : Organ buttons - As Basic mode but chord triad plays on MIDI channel 2 as soon as button is pressed
Mode+G : Organ buttons with additions - as above but with sus4/add6/add9 options
Mode+A : Organ buttons with retrig - as above but chord buttons retrigger
Mode+B : Load User Patch
Mode+Bm : Save User Patch
Mode+B7 : MIDI Panic - All notes off
Mode+Strum Pad: Set MIDI velocity (16 levels)

User patch can combine settings for: play on make/break, damp on make/break, guitar voicing /stacked triads, additional guitar octave, enable added 4/6/9 notes, enable guitar chord bass notes, keep chord selection after chord button release, common note sustain on chord change, map chromatic/diatonic/pentatonic scale to pads, enable organ buttons on midi channel 2

LE STRUM has a special 6 string guitar mode, which knows basic major, minor and seven open chord fingerings for guitar. It can be used to lay down strummed guitar MIDI tracks without a MIDI guitar, and in a more convincing way that you could get from a keyboard. It's more than a toy, yessiree!

Designed for hackability (e.g. solder wires to the provided holes on the pads to make proper "strings" to pluck)
Transmits on MIDI Channel 1 for stylus activity and MIDI Channel 2 for Chord Buttons.
Output is to a standard MIDI 5-pin DIN socket.
A PP3 battery is required
Size 98mm x 75mm x 45mm (incl MIDI socket) Weight approx 120g with battery

An optional stand is available, please contact me for more information.

Please note that synthesizer hardware or software is required to make sound. LE STRUM is a MIDI controller and does not make any sound by itself!"

Note: I created a new midierror channel label for midierror moving forward. You can find previous posts by doing s a search on midierror. The creator of LE STRUM is Jason Hotchkiss.

MIDIfied Tesla Coils

Published on Sep 19, 2018 Jason Hotchkiss

"Just about ready with 'Tesla Organ' for Fort Process sound art festival this weekend in Newhaven, UK https://fortprocess.co.uk/

This is a quick test with a MIDI file of Bach's Toccata & Fugue in Dm

Two solid state coils based on Steve Wards design with connected secondaries, floating ground and independant feedback antennae. Running at c.100VAC.

MIDI file played from a PC into a PIC microcontroller which generates 2 voices of square wave audio, optically linked to the SSTC drivers"

Tesla coils controlled by Stylophone!

Published on Sep 19, 2018 Jason Hotchkiss

"My MIDI controlled Tesla coils controlled by my Stylophone MIDI controller... it had to happen!

All sound is from the coil and it does sound more musical IRL (excluding my playing) but the crackling of the arcing does drown out the notes when recorded on my camera"

Hotchkiss Quad VCA/mixer with digital brain - eurorack module prototype

Published on Aug 26, 2017 Jason Hotchkiss

"Quick jam/demo of a prototype module I'm working on.

It is a quad VCA module in 8HP based on Coolaudio V2164 with full analog signal path. VCAs are digitally controlled and the firmware (a work in progress) generates independent envelopes per VCA channel - supports trigger sequencing, direct CV control per channel, crossfading or triggering across all channels with a single CV, mixer solo/mute control by CV (with attack/decay on mixer mutes for smooth fades), MIDI control and more to come...

Easy to use as a 4 to 1 mixer as all output jacks are normalled to a single output and each channel has a level pot (with 3x gain available). Input jacks are also normalled to allow signals to be split between multiple channels (e.g. to control multiple fx chains for same signal)

This is a first prototype but is a lot of fun already :) Hopefully will be ready for sale in next few months.."

Superbooth 20HE: Sixty Four Pixels Noodlebox - 4 Part Sequencer

Published on Apr 24, 2020 sonicstate

"Sixty Four Pixels have been making useful MIDI and CV gear for the last 8 years. Noodlebox is the culmination of the past 8 years and is designed to be a fun and easy to use multi-part sequencer. The idea for Noodlebox came about from experience playing with simple knob-based step sequencers such as the Korg SQ-1. When one sequencer is modulating another then things can start to get exciting and Noodlebox is designed with this sort of workflow in mind.

Noodlebox is currently on Indiegogo and has almost reached its goal. In fact by the time this video goes out we would hope that it has smashed it!

The sequencer is divided into 4 layers, each layer has their own respective CV and Gate output. Each layer can have its own step count, clock division and four pages of up to 32 steps per pattern. These can be chained to enable song structures and you can cue lists of pages to create automatic cycling and create new arrangements on the fly.

The CV outputs can be Chromatic or quantized to scales and can be V/Oct or Hz/V standard, they can also be used for modulation CV outputs. The gate outputs manually set or by Euclidean rhythms, probability, retriggering, accent, and microtiming can all be programmed per step.

In terms of MIDI Noodlbox can perform in many different ways too. Each of the four layers can output MIDI notes or controller change (CC) messages, on shared or different MIDI channels. MIDI notes from an external keyboard can also be recorded and quantized into the grid while the sequence plays. This means that Noodlebox can be used as a MIDI looper.

Watch the video for a full remote run down of features with designer Jason Hotchkiss."

Quick jam - MFB Tanzbar and Rebel Technology OWL pedal

Published on May 6, 2017 Jason Hotchkiss

"A nasty crunchy lo-fi jam for a saturday afternoon! Playing MFB Tanzbar analog drum machine through my new OWL pedal (https://hoxtonowl.com/). The OWL is a programmable DSP module that will run Max/MSP/gen~ patches.

This one is running the ClingWrap sound destruction patch by Cherif Hashizume (https://hoxtonowl.com/patch-library/p...)"

Secret music of the Spectrum

Published on Sep 19, 2018 Jason Hotchkiss

"Long before I could afford a sequencer or a DAW I thought this was awesome :) This was recorded on the wonderful Fuse emulator but I do still have a speccy!"

PCLONE2 - Boss PC-2 Clone as a DIY Kit

Published on Jul 25, 2016 Jason Hotchkiss

"PCLONE2 is my clone of the Boss PC-2 percussion synth. Based on the original schematics but with a tweak to substitute the ultra rare BA662 VCA, PCLONE2 is designed for modding and CV control.

I am selling it as a full kit with included enclosure on my Tindie store https://www.tindie.com/products/hotch..."

Update: Tindie link should be working now, and the additional details for the archives added below.

"A clone of the Boss PC-2 / Amdek PCK-100 for bleeps and bloops galore!

PCLONE2 is a recreation of the (now rare) PC-2 percussion synthesizer which was made by Boss during the 1980s (and also released in DIY kit form under the Amdek brand name as the PCK-100)

The PCLONE2 kit is based on the original schematic (with a couple of changes due to the scarcity of some now obsolete components).

The kit includes all the parts neccessary for the build; printed circuit board, electronic components, wire for internal connections, potentiometers, knobs, switches, sockets, fitting screws etc. It includes a custom designed, laser-cut, case (made from 3mm acrylic sheet with 5mm acrylic side cheeks) and a laser etched acrylic laminate fascia.

Assembly by soldering is required! I would describe this as an intermediate complexity kit for experienced solderers, if you are a novice I would recommend getting some experience on simpler kits before you build this one.

This is a completely analog synthesizer with a single VCO. There is a pitch sweep function, a decay envelope and an LFO with rate, depth and wave shape (triangle/square) control. Unusually for a percussion synth there is no noise source, but you'll soon realise this isn't your typical percussion synth!

Sounds are triggered by an input pulse (5V-9V works fine) or by tapping on a piezo sensor which is mounted behind a pad on the front panel.

CLICK FOR MORE »

Analog percussion synth (PC-2) clone prototype (with CV control)

Published on Dec 13, 2015 Jason Hotchkiss

"First try out of a clone board I am working on, based on the Boss PC-2 / Amdek PCK-100. Couple of differences (mainly due to scarcity of the BA662A VCA chip) and some experimenting with CV control. I will eventually be selling these as kits, but not quite there yet! Enjoy the clip - the Cv really does open this thing up!"

ARPIE V5 DIY MIDI Arpeggiator vs TT303

Published on Jun 25, 2017 Jason Hotchkiss

"A quick noodle with some of the new features in firmware version 5 for my ARPIE MIDI arpeggiator.

Now you can enter a chord manually on the front panel by toggling notes on and off, there is improved access to the per step Accent/Glide features and new per-step Legato, Octave jump up/down, Fourth down and polyphonic note play-thru.

IMHO best of all is a transpose sequencer, which allows you to enter a series of transpositions which plays back at bar length. Works great with existing force to scale mode.. perfect for serendipitous discovery of new chord progressions!

Now it's even more fun to use ARPIE standalone, without a MIDI keyboard. Randomizing the accent/tie sounds great on a 303 sound. The sound here is from Cyclone TT303 and an MFB Tanzbar, which also clocks the ARPIE"

ARPIE - MIDI Arpeggiator [Main Features]

Published on Sep 25, 2015 midierror

"The ARPIE is a harware arpeggiator designed by Jason Hotchkiss. It has an insane amount of features as covered in the ARPIE online manual http://six4pix.com/arpie/manual.html

Currently available in kit form, it is soon to be available as a finished product. Watch this space!

These are some of the main ones."

Calculator Music

Published on Mar 14, 2017 Jason Hotchkiss

"http://hotchk155.blogspot.co.uk/2017/...

What passed for my own synth when I was about 10..

TI2550 calculator generates RF interference picked up on AM radio, distortion/lowpass filter applied (Moog Minifoofer Drive)."

synchtab for ARPIE

Published on Jul 6, 2015 Jason Hotchkiss

"A little plugin gizmo for the ARPIE DIY MIDI arpeggiator that allows it to work with Korg Volca style pulse clock sync
Available from Tindie
https://www.tindie.com/products/hotch..."

Noodlebox Serendipity Seeks Funding on Indiegogo

Published on Apr 2, 2020 Jason Hotchkiss

"We have today launched an Indiegogo campaign to take pre-orders for our Noodlebox Serendipity Sequencer https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/no...

Noodlebox is a four part analog and MIDI sequencer stuffed with features for live jamming and improvisation. It has been a long time in the making - perhaps you saw the prototype at Superbooth 2019 or one of the other shows it visited early last year... well now we are finally at a point where we can start take pre-orders and move forward with production of the first batch.

The production units are finished to a higher standard than the prototype, with wood and extruded aluminium construction, but they share the same clear LED matrix display and fun workflow. Take a look at our Indiegogo campaign and see what you think.

Thank you for your interest in our products. We hope that you are all staying safe in these odd times."

Vectrex vector CRT vs modular synth

Published on Nov 17, 2018 Jason Hotchkiss

"Playing with a vector CRT from a Vectrex game console using eurorack synth modules to drive the X/Y/Z lines. This just blows me away - I could keep staring at this all night!

Just a random first time jam with it so not much thought went into patching but used Befaco and Roland VCOs, Intellij uFold wave shaper, Hexinverter mutant bassdrum triggered by Music thing Turing machine, MN Maths as LFO, Befaco A*B+C/Crush Delay, Mcop 4x4 matrix mixer.

I totally credit Andrew Duff for getting me on to this - you should check out his Vectrex video synth set if you ever get a chance. It blows my random muck about right away!"

Prototype MIDI-CV box for Novation Circuit

Published on Jan 2, 2016 Jason Hotchkiss

"A quick demo of sequencing analog gear using Novation Circuit and a compact MIDI-CV box I am working on. The gear used is a CB55 drum voice board (DR55 clone from circuitbenders.co.uk), Moog Minitaur, Pittsburgh Modular System 10.

The PCB shown here is a prototype, but I hope to have them on sale soon. It has a 3.5mm MIDI input jack so a simple stereo 3.5mm cable can connect it to Circuit's MIDI output. I've been working on bus powering it, but an external supply is used for this clip.

Support two mono channels with Note CV, Gate, Velocity CV (one for each Circuit synth track), and four drum gates (one for each Circuit drum track). Also an additional drum accent gate (when any
drum triggered at max MIDI velocity) which can double as a clock out.

Built around PIC16F1825 microcontroller with MCP4728 Quad 12-bit I2C DAC with on-board charge pump used to get full CV range.

I hope to have these on sale soon on my Tindie store https://www.tindie.com/stores/hotchk155/ ... watch this space

Cheers for watching!"

ARPIE - MIDI Arpeggiator kit

Published on Mar 25, 2013 Jason Hotchkiss·118 videos

"I revised my earlier minimal MIDI arp design to be able to offer it as a DIY electronics kit.
Currently running as a fundraised on Tindie.. Check the product page on Tindie for a full description https://tindie.com/shops/hotchk155/ar..."

"ARPIE is minimal, compact, hackable MIDI arpeggiator
You may be quite familiar with what a MIDI arpeggiator is, otherwise: An arpeggiator it is a device which takes chords (From a MIDI keyboard, for example) and converts them into rapid sequences of notes, which can then be played through MIDI-compatible synthesizer hardware or software. Arpeggiation is a very common technique in electronica and chiptune music and is an excellent creative technique.

A dedicated hardware arpeggiator is usually something that might set you back a few hundred dollars. With and ARPIE you can build your own fully-featured arpeggiator for a fraction of this cost, and it is designed to be hacker-friendly to boot, utilising Arduino compatible open-source firmware and openly documented hardware design.

In your ARPIE kit you will receive two, high-quality printed circuit boards and all the components and hardware required to assemble the device, including two ready-programmed microcontrollers (Atmega328 and PIC12F1822). PP3 required for battery operation  Soldering is required to complete this kit. Surface-mounts will be pre-soldered so you will only need to fit the through-hole components.

Here is the low-down on what your ARPIE can do:
Arpeggio modes: Up, Down, Pendulum, Random Order, Manual Order
Octave span: 1 – 4 octaves
Note repeat modes: None, Lowest note, Highest note, 3 forward-1 back, 4 forward-2 back
Step length: 1 beat thru 1/128th beat including dotted and triplet time steps
Octave transpose: –2 thru +2 octaves
Chromatic transpose: –3 thru +12 semitones
Chord hold mode: on/off
16 point pattern editor allows you to apply a rhythmic pattern of mutes/rests over the arpeggio. Interactive control over repeating sequence of mutes which does not have to match the arpeggio length, allowing you to create weird and wonderful rhythmic and melodic effects.
MIDI send channel: 1-16
MIDI note velocity: 0-127 in 16 increments
MIDI note gate length: 15 increments up and tied-note mode
MIDI Synch mode: None/Master/Slave (can receive MIDI clock from IN or SYNCH sockets) Internal tempo generator for Master/standalone use
MIDI panic (all notes off) feature
MIDI thru on controllers (e.g. Mod wheel, pitch bend)
Performance possible without attached MIDI controller by selecting CMaj/CMin/C7/Cmaj7/Cmin7/Random chord insert and using transpose features to change to noother root note
Minimal, but easy-to-use control surface is based on 16 data LEDS, 16 data buttons, 13 command buttons Three standard 5-pin DIN sockets for MIDI IN, MIDI OUT, SYNC IN
Receive, Transmit, Beat Clock and Chord Hold LEDs on control surface, plus firmware diagnostic/power LEDs on main board.
Integral 9V PP3 battery holder and 9V DC socket (centre positive 2.1mm barrel)
Small size (98mm x 87mm x 35mm approx dimensions) and light weight (approx 125g without battery)

The basic ARPIE device is a minimal bare-bones design, however it is designed to be easy to customise (e.g. to install the electronics inside a case or to build an alternative control surface)

ARPIE is the latest in a line of similar arpeggiators I have created, originally inspired by the RPG-8 module in Propellerheads Reason - which was of course itself inspired by several classic hardware argeggiators... so in effect it is hardware emulating software emulating hardware!

Once the fundraiser ends I will need to get the printed circuit boards manufactured. I will endeavour to dispatch all orders received during the fundraiser within 4 weeks of the target being met.

PLEASE NOTE: In case it was not clear from the above - ARPIE is a MIDI Arpeggiator and requires separate synthesizer software or hardware to be connected to it to make sound. It does not make any sound by itself!"

Jason Hotchkiss Matrix Sequencer - First Signs of Life

Published on Feb 19, 2018

"Some happenings in the top secret lab! This is a matrix sequencer with MIDI and CV/Gate outputs. Running on a Kinetis ARM M0+ chip with a 16 x 32 LED matrix. Still very early days but starting to take shape enough for me to get excited :)"

Mods for PCLONE2 pecussion synth kit

Published on May 28, 2019 Jason Hotchkiss

"This clip demos some of the mods possible on the Sixty Four Pixels PCLONE2 analog percussion synth kit (Boss PC-2/Amdek PCK100 clone). For more info see
https://six4pix.net/product/pclone2/#...
and
https://www.tindie.com/products/hotch..."

Le Grand Strum - Strummed Chord MIDI Controller by sixty four pixels

video upload by Jason Hotchkiss

"A quick demo of the upgraded Le Strum MIDI controller. Available from six4pix.com/grandstrum"



"LE GRAND STRUM is a new version of our popular LE STRUM controller. It comes pre-assembled, in a larger format, with high quality 12mm tactile switches and gold plated strum pads.

To play MIDI notes, you hold down one of the chord buttons and touch the tip of the stylus to the strum plate. The contacts on the strum plate are mapped to notes of the chord across multiple octaves and you can create guitar-like strums, massive chord sweeps and arpeggios by moving the stylus across the strum plate.

36 chord buttons give you immediate access to 84 different chords (maj, min, dom7, maj7, min7, aug, dim for 12 root notes). You can also play sus4, add6 and add9 chord variations (with some limitations)
The 16 pad, gold plated strum plate has a tapering layout which allows fast chord strums at the top and individual note picking at the bottom.
Two new circular strum areas duplicate notes from the main pads and allow you to play continuous arpeggios by moving the stylus in a circular motion.
Multiple chord modes are offered, including stacked triads, guitar chord voicing, “drone” chords on second MIDI channel and scale mapping for playing melodies
5 pin MIDI socket for direct connection MIDI synthesizer hardware or to a computer (Using a suitable MIDI interface/USB-MIDI cable)
Long life from a 9V PP3 battery (7mA current draw typical). Battery not included
Integral enclosed acrylic base plate with leather stylus holder and acrylic side legs/hand-grips and non-slip rubber feet
Open-source hardware and firmware and hackable design – with PCB pads for attaching a second stylus and external pads or strings
Approx size – 17 x 12 x 3.5cms. Approx weight – 250g without battery
A fun, unique and expressive MIDI controller.Great for learning about chord progressions and a helpful songwriting tool
LE GRAND STRUM shares the same firmware and function with the LE STRUM DIY kit.

Please note that synthesizer hardware or software is required to make sound. LE GRAND STRUM is a MIDI controller and does not make any sound by itself!"

ARPIE 4 - Open Source MIDI Arpeggiator

Published on Feb 14, 2015 Jason Hotchkiss

"Demonstrating some of the new features of my ARPIE midi arpeggiator. If you already have one you can download the firmware update from https://github.com/hotchk155/arpie/bl...
Version 4 kits coming soon to Tindie"