With the arrival of microcontrollers and cheap sound output components, what passes as youngsters’ music toys at this time may typically be thought-about respectable musical devices in their very own proper. In truth, with the precise expertise, one may probably play a formidable tune on a inventory Cyber Cat MIDI keyboard. Nevertheless, merely taking part in it in its inventory format wasn’t adequate for maker John Park. He as a substitute turned it right into a MIDI gadget, utilizing an RP2040-based Kee Boar driver.
Outcomes are proven within the video beneath. The hacking course of for such a tool is pretty simple conceptually, although it definitely has its challenges in execution. Right here Park intercepts keyboard matrix inputs with the Kee Boar, which may then move alongside the corresponding MIDI messages to a digital instrument. In concept this form of setup needs to be usable with any customary MIDI gadget, however right here he’s utilizing with an iPad with the assistance of an iOS Lightning to USB OTG cable adapter.
Along with the Kee Boar, Park additionally added an accelerometer to what was previously an ice cream cone microphone, utilizing it as a gesture-based enter. As a of entirety, the Cat keyboard was painted black, maybe to indicate how cool it now’s.
When you could or could not have a Cyber Cat to mod, the ideas offered right here needs to be relevant to modding a variety of digital units, musical or not. Perhaps you may have a tool mendacity round that is simply asking for an improve, or maybe you will come throughout one quickly!
