KiCad - MIDI controller

MIDI-controller-DIY

A DIY project for a MIDI controller designed to control lights, featuring knobs, faders, and buttons.

The project is designed to manage stage lighting systems with up to 10 faders, including a master one, 20 keyboard keys, 10 potards, and 3 rotary encoders.

The goal is to not pay hundreds of dollars for an already existing product, and learn! MIDI controller DIY is also intended to be a hardware platform for a future open-source lighting-control system.

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Features

• 20 usable keyboard keys
• 10 faders
• 10 potards
• 3 rotary encoders
• USB-C Output
• Compatibility with all lighting control systems via MIDI
• You can also use it as an instrument or anything else
• Compact and portable design
• Designed for DIY assembly and reproduction
• Low-cost hardware

And the design is made to be upgradable/updatable easily if necessary, so it will be able to last over time.

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Architecture

The ESP32-S3 is the central processor of the system. It handles USB-C communication and MIDI processing. To connect the ESP32 with all of the 43 components, there are 2 MUX units at the right of the box. 43 buttons, faders, etc., are fully customizable and you can use them as you want.

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Hardware and BOM

The current design uses the following main components:

The complete component list is available in BOM.csv.

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Processing and memory

I selected the ESP32-S3 because the project requires a bit of processing power for MIDI handling, though not a huge amount. That’s why it’s better suited for the task than a Raspberry Pi.

It is responsible for:

• MIDI processing
• USB-C Output
• 43 component inputs

All the data, saves, and other settings are stored in the internal storage system of the ESP32.

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MIDI

The MIDI controller is designed to support lighting control software like grandMA onPC, QLC+, or others via standard MIDI remote commands.

Each hardware input reads multiple analog faders, push buttons, and encoders through multiplexers or direct GPIO pins on the ESP32.

Standard USB-MIDI and serial communication protocols are used, handled by the hardware USB/UART interfaces on the microcontroller.

The MIDI data rate operates at standard MIDI baud rates or high-speed USB-MIDI.

For example, moving a physical fader transmits a Control Change (CC) message to precisely control lighting playback levels in software.

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Components and enclosure

There is a PCB in this project because it's required. Here are all the components included:

• ESP32-S3 x1
• MUX CD4067BE in DIP-24 x2
• Kailh Choc V1 1350 x20
• RV09 B10K 9 mm vertical x10
• EC11 through-hole with push-button x3
• faders SC6021N B10K x10

Here's a screenshot of the PCB with some of the components:

The PCB file is here. And you can modify it using KiCad with this folder.

The case is 283mm x 250mm x 60mm, and is designed to perfectly house all components, be easy to install, not take up much space, and be durable.

Here's a look at it:

Assembly file: assembly-Midi-controller-DIY.step
Print file: to print

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Estimated cost

The current estimate is $85.09 of components. This does not include assembly, enclosure parts, future design changes, or the print filament that I already have.

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Project journal

The development process is documented in JOURNAL.md.

It includes in-depth design, configuration, part of the code, enclosure design, BOM creation, and the problems encountered during development.

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Inspiration and credits

The MIDI Controller DIY project was inspired by the GrandMa Wing.

The MIDI Controller DIY is an independent design developed from this inspiration.

Credits:

• GrandMa Wing — inspiration for the project concept and overall goal of creating an affordable MIDI interface.
• GrabCAD community — some 3D component models were used as reference geometry for the CAD assembly. The original authors retain ownership of their respective models:
  • ESP32-S3
  • MUX CD4067BE in DIP-24
  • Kailh Choc V1 1350
  • RV09 B10K 9 mm vertical
  • EC11 through-hole with push-button
  • faders SC1009G B10K