# Controller usb/midi MiniMoog

**URL:** <https://discourse.zynthian.org/t/controller-usb-midi-minimoog/7228>\
**Category:** Hardware\
**Tags:** diy-midi-control\
**Created:** [September 10, 2022, 4:49pm UTC](https://discourse.zynthian.org/t/controller-usb-midi-minimoog/7228 "2022-09-10T16:49:10Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 20\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Lanfranco](https://discourse.zynthian.org/user_avatar/discourse.zynthian.org/lanfranco/32/8094_2.png) [@Lanfranco](https://discourse.zynthian.org/u/Lanfranco)\
**Post date:** [September 10, 2022, 4:49pm UTC](https://discourse.zynthian.org/t/controller-usb-midi-minimoog/7228/1 "2022-09-10T16:49:10Z")

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Hello everybody.  
I hope not to get in the way of the site, but I wanted to share this project … A usb / midi controller that you can TOUCH …  
The project starts from this video on YouTube:

[![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/DXhxdsGREsU/maxresdefault.jpg "Arduino MIDI Controller: Part 1 - Potentiometers") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DXhxdsGREsU)

Today I am committed to designing a front panel that I am attaching. I used Front Designer 3.0.  
Anyone who wants to improve my work is welcome.

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**Author:** ![Lanfranco](https://discourse.zynthian.org/user_avatar/discourse.zynthian.org/lanfranco/32/8094_2.png) [@Lanfranco](https://discourse.zynthian.org/u/Lanfranco)\
**Post date:** [September 10, 2022, 4:52pm UTC](https://discourse.zynthian.org/t/controller-usb-midi-minimoog/7228/2 "2022-09-10T16:52:33Z")

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[Frontale MiniMoog.FPL](https://discourse.zynthian.org/uploads/short-url/fq1gcy3tCnwetBZfawLgJSC41tL.FPL) (141.9 KB)

[Frontale MiniMoog2.FPL](https://discourse.zynthian.org/uploads/short-url/fBwJcnIgzvDPohwEacC81I6N6T7.FPL) (110.8 KB)

This is the result…

Unfortunately I have not found a font for the waveforms which are now provisional … if anyone has them …

 ![Frontale MiniMoogMIO](https://discourse.zynthian.org/uploads/default/original/2X/3/3e1d04de2760d3d33dab464719663eb405107038.jpeg)

I tested this tool with only 4 potentiometers with Zynthian and the result was excellent.

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**Author:** ![riban](https://discourse.zynthian.org/user_avatar/discourse.zynthian.org/riban/32/2331_2.png) [@riban](https://discourse.zynthian.org/u/riban)\
**Post date:** [September 10, 2022, 5:31pm UTC](https://discourse.zynthian.org/t/controller-usb-midi-minimoog/7228/3 "2022-09-10T17:31:02Z")

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Cool, well done. A couple of observations:

- Polyphonic is misspelled
- “OUT” seems to be out of place between OSC 1 & 2 switch

Also there are like LED dots in some odd places.

If you want to interface with Raffi Synth you may wish to consider is extra parameters, e.g. it has a fourth oscillator.

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**Author:** ![Lanfranco](https://discourse.zynthian.org/user_avatar/discourse.zynthian.org/lanfranco/32/8094_2.png) [@Lanfranco](https://discourse.zynthian.org/u/Lanfranco)\
**Post date:** [September 10, 2022, 6:10pm UTC](https://discourse.zynthian.org/t/controller-usb-midi-minimoog/7228/4 "2022-09-10T18:10:40Z")

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Oops, yes, tired eyes made me wrong …  
The led points are actually the holes to fix the switches that I found interlocking … I will eliminate the holes that I did not want to put … for the third oscillator I do not think there is enough space … you could put a switch / diverter to use OSC2 as OSC 3?

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**Author:** ![riban](https://discourse.zynthian.org/user_avatar/discourse.zynthian.org/riban/32/2331_2.png) [@riban](https://discourse.zynthian.org/u/riban)\
**Post date:** [September 11, 2022, 6:46am UTC](https://discourse.zynthian.org/t/controller-usb-midi-minimoog/7228/5 "2022-09-11T06:46:19Z")

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> [@Lanfranco](#):
>
> switch / diverter to use OSC2 as OSC 3

Yes that might be nice. A kind of alt function button.

I don’t know if Raffo Synth does this but the MiniMoog has a different waveform option on OSC 3.

For waveform labels, you may need to use images rather than text. I haven’t found any typeset with waveform images. Alternatively you could use abbreviations like tri, saw, etc. Not ideal!

The “glide” label looks slightly off-centre.

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**Author:** ![Lanfranco](https://discourse.zynthian.org/user_avatar/discourse.zynthian.org/lanfranco/32/8094_2.png) [@Lanfranco](https://discourse.zynthian.org/u/Lanfranco)\
**Post date:** [September 11, 2022, 8:09am UTC](https://discourse.zynthian.org/t/controller-usb-midi-minimoog/7228/6 "2022-09-11T08:09:53Z")

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Thank you so much Riban.  
This is my second experience with this software and I’m certainly not a good designer … Then I realized that I had the wrong size … this was almost 80 cm wide … I redid almost everything … poor i My eyes…  
I attach the result with the files to modify it and the new waveforms … I assume that the lambda symbol can be replaced with the sinusoid symbol … you will tell me … Thanks  
[Frontale MiniMoog.FPL](https://discourse.zynthian.org/uploads/short-url/fNEx7dMBHoGGQPTHyHANLDq0WsQ.FPL) (164.6 KB)  
[Frontale MiniMoog2.FPL](https://discourse.zynthian.org/uploads/short-url/mRZ04dCb78cP4YX5A9w73nSL0Bh.FPL) (110.8 KB)

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**Author:** ![Lanfranco](https://discourse.zynthian.org/user_avatar/discourse.zynthian.org/lanfranco/32/8094_2.png) [@Lanfranco](https://discourse.zynthian.org/u/Lanfranco)\
**Post date:** [September 11, 2022, 8:24am UTC](https://discourse.zynthian.org/t/controller-usb-midi-minimoog/7228/7 "2022-09-11T08:24:57Z")

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Big problem also the dimensions of the switches … I found these that resemble the originals but have engraved above 0 and I … and the dimensions are excessive … 30.4 x 11.2 the hole … If someone would help me to find smaller buttons, similar and that do not cost an exaggeration I could make the front smaller again …

 ![Frontale MiniMoogProva](https://discourse.zynthian.org/uploads/default/original/2X/d/d53aa9f7c47d000c9cf23974a6e754b3f52225a5.jpeg)

Another information … on the Zynthian Raffo sinth, the range and the waveform could be controlled with a multi-position switch? because it would be more precise and more similar to the original panel …

 ![1662885375581](https://discourse.zynthian.org/uploads/default/original/2X/a/aef3c78443d7aa04053ba8e71846f1ddd6d4f70f.jpeg)

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![riban](https://discourse.zynthian.org/user_avatar/discourse.zynthian.org/riban/32/2331_2.png) [@riban](https://discourse.zynthian.org/u/riban)\
**Post date:** [September 11, 2022, 11:06am UTC](https://discourse.zynthian.org/t/controller-usb-midi-minimoog/7228/8 "2022-09-11T11:06:49Z")

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> [@Lanfranco](#):
>
> range and the waveform could be controlled with a multi-position switch?

Yes! The controller should send equally spaced values from 0 to 127 which should select the discrete values in Raffo Synth.

Have you tried Raffo Synth? I’m not 100% happy with it. I find it treats the sound as you adjust values and maybe had a less than authentic analogue emulation. Prove to yourself it is suitable before investing to much time.

I haven’t given it much time so my opinion may be unwarranted.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Lanfranco](https://discourse.zynthian.org/user_avatar/discourse.zynthian.org/lanfranco/32/8094_2.png) [@Lanfranco](https://discourse.zynthian.org/u/Lanfranco)\
**Post date:** [September 11, 2022, 11:24am UTC](https://discourse.zynthian.org/t/controller-usb-midi-minimoog/7228/9 "2022-09-11T11:24:34Z")

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Raffo sinth doesn’t drive me crazy … I can’t think of being able to use it in a concert … but I like having a small and powerful enough portable sinth … I think it would be a wonderful thing to create (maybe for a less expensive card) a real Mini Moog with also the possibility of polyphony … basically like Arturia’s MiniMoog. I believe very much in your project and I know that you will improve more and more … If one day I have a job … I will buy a complete kit … However, “my” controller will also be used for Arturia’s MiniMoog and if I can (helped by a carpenter friend), I’ll look for a 64-key master keyboard and build the complete cabinet. And if everything works out well, I’ll look for someone to screen print me on black painted metal … In short, so many if … but for Music this and more …

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Lanfranco](https://discourse.zynthian.org/user_avatar/discourse.zynthian.org/lanfranco/32/8094_2.png) [@Lanfranco](https://discourse.zynthian.org/u/Lanfranco)\
**Post date:** [September 11, 2022, 11:26am UTC](https://discourse.zynthian.org/t/controller-usb-midi-minimoog/7228/10 "2022-09-11T11:26:35Z")

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> [@riban](#):
>
> Yes! The controller should send equally spaced values from 0 to 127 which should select the discrete values in Raffo Synth.

So a commutator with resistors that modify the voltage ??

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![riban](https://discourse.zynthian.org/user_avatar/discourse.zynthian.org/riban/32/2331_2.png) [@riban](https://discourse.zynthian.org/u/riban)\
**Post date:** [September 11, 2022, 11:54am UTC](https://discourse.zynthian.org/t/controller-usb-midi-minimoog/7228/11 "2022-09-11T11:54:11Z")

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Any way you can sense the switches with the microcontroller. It is then for the microcontroller firmware to convert to the MIDI CC range. It could be done with a resistor ladder like you describe that is fed to an analogue input of the microcontroller, probably via a multiplexer or it could be switch detection via GPI, probably via a diode matrix. The resistor ladder would probably be my first choice if I could implement enough analogue inputs. I designed an [I2C interface](https://github.com/riban-bw/I2C-Hardware-Controller) with lots of switches and pots. Maybe there is some inspiration to be had there.

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**Author:** ![Lanfranco](https://discourse.zynthian.org/user_avatar/discourse.zynthian.org/lanfranco/32/8094_2.png) [@Lanfranco](https://discourse.zynthian.org/u/Lanfranco)\
**Post date:** [September 11, 2022, 12:02pm UTC](https://discourse.zynthian.org/t/controller-usb-midi-minimoog/7228/12 "2022-09-11T12:02:01Z")

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I ordered 3 pieces of these:  
Cd74hc4067 CMOS 16 channel  
I hope I have enough inputs … Otherwise I have a beautiful original Arduino Mega waiting in the drawer …

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**Author:** ![Lanfranco](https://discourse.zynthian.org/user_avatar/discourse.zynthian.org/lanfranco/32/8094_2.png) [@Lanfranco](https://discourse.zynthian.org/u/Lanfranco)\
**Post date:** [September 11, 2022, 12:54pm UTC](https://discourse.zynthian.org/t/controller-usb-midi-minimoog/7228/13 "2022-09-11T12:54:57Z")

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There are things to better align but with the new smaller switches the dimensions are now acceptable … 460 x 65mm  
[Frontale MiniMoog.FPL](https://discourse.zynthian.org/uploads/short-url/oxqo2GrdrFCeA66HDtSVSclSH8K.FPL) (940.5 KB)  
[Frontale MiniMoog2.FPL](https://discourse.zynthian.org/uploads/short-url/nZyjiT59NE9XM4bDUh8jWKFKTgv.FPL) (119.8 KB)

 ![Frontale MiniMoog](https://discourse.zynthian.org/uploads/default/original/2X/5/5e2324a4f0b94b3f629cb271c0222bcb297b4af4.jpeg)  
 ![Frontale MiniMoog2](https://discourse.zynthian.org/uploads/default/original/2X/2/2b0632f4f6f51e8b29468ddff50ff4fd82b1233d.jpeg)

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**Author:** ![riban](https://discourse.zynthian.org/user_avatar/discourse.zynthian.org/riban/32/2331_2.png) [@riban](https://discourse.zynthian.org/u/riban)\
**Post date:** [September 12, 2022, 6:30am UTC](https://discourse.zynthian.org/t/controller-usb-midi-minimoog/7228/14 "2022-09-12T06:30:27Z")

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[These blue switches](https://www.arrow.com/en/products/a18kh-cg/nkk-switches) look good at a reasonable price. You may be able to find similar orange switches. I haven’t found any yet

Digikey do some, not quite the exact shade but [blue](https://www.digikey.com/en/products/detail/cw-industries/GR5-326-0890/4425737) and [orange(ish)](https://www.digikey.com/en/products/detail/cw-industries/GR5-326-0891/4425738).

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Lanfranco](https://discourse.zynthian.org/user_avatar/discourse.zynthian.org/lanfranco/32/8094_2.png) [@Lanfranco](https://discourse.zynthian.org/u/Lanfranco)\
**Post date:** [September 12, 2022, 8:08am UTC](https://discourse.zynthian.org/t/controller-usb-midi-minimoog/7228/15 "2022-09-12T08:08:03Z")

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Beautiful … thanks.  
for now he will put some more “modern” switches to test everything … If the result is good then he will order them. A friend who uses the laser will engrave me a plywood board … but first I will do some assembly tests with a printed sheet of paper. If everything works (by the way, the controller also works with Arturia’s MiniMoog), then I proceed … Thanks

P.S.  
in the previous photo there is an extra potentiometer in the MAIN OUTPUT window … I have already solved it

 ![Frontale MiniMoog Intero](https://discourse.zynthian.org/uploads/default/original/2X/e/e53a93895a5ebd02b186d4b0b472e9796191b9ee.jpeg)

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![riban](https://discourse.zynthian.org/user_avatar/discourse.zynthian.org/riban/32/2331_2.png) [@riban](https://discourse.zynthian.org/u/riban)\
**Post date:** [September 12, 2022, 9:08am UTC](https://discourse.zynthian.org/t/controller-usb-midi-minimoog/7228/16 "2022-09-12T09:08:13Z")

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The scales may be improved by limiting to 270° rather than 360°.

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**Author:** ![Lanfranco](https://discourse.zynthian.org/user_avatar/discourse.zynthian.org/lanfranco/32/8094_2.png) [@Lanfranco](https://discourse.zynthian.org/u/Lanfranco)\
**Post date:** [September 12, 2022, 9:12am UTC](https://discourse.zynthian.org/t/controller-usb-midi-minimoog/7228/17 "2022-09-12T09:12:43Z")

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I look at the software to see how it’s done … I don’t know much about it, but it shouldn’t be a problem.

many thanks Riban

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![riban](https://discourse.zynthian.org/user_avatar/discourse.zynthian.org/riban/32/2331_2.png) [@riban](https://discourse.zynthian.org/u/riban)\
**Post date:** [September 12, 2022, 9:14am UTC](https://discourse.zynthian.org/t/controller-usb-midi-minimoog/7228/18 "2022-09-12T09:14:27Z")

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I can’t use FPE because it is not available for linux on arm and that is the platform I have with me here (on my holiday).

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Lanfranco](https://discourse.zynthian.org/user_avatar/discourse.zynthian.org/lanfranco/32/8094_2.png) [@Lanfranco](https://discourse.zynthian.org/u/Lanfranco)\
**Post date:** [September 12, 2022, 9:20am UTC](https://discourse.zynthian.org/t/controller-usb-midi-minimoog/7228/19 "2022-09-12T09:20:58Z")

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Enjoy the holiday!!!  
Thank you for the advice … I solved it … it wasn’t difficult … 🙂

 ![Immagine](https://discourse.zynthian.org/uploads/default/original/2X/c/cb95571c01a1b2be0c0ec2d3c92cacdf003b0da6.jpeg)

 ![Frontale MiniMoog Intero](https://discourse.zynthian.org/uploads/default/original/2X/e/edec2562bfff1df0fdfa3e4664e14d0f9f9e49cb.jpeg)

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![riban](https://discourse.zynthian.org/user_avatar/discourse.zynthian.org/riban/32/2331_2.png) [@riban](https://discourse.zynthian.org/u/riban)\
**Post date:** [September 12, 2022, 11:43am UTC](https://discourse.zynthian.org/t/controller-usb-midi-minimoog/7228/20 "2022-09-12T11:43:21Z")

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It looks like different arcs for different controls, e.g. OSC2 & 3 look more than 270 whilst Loudness Contour looks less.

Remember that some switches may be 3 position.

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