EPE Online PIC-Based MIDI Handbells Construction Project

	PIC-Based MIDI Handbells Approx construction cost US$38

	This project was primarily designed with children in mind, and was actually produced in response to a request from a reader who required the gadget for a group of handicapped children. However, it is capable of providing hours of fun for "children" of all ages! It could be regarded as a modern equivalent to a set of handbells. It is really a form of MIDI interface, and is incapable of making any sound without the aid of a MIDI equipped synthesizer, sound sampler, or other MIDI instrument. The output of the interface connects to the MIDI input of the instrument, which is set to produce a bell sound or any other sound you like. Up to 11 pushbutton switches can be connected to the inputs of the interface. The general idea is for each player to control one or two pushbutton switches. By operating the switches in the correct sequence and with the correct timing the desired tune can be produced. In other words, the melody is played in much the same way that traditional handbell players would produce it. A unit of this type is potentially very complex, but the use of a PIC processor in this design minimizes the amount of hardware required. In fact, only a handful of components plus the pushbutton switches are required. The circuit is powered from a 4.5V battery, which has an extremely long operating life due to the low current consumption of the interface. The unit should be usable with any MIDI equipped musical instrument, and it connects to the instrument via a standard MIDI cable. Any modern MIDI equipped instrument should be polyphonic, and so is this interface. It should therefore be possible to play several notes at once if desired. More details on this construction project can be found in the May 1999 issue of EPE Online, the world's first web-delivered electronics and computing hobbyist magazine. PURCHASE this issue or peruse more Projects
Copyright & Contact Info