Reader Olivier Ozoux shared this hands-on demo of the Le Strum MIDI controller.
The Le Strum is a unique MIDI controller, that’s sort of like the love child of an Omnichord & a Stylophone, combining chord functions with stylus performance.
“Le Strum was one of my first DIY project,” he notes, “and I remember how happy I was that the little LED turned on and it sent Midi signals after I finished soldering all these little part together.”
The Le Strum is available for US $59, or as a bare-bones DIY project for $19.
GREAT VIDEO, Olivier! It’s informative, mercifully concise, and very entertaining!
What a cool lil device! The strum field is a bit tiny, but given the nature of this device, it makes sense.
Does this box let you program the chords? Or is that hardwired with the device? I suppose the chords could be remapped externally.
I bought a T.Chordstrum kit on tindie a while back and it was very fun, easy to assemble, and pretty similar to the Le Strum. Recommended!
Perhaps this will be released as a built instrument rather than a kit in the future. I still have a non-functional Arpie sitting on a shelf because I apparently suck at soldering and was never able to figure out what’s wrong with it.
“The Le Strum is available for US $59, or as a bare-bones DIY project for $19.”
It is still a kit. The bare bones DIY version has you sourcing most of the components whereas for $59 you get everything you need to solder one together minus the soldering gun.
I bought a pre-assembled one (because I also lack these skills) and a nice stand for it from Tindie a few years ago, but I see that pre-assembled units are no longer on offer…that’s too bad…, because it’s a very nice device/controller!
Enjoyed the video, including the baton-tapping conductor at the start 😀
Looks like it would make a good app!
Forgive my ignorance but how do I pair Le Strum to a midi instrument? I’m assuming it’s not plug and play as I have plugged but it isn’t playing.