After more than a year of work, developers have released OpenDeck firmware v5, a major update to the open-source platform for creating custom MIDI controllers.
OpenDeck is a modular firmware, running on various development boards, that can be used to create complete MIDI controllers. The platform uses class-compliant USB MIDI, which makes it compatible with any MIDI software, on any OS.
OpenDeck supports the following components:
- Buttons
- Encoders
- LEDs (single color or RGB)
- Potentiometers
- FSRs (force-sensitive resistors)
- LCD/OLED displays
- Touchscreen displays (Nextion and Viewtech/Stone)
The official OpenDeck board uses STM32F405 MCU and is currently under production. The firmware also runs on Arduino Mega2560, Teensy++ 2.0 and STM32F4 Discovery development boards.
Opendeck is configured using a web interface, above. The interface supports the entire configuration of the device, backup and restore, firmware updates and more.
OpenDeck v5 is available now via Github.
Ok, but still no support to send sys-ex messages to build custom controller for some classic hardware synths (Roland JV, Yamaha DX etc). Pity. 🙁
Not true – custom SysEx messages are supported since v5. I’ve written about it in the latest blog post: https://shanteacontrols.com/2020/10/12/new-firmware-new-boards-new-controllers/
Oh, thanks for correcting me, I missed the mention about this new feature! 🙂 It looks interesting if I can write some sys-ex string pattern with knob value and appropriate checksum for my Roland or Yamaha synths.
Oh, thanks for correcting me, I missed the mention about this new feature! 🙂 It looks interesting if it means I can write some sys-ex string pattern to incorporate knob value and appropriate checksum as Roland or Yamaha synths require.
Tried to order the opendeck board, hoping they have it back in stock soon.
Boards are now available!
This is nice news both for users of their custom board and for people making other devices wanting an open source and/or browser-based configuration system.
LividInstruments also produce a similar ‘MIDI Brain’
(Old post) – https://www.synthtopia.com/content/tag/midi-brain/
Brain V2 / Brain Jr – http://lividinstruments.com/products/builder/
Livid Instruments also produce a similar device – their ‘MIDI Brain’:
http://lividinstruments.com/products/builder/