This project started out as a classroom exercise and grew into a versatile MIDI keyboard that I use daily in the studio for various recording projects.
The first version was 12 keys and a single touch sensor. The second version expanded to 24 keys and the third to 48 keys and I gave it the name cascade 48 because of the enclosure design looking a bit like a waterfall.
After extra keys I then added an oled menu interface and then a 6 foot pedal system to add even greater midi control.
I’ve taught students ranging from 4th graders to adults how to build their own keyboards and I’ve used my keyboards on most of my music albums for the sleeplesswaves project.
midi touch keyboard 1
recording with the midi touch keyboard
midi touch keyboard 2
two 4th grade student finished keyboards
midi touch keyboard 3
student soldering wires to his keyboard keys
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student wiring the connections to the microcontroller
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midi touch 24 keyboard first design before navigation menus
midi touch keyboard 6
soldering the wires to the keys
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detail of the enclosure being build and programmed
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detail view of the microcontroller mount area
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testing the keyboard before putting together the enclosure
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close up of the enclosure graphics
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the finished midi touch 24 keyboard
midi touch keyboard 12
teaching an adult midi touch keyboard class
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supplies to build the keyboard
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building the keyboard
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a student shows their progress
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students hard at work
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a student playing their finished keyboard
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laser cut enclosure pieces for the cascade 48 model
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building the cascade 48
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wiring the cascade 48 circuitry
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detail view of the wiring
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view of the backside of the top led interface circuitry
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close up view of the oled menu system wiring
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back view with the six foot pedal jacks
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3D printed foot pedal parts
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a finished foot pedal
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all the foot pedals lined up
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assembling the whole keyboard
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the finished cascade 48 midi touch keyboard