[LAU] Using an Arduino as a MIDI device

[Hanspeter Portner]

On 30.11.2016 18:32, Bill Purvis wrote:
> Anyone on the list know how to persuade an Arduino to look like a MIDI device?
> 
> I've got it generating MIDI signals via a MIDI breakout unit, but want to
> connect direct
> to my PC using the USB. I've got it sending what appear to be valid MIDI messages to
> /dev/ttyUSB1, but qjackctl doesn't see it as a midi device so it can't connect it.
> 
> Any useful information would be welcome.

Arduino by default enumerates its USB port as a virtual serial line (that's why
your device is named /dev/tty*). In order to automatically enumerate its USB
port as MIDI, you need a board with a processor that features an on-chip USB
controller so it can be reprogrammed to also enumerate as USB MIDI [1].

Alternatively, for Arduinos without on-chip USB, you can simply send your MIDI
via the virtual serial line and run a ttyMIDI daemon on your receiving host
which will mediate between serial line and ALSA MIDI [2].

[1] https://www.arduino.cc/en/Reference/MIDIUSB
[2] https://launchpad.net/ttymidi