Tindie

LE STRUM - MIDI Strummed Chord Controller Kit

(33 Reviews)

An unique MIDI control surface that functions something like a cross between a Stylophone and an Omnichord.

Designed by Sixty Four Pixels, Ships from United Kingdom

LE STRUM - MIDI Strummed Chord Controller Kit 1

LE STRUM - MIDI Strummed Chord Controller Kit 2

LE STRUM - MIDI Strummed Chord Controller Kit 3

LE STRUM - MIDI Strummed Chord Controller Kit 4

LE STRUM - MIDI Strummed Chord Controller Kit 5

An unique MIDI control surface that functions something like a cross between a Stylophone and an Omnichord.

Voici LE STRUM! Connect LE STRUM to your MIDI synthesizer or computer running synth software, hold down a combination of buttons to select a chord, then use the "stylus" to play MIDI notes by touch...

Voici LE STRUM!

Connect LE STRUM to your MIDI synthesizer or computer running synth software, hold down a combination of buttons to select a chord, then use the "stylus" to play MIDI notes by touching the contact pads on the top right of the board. As the name suggests, you can "strum" across chords using the stylus, providing an unique and expressive MIDI controller.

LE STRUM's 36 chord buttons give you immediate access to 84 different chords (maj, min, dom7, maj7, min7, aug, dim for 12 root notes). You can also play sus4, add6 and add9 chord variations (with some limitations). It is great for learning about chord progressions and can be a helpful songwriting tool

LE STRUM has a special 6 string guitar mode, which knows basic major, minor and seven open chord fingerings for guitar. It can be used to lay down strummed guitar MIDI tracks without a MIDI guitar, and in a more convincing way that you could get from a keyboard. It's more than a toy, yessiree!

LE STRUM is a unique and fun controller which works great with huge pads and delay effects to create swirls of lush chordy goodness by simply pressing a few buttons. Turn on, tune in, strum out. You could even introduce LE STRUM to cousin ARPIE for some chord arpeggiation fun!

LE STRUM has several performance modes which are accessed by holding the MODE button while pressing one of the top row of chord buttons:

Mode+C : Basic mode - Stacked triads mapped across all 16 pads
Mode+D : Guitar strum mode - 6-string guitar open chords used (maj/min/7)
Mode+E : Guitar sustain mode - as above, but chord held after buttons released
Mode+F : Organ buttons - As Basic mode but chord triad plays on MIDI channel 2 as soon as button is pressed
Mode+G : Organ buttons with additions - as above but with sus4/add6/add9 options
Mode+A : Organ buttons with retrig - as above but chord buttons retrigger
Mode+B : Load User Patch
Mode+Bm : Save User Patch
Mode+B7 : MIDI Panic - All notes off
Mode+Strum Pad: Set MIDI velocity (16 levels)

User patch can combine settings for: play on make/break, damp on make/break, guitar voicing /stacked triads, additional guitar octave, enable added 4/6/9 notes, enable guitar chord bass notes, keep chord selection after chord button release, common note sustain on chord change, map chromatic/diatonic/pentatonic scale to pads, enable organ buttons on midi channel 2

Specifications

Kit contains PCB and all components and hardware required to build LE STRUM
Soldering is needed to assemble the kit
A PP3 battery is required (not included)
Integrated ON/OFF switch and power LED
4mm banana plug stylus with keepy-hole in PCB
Designed for hackability (e.g. solder wires to the provided holes on the pads to make proper "strings" to pluck)
Transmits on MIDI Channel 1 for stylus activity and MIDI Channel 2 for Chord Buttons.
Output is to a standard MIDI 5-pin DIN socket.
Size 98mm x 75mm x 45mm (incl MIDI socket)
Weight approx 120g with battery
OPEN SOURCE hardware design
OPEN SOURCE firmware for PIC16F1825 microcontroller.
Firmware source code (SourceBoost C) and compiled HEX images available on GitHub (A PICKit2 or equivalent programmer is required if you want to load alternative or updated firmware on to the chip)

An optional stand is available.

For more information please see here

Please note that synthesizer hardware or software is required to make sound. LE STRUM is a MIDI controller and does not make any sound by itself!

Review Breakdown

Average Ratings

Product: (4.00)

Documentation: (4.00)

Shipping: (4.00)

Communication: (4.00)

Mike | June 7, 2018

Great product

So much fun, easy to build, and a really useful tool in the studio. this allows me to create complex midi patterns that would take ages to program, now i can have guitar like sounds in seconds, very cool.

Guy | May 16, 2018

Fun Midi Controller

Nice easy build with good instructions.
The device is great fun to play. Sound great plugged into an arpeggiator, endless combinations!

Ryan | Jan. 22, 2018

Amazing little device! I love it!

This little leStrum is great, I use it all the time to inject some spontaneity into midi sequences.
Really fun and easy to use. Lots of options and modes so it never gets old.
I have bought several items from Hotchk155.
Such as,
The Arpie with the sync board, great with syncing timing with the volca series by Korg. Also sounds great with the LeStrum.
The Midi Hub, awesome at keeping odd midi devices in bpm sync and great for jam sessions.
And I just ordered the Bananna Split midi expander to send midi sequences to 6 separate devices all controlled from my Synthstrom Deluge.

Can’t say enough good things, makes my life a lot easier!
Thanks again!

Kevin | Dec. 8, 2017

I'm so Happy with my first DIY project Le Strum

Hotchk155 is The Man. Your Awesome Dude. First DIY project and it worked first try. This is a Revolutionary way to play music. I love midi instruments like this one. Truly Unique. Had to order another one.

Bernard | March 6, 2017

Fun build, lovely instrument

What a joy this thing is... Build was straightforward thanks to the detailed instructions. Nice to see a few extra parts just in case. Black PCB is splendid, layout clean and elegant.
Then you plug it in and marvel at the potential of the little instrument. It doesn't skip a beat and offers tons of performance options.
Absolutely recommended if you're looking for yet another way to play your synths.

Rik | Sept. 19, 2016

Deserves more limelight

This little gizmo, just wow!
Well laid out pcb, very good docs, doozy to solder.... and it work brilliantly too!

This thing rocks, it rolls, it arpeggiates and meanders, it begs to be modded, it pleads to be experimented with, brilliant little giant.

Sean | Sept. 1, 2016

Le Strum is awesome!

This kit went together very well. I studied electrical engineering in school, but that knowledge is unnecessary to build this kit. The instructions are very thorough and include pictures to ensure that the polarized components are oriented correctly. The PCB quality is one of best I have seen in a kit after constructing a variety of projects. I would recommend a good soldering iron, as with any project like this, to make sure that the solder flows easily and quickly. The unit functioned properly on the first power-up and did not require any debugging or calibration to get started. the case could be improved to include a bottom panel and rubber feet like those on the Arpie, but for the price point, it's hard to be dissatisfied.

Simon | Aug. 22, 2016

Cool Product I Liked It

Enjoyed the product the time i've had to use it.

I think i would get more out of it if the documentation was more helpful and maybe the power of some more videos would definitely do justice.

The position of the battery could be improved. Nevertheless a happy purchase ☺

Saulo | Aug. 22, 2016

Amazing product and documentation

It was a pleasure to build, really well documented with images and well written instructions , fast shipping and good packing. And the product works like a charm. Perfect. Thanks a lot!

Mathias | July 25, 2016

Crazy controller

I Made it \o/
So, 1st it's very easy to build it , the PCB is nicelly made and looks so pretty :)

It took something like one hour for all the soldering work if you know how to do it :)

When i've plugged it on my live configuration it was so awesome !! All the fonction are usefull !

Le Strum add so much valu to your live style (in my case ;) )

Thx so much for your création :D

Paul | June 27, 2016

Great little kit with clear construction details (online)

Le strum can be expanded to utilise your own control surface and is also hackable,I enjoyed building it and also using it,well done.

Godric | June 12, 2016

More fun than one has a right to expect from a single PCB

This is just total fun. Fun to build, fun to play. Everyone who has seen it has just wanted a go and said how cool it is. I am looking forward to customising it a little and integrating it into my rig. Great job!

David | May 24, 2016

This thing is insanely cool.

I'm a big fan of autoharps and omnichord instruments, so I was thrilled to find out that this kit exists. Now that I've assembled it. I use it for songwriting. I especially like all of the alternate chords and settings that you can choose. Really, really well-conceived.

This also has the distinction of being the first electronics kit I've ever assembled that actually worked on the first try. I'm not very good at soldering, so it took me about six hours of work to put this kit together. A faster, better worker (who didn't ruin his soldering iron in the middle of the project like I did) could probably do it in two or three.

Tim | April 30, 2016

Crackin' piece of kit. Excellent work sir.

Straightforward build, great fun to use.

Docs were excellent, only (very) minor criticism is that they say the build guide etc is on Github, but it isn't -- Github has a _link_ to the docs site. Sure, clicking through isn't any effort, but if the github account disappeared for whatever reason, I wouldn't be able to find the docs (they also aren't easily findable via google).

Some standard add-ons (as separate products) might be a good addition also, like a standard case, or a larger strum board. I would guess most people would plump for a standard case (myself included), for example, rather than building their own.

Niklas | March 21, 2016

Amazing little thing!

Finnaly got round to build this. Straight forward build with good instructions. And what an amazing product! BRAVO!!

Aleksey | Feb. 26, 2016

Amazing thing!

Now i have this little chord monster for my synth collection! work fine, i already start to think about mini keyboard for live impro with one hand)

Graham | Feb. 16, 2016

Yes! Very pleased!

This is easy to build and amazing fun to play with. Get one now. NOW! My neighbours are under the impression I'm now amazing at keyboards and yours can too. Now.

Matej | Dec. 1, 2015

Ultra useful midi tool, simple with great results

I already have Arpie so I finally decided to buy myself Le Strum as well. It works perfectly as I expected with my JX8P, furthermore, it surprised me that I can use LS for sending MIDI to Arpie with great results .

Dennis | Oct. 23, 2015

Great kit

Was easy to assemble. Clear instructions and parts fit well. Worked first time around. Would highly recommend.

N | Sept. 4, 2015

A1 kits from Hotchk155

I've now bought and constructed a number of products from hotchk155. I cant fault the quality of the components, the construction of the pcbs or the documentation. I'd recommend le Strum and Arpie to anyone thats interested. Easily constructed they do just what appears in the tindie videos

Paul | July 29, 2015

Great instrument!

I've got very little electronics experience - the only other kit I've attempted was a Drawdio. This is a bit more involved! As it turns out, it was easy to put together - it was up and running as soon as I powered it up and plugged in a synth (a Waldorf Streichfett). I'd managed to bend one of the IC pins so the midi indicator LED wasn't working, but a quick fiddle and I was up and running. Le Strum was made for the Streichfett - it's got huge polyphony and a huge sound - both together are amazing!!!
I'm already thinking about making a bigger, more ergonomic case for it and using real strings.
All in all, a fantastic kit Highly recommended.

Cameron | Feb. 22, 2015

Pocket Omni-Chord for any MIDI synth... Ahh!! So Nice.

Even iPad obsessed children take a break to give it a go. Does exactly what it needs to do... If you want to strum your synthetic sounds and play like an angel, you need LeStrum.

This is a very simple and well documented build.

Pablo | July 3, 2014

A+

The person(s) who designed and packaged this did it with care and love for what he/she does. Feels great to receive this.
Small package (cheap shipping), easy to solder, great instructions, AWESOME wiki (further hacks are encouraged). Comes with printed intuitive manual so you can get LE Strumming right away!

Polo Jonatan | Feb. 25, 2014

Easy to build

Everything is ready for build, manual is easy to understand

Andy | Jan. 16, 2014

Awesome

Just got my Le Strum today very straightforward build looking forward to having a proper explore of it . But so far looks to be a brilliant piece of kit

Patrick | Jan. 8, 2014

Excellent Kit, Excellent Controller

I'm not experienced at soldering but having done one project I found no problems with this.

The finished kit is sturdy, very small and very cute. As a controller it is like nothing else out there and is a lot of fun to use.

Ben | Dec. 23, 2013

What fun! Great kit - great instructions

This was a very well put-together kit. Everything was included (even a few extras of this and that) and the kit went together relatively quickly. I would say that I'm an intermediate-level assembler of soldered kits and this took me about 1.5 hours to put together. You will need an iron with a fine point, but that's a given with this type of assembly.

Once assembled the controller works flawlessly. I haven't had a chance to use it very much yet - I just connected the DIN-out to a midi to USB interface and ran that to GarageBand on my MB Pro. The number of preset settings packed into the device is really impressive and I've been having a lot of fun with the various guitar modes.

Outstanding! Thanks for taking the time to create and share this.

Mark | Dec. 10, 2013

A creative way to play your guitar samples or synth.

A nice kit that works.
I originally bought this because I wanted to strum my guitar samples - which it does very well.
Instructions are clear and straightforward and it's easy to put together.
Team this up with your favourite sample player or synth and you can add a new creative dimension to your tracks.
Looking forward to modding it a bit and experimenting.
Will definitely be using it in my next album.
marksmusicaustralia.com

Basilio N. | Nov. 26, 2013

Super Idea that opens up synth playing to different dynamics

Excellent idea and great Midi implementation!

It could use some ergonomics tweaking (I know it has been done this way to save on PCB costs) because it is not the best for playing too frantically, but it sounds super!

Using a 6 voice poly synth, some distortion and delay, it sounds killer. The functions and presets are quite useful, and allow for a wide variety of playing.

Kit was well packed and instructions clear and precise. It took about an hour and a half in experienced hands, but anybody with patience and solder can do it!

Clay | Aug. 11, 2013

Whats not to like?

Great instructions, quality components and a unique design add up to a fantastic kit!

Daniel | Aug. 11, 2013

Brilliant!

Easy to build (thanks to the bullet proof instructions) and great fun to play!!! The firmware covers many options and makes it easy to adjust LE STRUM to your own way of strumming. It was such a pleasant surprise to find a "Toggle strum direction" after discussing it with Jason... I can't recommend this kit and its creator enough. Off to strum all night now!

Chris | July 30, 2013

good on ya!

Works like a charm, unlike any midi controller i've used before. easy to build and good looking boards.

cheers! Review Image

Arnaud | July 30, 2013

Very funy

The kit is easy to build. There are more components than you need so you can replace a component that you have bad soldered.
Le Strum is very funy to play with the synth of your choice. I use it with a Shruthi and it's great.

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