Tindie
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 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)
For more information please click here to see LE STRUM's Wiki
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!
Pocket Omni-Chord for any MIDI synth... Ahh!! So Nice.
This is a very simple and well documented build.
A+
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!
Excellent Kit, Excellent Controller
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.
What fun! Great kit - great instructions
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.
A creative way to play your guitar samples or synth.
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
Super Idea that opens up synth playing to different dynamics
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!
Brilliant!
Rates to United States
| Shipping Rate | First item | Additional items |
|---|---|---|
| Royal Mail: Over 100g: Air Mail Standard (Not Trackable) | $8.08 | $2.90 |
| Royal Mail: Over 100g: Air Mail with Signature required (Tracking depends on destination) | $17.09 | $2.90 |
Store Owner
- Hotchk155
- 691 orders / 73 reviews
- Since Jan 29, 2013
- Ships within 1 day
- Brighton, United Kingdom
- Tindarian
