Michael Compton's Midina Is an Impressive Python-Powered Raspberry Pi MIDI Sequencer
Built under a source-available license, this project is for the musician in the mood for something a little out of the ordinary.
Maker and musician Michael Compton has designed a Raspberry Pi-powered Python-programmed linear MIDI sequencer, built with live electronic music performances in mind: the Midina.
"Midina is an open source sequencer born from a passion for electronic music and technology, designed to be powerful and accessible," Compton claims of his creation. "Midina stands out with its ability to record pitch bends, aftertouch, and MIDI CCs, providing you with a versatile and expressive sequencer."
"There are easy ways to trigger program changes automatically or manually," Compton continues. "The linear sequencer within each song provides a clear block order, designed to help you make music that moves. It supports extended track and block lengths, enabling different creative methods of song building to be explored. Additionally, for those who enjoy a traditional approach, Midina offers robust step sequencer options that will only get better with time."
The Midina hardware itself isn't designed to generate any sound; instead, it records and sequences MIDI messages from external devices. It holds 128 "Songs," broken down into 16 "Blocks" each of which has 16 "Tracks." Everything is controlled using a 5" AMOLED touchscreen display and eight push-switch rotary encoders connected to a Raspberry Pi 5 single-board computer — while, for those who prefer more tactility, a larger variant is available with 30 Cherry MX-style mechanical keyswitches with RGB lighting for feedback.
Inside the acrylic-and-aluminum case is the Raspberry Pi, which runs the Midina Python script itself, and a Teensy microcontroller acting as a dedicated clock generator. The source for both the Python program and the Teensy's firmware has been made available under a custom permissive license — and while not technically a true open source project, Compton has expressed interest in seeing community contributions. "If you make significant improvements," he promises, "you can earn a free Midina!"
More information on the project is available on Compton's website, along with source code downloads; a Kickstarter campaign for ready-to-run Midina hardware is now open, with pricing starting at $399 for the Midina Touch and hardware delivery expected in November this year.