Stradex1 MIDI Violin
Brady Y. Lin's instrument plays like an augmented MIDI violin using a linear resistor, four force-sensitive keys, and three potentiometers.
The classic violin is an amazing instrument, capable of generating a wide range of tones from upbeat to sad, and everywhere in between. Brady Y. Lin, however, wasn’t satisfied with just being able to play the analog violin, and built his own MIDI version: the Stradex1.
The device takes the general form of a small stringed instrument that's held like a guitar, or perhaps a ukulele given the scale. Four “string” buttons are played with the right hand, which each feature both a tactile button and a force-sensitive resistor. This allows them to control the instruments’s volume, velocity, and articulation.
The left hand moves up and down the neck, setting the pitch via a 15-bit analog position sensor, giving it 32,768 reading possibilities. This means that users can smoothly slide notes up and down for some really cool effects. A trio of potentiometers rounds out its analog input capabilities.
Best of all, the Stradex1 implements MIDI as its output method. So when paired with a computer or digital audio workstation (DAW), it can sound like any instrument that you choose!
The Stradex1 is open source, and uses a Raspberry Pi Pico 2 for control and interfacing, along with a pair of ADS1115 ADCs to read analog inputs.
Files are available on GitHub if you want to build your own, though Lin is giving one away if and when he hits 1000 YouTube subscribers, so why not help him (and maybe even yourself) out via the video below: