Setting Up Raspberry Pi for MIDI

This guide demonstrates how to configure a Raspberry Pi as an OS-discoverable MIDI I/O device. It includes steps for hardware assembly, software setup, and Python programming examples for MIDI data manipulation.

Updated September 11, 2021, this guide addresses issues with the latest Raspberry Pi OS versions.

What we need

• Raspberry Pi A+/B+/2/3B/3B+/4B
• MIDI Board for Raspberry Pi
• A MicroSD Card
• Nylon M2.5 Screws and Standoffs

Assembly

Assemble the Raspberry Pi and MIDI Board using the provided nylon screws and standoffs.

First Time Setup & Installation

Initial setup requires a screen and keyboard. Subsequent access can be via SSH.

Installation Steps

Update/Upgrade

Perform system updates using instructions from: raspberrypi.org.

Network Configuration (Optional)

Configure a static IP address for reliable SSH access and set up network security for automatic connection. Details available at: modmypi.com and raspberrypi.org.

Set the Pi Up as a USB OTG Gadget

Configure the Raspberry Pi to act as a USB OTG gadget by modifying system files (/boot/config.txt, /etc/modules) and creating a configuration script for MIDI functionality.

Python Libraries & MIDI Control

Install Python Libraries

Install necessary Python libraries like mido and rtmidi for MIDI handling. Instructions are provided for both Python 2.x and 3.x.

MIDO Library

Mido is an easy-to-use library for MIDI data. It requires the rt-midi backend. Commands for installation and a basic Python check are included.

PIGPIO Library

The pigpio library is used for interfacing with Raspberry Pi GPIO pins, offering stability and flexibility. Installation instructions are available at: abyz.me.uk.

Python Examples

The guide provides several Python examples demonstrating:

• Controlling GPIO with MIDI note data.
• Mapping MIDI pitch and mod wheels to PWM output.
• Sending MIDI data from GPIO events.
• Playback of MIDI files.