I am currently looking into a project where I can control a Neopixel strip via MIDI data from my Macbook Pro (through Ableton Live to sync up with music). However, my research has been fruitless, so I have a few questions if anyone here has had experience with this. Is it possible to accomplish this simply through serial data sent over USB, or do I need an actual MIDI interface and shield? Is there an easier way to do what I am trying to accomplish without MIDI? Would a Raspberry Pi perhaps be better for the job?
You could use a Teensy configured as a USB MIDI device (https://www.pjrc.com/teensy/td_midi.html ) and then a Teensy sketch to turn MIDI notes to FastLED commands
e.g. https://forum.pjrc.com/threads/27333-Teensy-3-1-Neopixel-MIDI-display-project-code
The Teensy will show up as a MIDI device in Live, just like any other.
@Tod_Kurt So FastLED would work identically on the Teensy as on the Arduino? I would be able to control my 4 meter NeoPixel strip equivalently?
Yep. The Teensy is basically a “better” Arduino. And Paul, the developer of Teensy, is a big contributor to the Arduino project’s codebase.
For your use, I would pick the Teensy 2 or Teensy LC.
Awesome, this looks perfect. Thanks!
@Austin_Berke , Teensy is the way to go. I have been playing with this exact setup and use a Teensy 3.2, slightly more expensive than TeensyLC at $19.89. Its super fast and easy to use.
So I purchased a Teensy and I’m running into some issues with the wiring. For some reason the lights won’t display when I have the second ground running into the teensy, but it does work when I plug it into a powered arduino (albeit with some flickering). Anyone familiar with this issue?