There is a popular software serial library for ESP32 microcontrollers. I opened one of the examples and it was written with unfamiliar formatting. The sketch was compiled, but I could not figure out what I needed to change for my circuit. If I made the correct alterations, it did not work for my board. I struggled with the library for a while, then researched the pins on my board to see if any of them were hardware serial ports. None of them were.
I looked at other demo boards with similar specs but accessible serial ports. The ESP32 had three, and the first was always connected to an onboard USB↔serial chip for programming and debugging. Adafruit had a convenient one where the screen was mounted on the back with four buttons, making them easy to mount and use. I would have to make a new faceplate, but that seemed doable. The last advantage was that the board used an updated ESP32 chip that had a native USB, meaning that it could act as a USB-MIDI device! I did not buy the board, but if I revise this idea, I will start with this board or something similar.
I found a promising thread on Stack Overflow hinting that I could virtually move the inaccessible serial port to the pins I soldered. The first issue was that I used pin 12, the one exception explicitly called out on the page because it should not have a pull-up resistor present during startup. I ran the simple example from the site, and it compiled quickly and seemed to run, but I realized that I wired my MIDI output connector backward, which probably meant the input was backward, too.
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This disclaimer must be intact and whole. This disclaimer must be included if a project is distributed.
All information on this blog, or linked by this blog, is not to be taken as advice or solicitation. Anyone attempting to replicate, in whole or in part, is responsible for the outcome and procedure. Any loss of functionality, money, property, or similar, is the responsibility of those involved in the replication.
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This blog, including pictures and text, is copyright to Brian McEvoy.
2025-02-14
I looked at other demo boards with similar specs but accessible serial ports. The ESP32 had three, and the first was always connected to an onboard USB↔serial chip for programming and debugging. Adafruit had a convenient one where the screen was mounted on the back with four buttons, making them easy to mount and use. I would have to make a new faceplate, but that seemed doable. The last advantage was that the board used an updated ESP32 chip that had a native USB, meaning that it could act as a USB-MIDI device! I did not buy the board, but if I revise this idea, I will start with this board or something similar.
I found a promising thread on Stack Overflow hinting that I could virtually move the inaccessible serial port to the pins I soldered. The first issue was that I used pin 12, the one exception explicitly called out on the page because it should not have a pull-up resistor present during startup. I ran the simple example from the site, and it compiled quickly and seemed to run, but I realized that I wired my MIDI output connector backward, which probably meant the input was backward, too.
 |
| The LED shows that data is getting there, albeit reversed |
The rest of the posts for this project have been arranged by date.
First time here?
Completed projects from year 1
Completed projects from year 2
Completed projects from year 3
Completed projects from year 4
Completed projects from year 5
Completed projects from year 6
Completed projects from year 7
Completed projects from year 8
Completed projects from year 9
Completed projects from year 10
Completed projects from year 11
Disclaimer for http://24hourengineer.blogspot.com and 24HourEngineer.com
This disclaimer must be intact and whole. This disclaimer must be included if a project is distributed.
All information on this blog, or linked by this blog, is not to be taken as advice or solicitation. Anyone attempting to replicate, in whole or in part, is responsible for the outcome and procedure. Any loss of functionality, money, property, or similar, is the responsibility of those involved in the replication.
All digital communication regarding the email address 24hourengineer@gmail.com becomes the intellectual property of Brian McEvoy. Any information contained within these messages may be distributed or retained at the discretion of Brian McEvoy. Any email sent to this address, or any email account owned by Brian McEvoy, cannot be used to claim property or assets.
Comments to the blog may be utilized or erased at the discretion of the owner. No one posting may claim property or assets based on their post.
This blog, including pictures and text, is copyright to Brian McEvoy.
2025-02-14
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