Any MIDI Solenoids on the market?

[ken long]

I'm looking for a MIDI-controlled, velocity sensitive solenoid like thishttps://efundies.com/midi-controlled-so ... ve-part-1/ but off the shelf. Does anyone know of anything like that on the market?

I'll be using it to bang the tube of a spring reverb

[Hugh Robjohns]

I've not come across any I'm afraid... but that's not to say they don't exist.

I have come across ready built MIDI control boards that are designed to operate solonoids to extend or retract organ drawstops in Hautwerk consoles and the like, but these are usually designed to operate 32 or 48 separate solonoids which is probably more than you need!

MIDI Solutions have a MIDI relay, where a single reed-relay can be operated from a MIDI command. The reed relay can only handle 500mA but you could use it to operate a beefier (or a solid-state) relay if the chosen solonoid needed more oomph.

http://midisolutions.com/prodrel.htm

[DGL.]

Doepfer MTC-64 and as many external relays as required?

https://www.thomann.de/gb/doepfer_mtc_64.htm

[ken long]

Thanks for the useful suggestions and links. Time to investigate.

[Hugh Robjohns]

Again, loads of channels (64 in this case) and it only provides a TTL control voltage out, so to drive a solonoid you'd need external relays/driver circuitry.

[Aled Hughes]

Have a look here https://dadamachines.com/

Not sure what they have available now, but a few years ago they had a kit very similar to what you want.

EDIT: Yes, Automat kit is what I was thinking of - https://dadamachines.com/products/automat-toolkit/

However…

“dadamachines are on hibernation.
due to health reasons, dadamachines is staying on a business break for the unforeseeable future.
we are currently transitioning to move our sales and support to our good friends at SchneidersLaden.
email requests can't be answered in this phase.”

Shame

[Mixedup]

There are some MIDI controllable drum players out there. Eg by Polyend. And plenty of DIY efforts on YouTube which might reveal some inspiration. But last time I looked (a long time ago) they were all single velocity, and you'd need multiple devices to hit harder or softer... kinda like velocity layers on a sampler triggering different samples.

[resistorman]

Could you use a small power amplifier to drive the solenoid? If you used midi to generate a 60 (or 50) hz tone and amplified it. Would have velocity of some sort once it crossed the threshold?

[Martin Walker]

Have a look here https://dadamachines.com/

Not sure what they have available now, but a few years ago they had a kit very similar to what you want.

EDIT: Yes, Automat kit is what I was thinking of - https://dadamachines.com/products/automat-toolkit/

dada machines also updated their software to include velocity-sensitivity, as demonstrated in this YouTube video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mnedVLVNZiU

This function was also discussed on their forum, which might give you ideas for a DIY solution using PWM or a string of short pulses to mimic velocity sensitivity:

https://forum.dadamachines.com/t/velocity-and-pwm/162/8

Its a shame they're on hiatus at the moment.

Martin

[ken long]

...Automat kit is what I was thinking of - https://dadamachines.com/products/automat-toolkit/

That's exactly what I'm looking for. Thank you.

However…

“dadamachines are on hibernation.
due to health reasons, dadamachines is staying on a business break for the unforeseeable future.
we are currently transitioning to move our sales and support to our good friends at SchneidersLaden.
email requests can't be answered in this phase.”

Shame

Oh. Yes, that is a shame!

[BJG145]

There are some MIDI controllable drum players out there. Eg by Polyend

The Polyend Perc has been discontinued now.

IIRC the Field Kit also does a bit of this stuff, but as others have said, I think you'll be better off rolling your own.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1jT6trBZR-E

[Archil]

Hi guys!

If you are still looking for solenoids, I am making an instrument called the Poet Pilot to control up to eight 12v motors. It has 8 touch pads and pots and midi in and out. It comes with 2 solenoids, 2 dc motors, 2 fans and 2 vibration motors as well as 8 mic clamps. (If you are only interested in solenoids it can be 8 solenoids)

I'm making a new batch right now, I have a couple ones already ready to ship.
Here is more info, photos and videos:

https://archil-lab.com/poet_pilot

Feel free to ask me if you have any question

[ajay_m]

Hmmmm. Interesting.... I'd be tempted to see if something like the Tang Band 2 inch subwoofer which I see on one site can be picked up for about 20usd, couldn't be coupled to a small pivot to strike a percussion instrument.
The cone travel is 5.3mm. Then just drive it with one of those little tpa3116 based amp boards that cost peanuts. They're very good. I've driven some ultrasonic transducers with them at 50khz and 50w power which is way outside their intended use. Anyway, by feeding a low kick audio and putting a felt pad over the top of the speaker to protect it, a controllable striker ought to be quite simple. In this case audio triggered but of course using midi via a synth or whatever.

[BJG145]

If you are still looking for solenoids, I am making an instrument called the Poet Pilot to control up to eight 12v motors.

Sounds like a cool project; good luck with it.

My free dadamachines T-shirt has seen a lot of use but I still haven't plugged the box in yet.