All decent MIDI sequencers speak CC, but being able to speak SysEx particular to these synths is harder to come by. This code, when placed on an ATMEGA8/168/328 will do the conversion for you, and allow your computer/ipad/sequencer to get romantic with your Juno.
There are 2 versions. One is a software implementation, and one is an Arduino-based version. I made several options for putting it together in either form.
I made a CLI-version, and a GUI version.
To install the CLI dependencies, run this, in the software directory:
npm install
You can get help with:
./junosex --help
I only tested this on Mac, so that is the only platform I included, but the process should be fairly similar. For Mac, just extract software/JunoSex-mac.zip, and run. For other platforms, you can run npm install to build MIDI, put the contents of junosex.nw (make package.json be in root) into a zip file and change the extension to .nw, which should make it run if you have the node-webkit runtime installed. They also have some info on building a stand-alone app on their site.
The build process is the same as CLI, using the software/junosex.nw directory and the node-webkit runtime for your system. I had to use nw-gyp to make it build the MIDI library for 32bit (a current limitation of node-webkit: Mac requires 32bit versions of everything.) but Mac-peeps should be covered with premade zipfile.
The hardware version can be made with an Arduino and a MIDI shield or MIDI breakout, or you can make it on a custom PCB with an ATMEGA chip, or a cheap-o USB-to-MIDI adapter and an ATMEGA/Arduino.
The Arduino MIDI Library is required. I compiled the code in the Arduino IDE.
The arduino/shield route just requires that you put them together, and run the Arduino code (junosex.ino.) This should take about 5 minutes to complete.
Follow the schematic to put it together. I will provide better instructions, later. I used ArduinoISP running on a teensy to program an ATMEGA8. I used a resonator to be cheap and lazy (rather than a crystal and 2 capacitors.)
If you want it to run on batteries, use a 9V battery and a 7805 regulator.
I made a full parts list, for mouser, to build what is listed in the schematic. I just picked parts that are cheap and available. Feel free to choose replacements.
If you are using a cheap-o USB-to-MIDI adapter, you can open it up, and solder the wires direct to TX/RX, and use the power/ground from USB (inside adapter) to make it all simpler/cheaper.
Feel free to modify. This thing is super-simple.
Some ideas:
- put RGB LEDs on PWM pins, for cool light-effects when different control messages are sent
- add knobs to change how CCs are interpreted, or set values directly
- Attach wireless to it for cheap, so you can hide your computer/sequencer.