Case Study
Designing a Streamlined DIY MIDI Controller Kit
An exercise in making hardware accessible and affordable for beginners while retaining the flexibility and depth expected by professionals.
Timeframe
3 Months
Role
Product Designer
Course
Interactive Design
Context
The Gist
Originally a passion project, this build evolved in Cornell Tech’s Interactive Device Design course into a high-fidelity prototype for a DIY MIDI controller. The aim was to create an intuitive, affordable, beginner-friendly device that can deliver the performance and features professionals expect.
Context
The Gist
Originally a passion project, this build evolved in Cornell Tech’s Interactive Device Design course into a high-fidelity prototype for a DIY MIDI controller. The aim was to create an intuitive, affordable, beginner-friendly device that can deliver the performance and features professionals expect.
About the Course
Cornell Tech’s Interactive Device Design course explores building interactive systems that merge hardware, software, and physical design.
About the Course
Cornell Tech’s Interactive Device Design course explores building interactive systems that merge hardware, software, and physical design.
Project Scope
Build a high-fidelity prototype that shows full functionality and usability, without aiming for production readiness. The emphasis was on applying the design process from concept to working hardware.
Project Scope
Build a high-fidelity prototype that shows full functionality and usability, without aiming for production readiness. The emphasis was on applying the design process from concept to working hardware.
Goals & Limitations
The build had to balance professional-grade functionality with low cost and broad accessibility. Time constraints ruled out a custom PCB, and the design needed to be reproducible by makers on a limited budget using widely available parts and tools.
Goals & Limitations
The build had to balance professional-grade functionality with low cost and broad accessibility. Time constraints ruled out a custom PCB, and the design needed to be reproducible by makers on a limited budget using widely available parts and tools.
What is a MIDI Controller?
MIDI stands for Musical Instrument Digital Interface. It sends digital instructions to another device or software, which turns them into actions like playing a note or changing an effect. While mostly used for music, it can also control lights, visuals, or other systems.
What is a MIDI Controller?
MIDI stands for Musical Instrument Digital Interface. It sends digital instructions to another device or software, which turns them into actions like playing a note or changing an effect. While mostly used for music, it can also control lights, visuals, or other systems.
Virtual MIDI controller. Tap the keys to play.
Plan of Action
Approach
The process followed a full design sprint mindset — research, ideation, prototyping, and testing. With time and budgeting restrictions taken into account, the following plan was laid out.
Plan of Action
Approach
The process followed a full design sprint mindset — research, ideation, prototyping, and testing. With time and budgeting restrictions taken into account, the following plan was laid out.
Timeline (12 weeks)
W1
W2
W3
W4
W5
W6
W7
W8
W9
W10
W11
W12
Research & Ideation
Sketching & Layouts
Low-Fidelity Prototypes
Electronics Integration
High-Fidelity Prototype
Testing & Refinement
Time & Money
The project’s scope and limitations required careful planning. A global shortage of components at the time further restricted access to ideal parts. Still, this was the budget I had to work with and I made every dollar count.
Budget Breakdown
Total ≈ $100
Microcontroller$25 • 25%
Buttons & Knobs$30 • 30%
LEDs & Drivers$20 • 20%
Enclosure$15 • 15%
Misc Hardware$10 • 10%
Show Your Work
Process Highlights
From early ideas to the final build, this section follows the choices, trade-offs, and problem solving that shaped the project.
Show Your Work
Process Highlights
From early ideas to the final build, this section follows the choices, trade-offs, and problem solving that shaped the project.
Research & Discovery
Explored the landscape of existing MIDI controllers, gathered user feedback, and distilled insights into a clear direction for the design.
Research & Discovery
Explored the landscape of existing MIDI controllers, gathered user feedback, and distilled insights into a clear direction for the design.
Research & Discovery
Explored the landscape of existing MIDI controllers, gathered user feedback, and distilled insights into a clear direction for the design.
Reviewed commercial and DIY MIDI controllers to understand proven layouts and control types.
Reviewed commercial and DIY MIDI controllers to understand proven layouts and control types.
Reviewed commercial and DIY MIDI controllers to understand proven layouts and control types.
Gathered feedback from Reddit producers on what features mattered most in real-world use.
Gathered feedback from Reddit producers on what features mattered most in real-world use.
Gathered feedback from Reddit producers on what features mattered most in real-world use.
Focused brainstorming on a familiar, portable, and cost-efficient form while cutting unnecessary extras.
Focused brainstorming on a familiar, portable, and cost-efficient form while cutting unnecessary extras.
Focused brainstorming on a familiar, portable, and cost-efficient form while cutting unnecessary extras.
Brainstorming & Early Sketches
Assessed different layouts and control combinations before settling on a clear direction.
Brainstorming & Early Sketches
Assessed different layouts and control combinations before settling on a clear direction.
Brainstorming & Early Sketches
Assessed different layouts and control combinations before settling on a clear direction.
Sketched multiple configurations to balance portability, ease of use, and aesthetics.
Sketched multiple configurations to balance portability, ease of use, and aesthetics.
Sketched multiple configurations to balance portability, ease of use, and aesthetics.
Weighed trade-offs between compactness and sufficient control surface.
Weighed trade-offs between compactness and sufficient control surface.
Weighed trade-offs between compactness and sufficient control surface.
Chose a grid-based layout for intuitive mapping and a cleaner visual design.
Chose a grid-based layout for intuitive mapping and a cleaner visual design.
Chose a grid-based layout for intuitive mapping and a cleaner visual design.
Hardware Simulataion
Selected components based on performance, availability, and budget, and experimented with wiringing diagrams.
Hardware Simulataion
Selected components based on performance, availability, and budget, and experimented with wiringing diagrams.
Hardware Simulataion
Selected components based on performance, availability, and budget, and experimented with wiringing diagrams.
Compared microcontroller options for compatibility and latency.
Compared microcontroller options for compatibility and latency.
Compared microcontroller options for compatibility and latency.
Picked durable, tactile buttons and smooth-turn knobs for a professional feel.
Picked durable, tactile buttons and smooth-turn knobs for a professional feel.
Picked durable, tactile buttons and smooth-turn knobs for a professional feel.
Chose a grid-based layout for intuitive mapping and a cleaner visual design.
Chose a grid-based layout for intuitive mapping and a cleaner visual design.
Chose a grid-based layout for intuitive mapping and a cleaner visual design.
Cardboard Prototyping
Built and refined physical models to test ergonomics and layout.
Cardboard Prototyping
Built and refined physical models to test ergonomics and layout.
Cardboard Prototyping
Built and refined physical models to test ergonomics and layout.
Created quick cardboard mockups to test control placement and hand comfort.
Created quick cardboard mockups to test control placement and hand comfort.
Created quick cardboard mockups to test control placement and hand comfort.
Adjusted spacing and height for better finger reach and visibility.
Adjusted spacing and height for better finger reach and visibility.
Adjusted spacing and height for better finger reach and visibility.
Confirmed button and knob positions matched user expectations via heuristic evaluations.
Confirmed button and knob positions matched user expectations via heuristic evaluations.
Confirmed button and knob positions matched user expectations via heuristic evaluations.
Wiring, Firmware & Refinement
Selected components based on performance, availability, and budget, and experimented with wiringing diagrams.
Wiring, Firmware & Refinement
Selected components based on performance, availability, and budget, and experimented with wiringing diagrams.
Wiring, Firmware & Refinement
Selected components based on performance, availability, and budget, and experimented with wiringing diagrams.
Wrote USB-MIDI firmware with pad mapping, LED feedback, and tuned response for low latency.
Wrote USB-MIDI firmware with pad mapping, LED feedback, and tuned response for low latency.
Wrote USB-MIDI firmware with pad mapping, LED feedback, and tuned response for low latency.
Assembled clean, labeled wiring for easy service and reliable performance.
Assembled clean, labeled wiring for easy service and reliable performance.
Assembled clean, labeled wiring for easy service and reliable performance.
Tweaked layout, controls, and lighting based on play-testing before finalizing the enclosure.
Tweaked layout, controls, and lighting based on play-testing before finalizing the enclosure.
Tweaked layout, controls, and lighting based on play-testing before finalizing the enclosure.
Reflection
Key Takeaways
Building intuitive hardware that seamlessly interfaces with software can reshape how we design digital experiences—physical controls and visual cues make interactions faster, clearer, and more engaging. But hardware is only half the battle; without thoughtful software design to match, even the best-built device can fall short.
Final working prototype of the MIDI controller.
Lighting is More Than Aesthetic
Brightness and color cues, used ubiquitously, made the device more intuitive and engaging, while greatly improving usability in low-light conditions.
Lighting is More Than Aesthetic
Brightness and color cues, used ubiquitously, made the device more intuitive and engaging, while greatly improving usability in low-light conditions.
Wiring Complexity is a Bottleneck
Managing dozens of soldered connections was time-consuming, error-prone, and made future maintenance harder.
Wiring Complexity is a Bottleneck
Managing dozens of soldered connections was time-consuming, error-prone, and made future maintenance harder.
Don't Reinvent the Wheel
Insights from prior projects shaped design decisions and helped prioritize features under tight time constraints. Thorough prior work research is critical.
Don't Reinvent the Wheel
Insights from prior projects shaped design decisions and helped prioritize features under tight time constraints. Thorough prior work research is critical.
Next Steps
The next iteration should focus on reducing wiring complexity, improving visual feedback, and making the software experience equally friendly for beginners and powerful for experts.
Photoresist Etching
Wiring complexity needs simplifying. Toner transfer offers an easy, low-cost way to DIY a PCB at home using printed patterns on copper plates.
Reduce Wiring Complexity
Photoresist Etching
Wiring complexity needs simplifying. Toner transfer offers an easy, low-cost way to DIY a PCB at home using printed patterns on copper plates.
Reduce Wiring Complexity
Photoresist Etching
Wiring complexity needs simplifying. Toner transfer offers an easy, low-cost way to DIY a PCB at home using printed patterns on copper plates.
Reduce Wiring Complexity
Lighting Feedback
Letting LEDs respond to taps with custom patterns and behaviors, as seen on most commercial devices, can greatly boost usability and engagement.
Enhance UX
Lighting Feedback
Letting LEDs respond to taps with custom patterns and behaviors, as seen on most commercial devices, can greatly boost usability and engagement.
Enhance UX
Lighting Feedback
Letting LEDs respond to taps with custom patterns and behaviors, as seen on most commercial devices, can greatly boost usability and engagement.
Enhance UX
Software & Documentation
I couldn’t find beginner-friendly software in time, but exploring open-source options and creating clear documentation is key to usability.
Support Beginners
Software & Documentation
I couldn’t find beginner-friendly software in time, but exploring open-source options and creating clear documentation is key to usability.
Support Beginners
Software & Documentation
I couldn’t find beginner-friendly software in time, but exploring open-source options and creating clear documentation is key to usability.
Support Beginners
MIDI controller demo video
Lighting is More Than Aesthetic
Brightness and color cues, used ubiquitously, made the device more intuitive and engaging, while greatly improving usability in low-light conditions.
Lighting is More Than Aesthetic
Brightness and color cues, used ubiquitously, made the device more intuitive and engaging, while greatly improving usability in low-light conditions.
Wiring Complexity is a Bottleneck
Managing dozens of soldered connections was time-consuming, error-prone, and made future maintenance harder.
Wiring Complexity is a Bottleneck
Managing dozens of soldered connections was time-consuming, error-prone, and made future maintenance harder.
Don't Reinvent the Wheel
Insights from prior projects shaped design decisions and helped prioritize features under tight time constraints. Thorough prior work research is critical.
Don't Reinvent the Wheel
Insights from prior projects shaped design decisions and helped prioritize features under tight time constraints. Thorough prior work research is critical.