The idea for my other project (Arduino Blocks for MIDI Controllers) stemmed from needing a menu based display UI for the Tannerino.  I wanted to be able to set different wave shapes, range and tunings - and thought the RepRapDiscount Smart Controller was just the right tool for the job, since it includes a 2004 LCD character display with an on-board rotary encoder. That seemed like the right, uncluttered UI approach I was looking for. But since I don't have much of a background in either EE or software, it took me on a bit of a journey trying to get everything I wanted to work.

Anyway, as I'm about to receive the PCBs and components I ordered for the AB4MIDICtrlrs, I got going in fitting the right components for getting the job done. The stripboard above acts as an Arduino shield, and contains the main functional blocks for the Tannerino:

• A breakout for the Smart Controller (using '595 for the display).
• A transistor + RC filter for the synth output.
• A digital potentiometer for volume control.
• A MIDI breakout w/optocoupler.
• ICSP  header of the Atmega16u2 on the Uno R3 are broken out for jumpering - important for working with mocoLUFA.
• An additional SPI header is broken out for getting to the additional 16-bit ADC.

Even though it's a bit different in design from working with the AB4MIDICtrlrs UI shield, I've already done this version a few months ago, and I can use it to at least get the libraries I need going.

I hope to get the software side going before PCBs arrive. I will probably feature the libraries in my other project page as they are more general, and reserve this page for more specific details.