AbsoluteRotaryEncoder.ino

AbsoluteRotaryEncoder

This example demonstrates the use of absolute MIDI CC rotary encoders that can be used for changing effect parameters, volumes, pan and balance controls, etc.

The absolute here means that the Arduino keeps track of the position of the encoder, and it sends this absolute position over MIDI.
Usually, encoders send relative messages ("5 ticks to the left", "1 tick to the right").

Similar to the CCAbsoluteEncoder, there's also PBAbsoluteEncoder that sends absolute MIDI Pitch Bend messages.

Boards: 🛈

AVR, AVR USB, Nano Every, Due, Nano 33 IoT, Nano 33 BLE, UNO R4, Pi Pico, Teensy 3.x

Connections

• 2: pin A of the encoder
• 3: pin B of the encoder

Connect the common terminal of the encoder to ground. The built-in pullup resistors will be enabled.

Behavior

• When you turn the encoder, you should receive absolute MIDI Control Change messages with the absolute position of the encoder.

Mapping

Select the Arduino as a custom MIDI controller in your DAW, and map it like a normal CC controller (not a relative one).

Written by PieterP, 2019-12-18
https://github.com/tttapa/Control-Surface

 
#include <Control_Surface.h> // Include the Control Surface library
 
// Instantiate a MIDI over USB interface.
USBMIDI_Interface midi;
 
// Instantiate a CCAbsoluteEncoder object
CCAbsoluteEncoder enc {
  {2, 3},       // pins
  MIDI_CC::Pan, // MIDI address (CC number + optional channel)
  1,            // optional multiplier if the control isn't fast enough
};
 
// Similarly, for Pitch Bend
//    PBAbsoluteEncoder enc {
//      {2, 3},    // pins
//      Channel_1, // MIDI channel
//      127,       // large multiplier because Pitch Bend has high resolution
//    };
 
void setup() {
  Control_Surface.begin(); // Initialize Control Surface
}
 
void loop() {
  Control_Surface.loop(); // Update the Control Surface
}