Solenoid Drum Machine

Four "push" solenoids are driven through MIDI. Using a PIC 16F688 to receive MIDI via 6N139 opto-isolator. The solenoids are driven through TIP120 power transistors. The MIDI stream is being sent from REAPER running on a PC.
I will post more details at hotchk155.blogs... in case you want to try to make one. I also hope to build on this and make it play something more interesting some time.

[@hotchk155]

@stealthbopper - yeah i have 10 of these solenoids now and was thinking of making some "tubular bells" out of metal pipes... solenoids are from ebay seller windchest and i gotta say they are perfect for this kind of thing (just wind some tape round the pin to stop it falling out). the TIP120 transistors work fine too for driving them, and save using expensive relays..

[@analoq]

I *really* like this project. Awesome work!

[@stealthbopper]

Excellent work! What a visual feast. Great drum sound too (for my tastes).
This deserves to be enjoyed by many - would make a great live device (making a portable version might be a challenge) or falling that some sort of installation piece. I am imagining a whole band of midi driven metal things. And I guess if you used Ableton Live, you could play them and improvise too.
Also, thanks for posting info as usual.
The circuit doesn't look too complex. Where do you get the solenoids?

[@saftigesfruchtchen456]

Groovy

[@danielmorales1639]

What solenoids did you use? What voltage also?

[@jkuebler89]

Ha this is so freaking awesome!

[@THkaas]

this is great!

[@misterbootknocka]

Jason, Hi!
What kind of solenoids are those? May I ask for the manufacturer and part No?
Br Jose

[@Virigis]

Liuks!

[@cpufrost]

Needs cowbell :)

[@Masterpj555]

ahahaha this is epic!