Wiimote Synthesizer

Here's a quick version of how this works. This is by no means a complete guide. You are expected to be able to read documentation and experiment for yourself. This guide is for Windows, but see the bottom if you have a mac.

You do not need a Wii console to do this. I do not actually own a Wii console, I just went out and bought the controller as soon as I heard it is bluetooth enabled. You will however need a bluetooth adapter. (A lot of laptops have one already)

First get BlueSoleil (www.bluesoleil.com) to pair your computer with the wiimote over bluetooth.

Get GlovePIE (http://carl.kenner.googlepages.com/glovepie). It recognizes the wiimote and you can turn the sensor data into midi output. There are some sample scripts on there, but you'll really want to write your own script. The program has excellent documentation, and with the sample scripts provided it is relatively easy to write your own script for whatever you are doing.

You will need to install the Maple Virtual MIDI ports (http://www.hardnote.com/maple.htm). This allows you to send MIDI data between programs on your computer. One program uses port 1 as an output, and another listens on that port.

At this point, you can use the Wiimote to send midi data to any program you want. I used Reaktor.

In my video, I have two tilt axes controlling the frequency cutoff on two low-pass filters. The arrow keys control the pitch of the melody, and the rest of the buttons choose from preset chords. The A and B buttons turn on and off the two voices.

You might also notice that the LEDs on the Wiimote change. They change depending on the chord that is selected. You are able to use GlovePIE to also send MIDI data back to the Wiimote.

Quick note to mac users:

You can do this using Max/MSP. There is an object for Max written to connect to the Wiimote. See the instructions here: http://www.iamas.ac.jp/~aka/max/#aka_wiiremote

Category:

Music

Tags:

• wii
• music
• synthesizer
• wiimote
• midi

[MrModulator]

How's the latency? Is it possible to use it in real time with, for example, cubase Sx an a lot of instruments and effects playing at the same time without any latency issues, or stuttering sound?

[sapphire327]

it's pretty much as fast as your computer. any delays would be introduced by the computer you use it with, not the wiimote.

[carthagepropaganda]

I wanna see you performing this live on stage with a band full of wiicontrolled instruments ;)

[sapphire327]

working on it :)

[kinglynx]

is that fruity loops?

[sapphire327]

The song is created 100% by me moving the wiimote. The software synth I am using to create the sound is called Reaktor.

[baz1131]

im so high right now man ...

[Pijomu77]

got a black one at  wii4free[dot]info

[KungFuDJ]

@strgzr53

I got red,green,blue,-,+europhia button mapped and working ok in traktor\glovepie. Only having problems with crossfader,the effects dial and the deck for scratching. Have the scratch setup as it should be in Glovepie 0.43 this way :Key.F = WiiTurntable.RawLeftTurntable etc. Do I need to assign any extra values to these to get them to work. Is there any chance you could send me your DJ Hero/Glovep script so i can test it. I will send you a copy of my script if you like. Thanks.

[strgzr53]

@KungFuDJ its a keyboard your playing on. so you map your keyboard keys to the controller bottuns and i figured id have luck with that and glove pie but im having problems keeping conected buti think ive figured that part out. ill keep poking around with it and if i figure it out ill let you know.

[strgzr53]

@KungFuDJ no not yet i have glovepie to i havnt had a whole lot of time to sit and mess with it. i keep seeing a bunch of shit for ableton live and somethin else but i cant seem to get it to work for what i need .i have virtual dj and thats what im tryen to get it to work with. i also have traktor 2 and im totaly lost in the software but everything im seeing on it its more or less "hot cue" djing. i have a program called xpadder wich tricks what ever game controller you have into thinking.

[KungFuDJ]

@strgzr53

Hi have you managed to get DJ hero Turntable working with any PC music apps yet? I am pulling my hair out trying to get a solid answer on whether anyone on the whole of the Internet has managed to get this working yet? I have got it semi connected via GlovePie and have mapped the buttons through Glovepie but am now stuck and am not sure if anyone has got this working yet as even the develepor of Glovepie said he does not know if it works for sure as he does not have DJ Hero. Thanks

[KungFuDJ]

@strgzr53

Hi have you managed to get DJ hero Turntable working with any PC music apps yet? I am pulling my hair out trying to get a solid answer on whether anyone on the whole of the Internet has managed to get this working yet? I have got it semi connected via GlovePie and have mapped the buttons through Glovepie but am now stuck and am not sure if anyone has got this working yet as even the develepor of Glovepie said he does not know if it works for sure as he does not have DJ Hero. Thanks

[JetStorm17277]

lol, my friend hunter would loves this!!! he would also change his mind on selling his wii! :D

[strgzr53]

is there anyway you can help me out i have a the glovepie software and im running a program called xpadder that tricks your computer into letting you use any gaming controller for anygame by letting you map keyboard keys to the game controller buttons. im wanting to conect my wii remote then using xpadder map to virtual dj using the dj hero controller.

[CowbellNinja]

First few notes sound like the melody of Blue Bossa

[R31Bi]

the thumbnail looks like you're about to roll up some decent-sized blunt