Hamster Mix is a portable MIDI controller powered by Arduino that connects via MIDI over Bluetooth. It allows you to control effects as well as play MIDI notes within five octaves. The twelve keys and the ability to switch up and down through octaves makes it easy to control an entire piano’s worth of notes with a compact controller, which is about the size of a hamster. Hamster Mix connects over Bluetooth to Macs, PCs, iPads, and even mobile phones. You can use it to control any MIDI-enabled music program, including Ableton, Garage Band, FL Studio, Reaper, and more. Two additional buttons and two potentiometers allow you to set your own custom effects. You can even use the buttons as a Bluetooth track launcher instead of as a keyboard.

You can also control phone apps with MIDI support such as GarageBand, FL Studio Mobile, Reason Compact, Audiokit Synth One, Moog apps, and more. Use Hamster Mix to make music on the go with a device that fits in your pocket and requires no wires or bulky equipment.

Features & Specifications

• 12x dedicated buttons that function as piano "keys" (1 full octave)
• 2x buttons control switching up and down octaves
• 2x programmable potentiometers
• 2x buttons for controlling the potentiometers, allowing you to change volume controls, or any custom effect
• 1x LED power indicator
• On/off switch
• Micro USB input
• The size of a hamster, meaning it fits in your pocket
• Low-power Bluetooth means it can last a long time on a single charge (over 10 hours of from a 300 mAh LiPo battery)
• Bluetooth allows connection to up to seven different devices at once. Connect multiple devices to control multiple channels or build a full portable keyboard
• Works with iPhones, iPads, Android devices, Macs, and PCs

Comparisons

Documentation & Support

• Hamster Mix Guide
• GitHub repo
• Board schematics
• Firmware
• Software (ESP32 Arduino Library)

Manufacturing Plan

We will assemble all PCBs in house to ensure quality and consistency. Once the Hamster Mix units are assembled, we will test them, package them, and send them along to Crowd Supply for fulfillment.

Fulfillment & Logistics

After our production run is complete, we will box everything up and send it along to Crowd Supply’s fulfillment partner, Mouser Electronics, who will distribute products to backers worldwide. You can learn more about Crowd Supply’s fulfillment service under Ordering, Paying, and Shipping in their guide.

Risks & Challenges

We are all aware of the global parts shortage that is affecting nearly all electronics projects these days. While we’ve already stocked most of the components and other hardware we will need for the first batch, there is still a small chance that production could be delayed. In the unlikely event that happens, we will keep you all informed through our campaign updates.