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Products: USB-microDig v7.8x/7.5x
USB-microDig v7.8x/7.5x
>> USB-microSystem || Application info || Technical specs || USB driver download

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The USB-microDig is a thumb-sized easily configurable hardware device that encodes upto 8 analog sensor and 8 digital actuator signals with high resolution using a variety of globally compatible digital protocols and transmits these messages through USB to any computer in real-time, where they are made available at a virtual serial port for analysis and/or control purposes.

Sensitive in real-time It has 8 inputs of each 10 bits resolution (1024 steps of each 4.9 mV) that can sample at up to approx. 1000 Hz (theoretically at most 5760 Hz) with milliseconds latency to capture even the finest gestures and movements. Use it conveniently with our sensors to create your interactive installation, ultimate controller, .. For hardware hackers, the USB-microDig features a hardware hacking area to add your own sensor circuit.

Conveniently configurable It's updateable firmware v7.8x enables it to operate in both "standalone" mode (sensor data is processed before it is transmitted through the USB cable) as well as host mode (raw sensor data is transmitted through the USB cable). Standalone mode includes various sensor processing and mapping features such as gesture recognition that can be conveniently configured using one of our editors. Configure it with our EditorX software and it will remember the settings after power down (ie. unplugging it from the USB port). If you need raw sensor data or if you need more sensor mapping or analysis complexity, use it in host mode with our Link software or in combination with a programming or analysis environment to process the sensor data. Or you can use our Connect application to map the data to/from the serial port from/to a virtual MIDI port or an OSC port.

Compatible and versatile Even though it encodes analog (0-5V) sensor signals to multimedia industry compliant MIDI messages, you don't need a MIDI interface to receive them. First, it transmits the MIDI messages through USB, which is a common and reliable protocol. The USB communication complies with the USB v2.0 (upto 480 Mbps) and USB v1.1 (upto 12 Mbps) standard. Then, the MIDI messages appear on the computer at a virtual serial port (called "COM" port on a Windows computer) running at 115.2 Kbps, ie. much faster than MIDI speed at 31.25 Kbps, and theoretically allowing for a maximum sampling speed of 5760 Hz. Our software takes the data from this serial port and allows you to route the data in a variety of ways to the software or device of your choice. Once configured using our editor you can use the USB-microDig with any software that communicates directly with devices through the virtual serial port. Our Link software has even more capabilities. And, on Windows, you can use our BlueMIDI application to map the data to/from the serial port from/to a virtual MIDI port. The USB-microDig is compatible with most operating systems: Windows, MacOS and Linux.

But wait, there is more ... !

Actuators Control different types of actuators: regular binary "on/off" actuators, PWM actuators such as RC servos or digital (I2C) actuators. The top row of the input/output connector contains 8 output pins dedicated to controlling (binary or PWM) actuators, enabling you to have both 8 sensor inputs as well as 8 (binary or PWM) actuator outputs. In order to use these output pins, you may have to change the position of one pin in the housing of the actuator plug so that it inserts into the top row of the input/output connector. Get an AuxCable to use the output pins if the input/output slot is needed for a sensor. The output pins are for control only. To drive an actuator you need to install a transistor or similar, that is controlled by the actuator output, to enable/disable power supplied to the actuator from the 5V power.

I2C The USB-microDig's I2C capability makes it compatible with one of the more common bi-directional communications protocols used in robotics for sensors and actuators - connect upto 8 I2C devices (sensors or actuators) directly to it. It's possible to connect more by daisy-chaining them.

Power You don't need to connect a power supply to the USB-microDig since it's USB powered (up to 300mA for all the sensors and actuators together).

Far and beyond. If you need to use the USB-microDig further away from the computer than the cable permits, regular/passive USB extension cables upto 6ft, longer ones that are powered/active or even longer ones that use CAT5 cables (as used for ethernet), see eg. USB-CableExtender work fine. Also, wireless USB devices or TCP/IP-based (WiFi or ethernet) USB device servers should work with the USB-microDig. Check our page with other products to use with I-CubeX for 3rd-party solutions. You can also use our ExtendCables to place sensors further away.

Get it now ! It is sold as part of the USB-microSystem. Use the USB-microMIDICable to connect the USB-microDig, after having configured it in stand-alone mode, directly to your MIDI gear, and power the USB-microDig with either a USB-microGlobalAdapter, a USB-Battery or simply a USB port on your computer.

Application Information

Product USB-microDig

Software Support
Drivers Windows 2000/XP/Server2003/Vista/7/8/10, MacOS 9/X, Linux 2/3
Connect MacOS / Windows
EditorX MacOS / Windows
Link MacOS / Windows
SensePlay MacOS / Windows
Plugins Max iCube, oCube and digitizer, Pd iCube, Live Dig4Live
API software Processing, OpenFrameworks, C/C++
More software Find more software on our resources page. I-CubeX digitizers can be used with any software on any operating system as long as it can communicate using the I-CubeX system exclusive messages as specified in the firmware documentation.

Documentation
Quickstart Manuals Connect (MacOS), Connect (Windows), EditorX, SensePlay, Link, Max iCube, Max oCube
Firmware Information and reference

Technical specifications

Product USB-microDig (Digitizer v7.8x/7.5x)
Version firmware v7.8x, hardware v7.5x

Sensor input
Number of inputs 8 (for analog or digital (I2C) sensors)
Range 0 to 5 Volt
Resolution 10 bit or 7 bit (user selectable)
Sampling interval programmable from 0 ms (min) - 16380 ms (max) in steps of 1 ms (actual sampling rate below)

Sampling rate active inputs (signal processing disabled)
1 1-2 1-4 1-8
standalone mode control 991 990 810 412 Hz (max)
pitch 990 990 692 350 Hz (max)
host mode 7 bit 990 989 989 957 Hz (max)
10 bit 990 989 952 592 Hz (max)
Sampling latency up to 5 ms (one active input without signal processing)
Input impedance greater than 10 MOhm
Signal processing functions inversion
scaling (0.04 Volt min range leaving 3-bit resolution)
threshold detection (0.04 Volt min step)
peak/dip detection (over 16 samples max)
smoothing
differentiation (between 2 consecutive samples only)
noise gate (5 Volt max range)
absolute value
lookup table (32 tables of each 1024 10-bit values)
time duration (16129 ms max)
frequency measurement (16129 Hz max)
Supply voltage 5 Volt
Supply current 30 mA per input (typical), 240 mA for all inputs and outputs together (max)

Actuator output
Number of outputs 8 (top row of the input/output connector)
Range 0 to 5 Volt
Resolution 1 bit (off = 0 Volt, on = 5 Volt)
Switching rate n/a Hz (max)
Switching latency n/a ms (min)
Signal processing functions pulse width modulation (5-16383 ms interval, 3-127 ms width)
Output current 1 mA per output (typical), 240 mA for all inputs and outputs together (max)

Communications
Data format
Standalone mode MIDI channel voice protocol:
MIDI pitch-bend (10 bit resolution)
MIDI note-on/off, key-pressure, control-change, program-change or after-touch (7 bit resolution)
See firmware documentation for details
Host mode MIDI system exclusive protocol:
See firmware documentation for details
Transmission USB® v2.0/1.1 (serial port profile: 125 kbps, no parity, 1 stop bit, 8 data bits, data flow ON)
Power supply 65 mA (no sensors or actuators connected, all inputs turned off), 90 mA (no sensors or actuators connected, one input turned on), 60 mA (no sensors or actuators connected, one input turned on, LEDs turned off), 325 mA (max)

Connectors
Actuator 4-pin column (2.54 mm / 0.1" spaced), for each of the 8 outputs use the top row, power (directly below the top row) and ground (bottom row) pins
Analog sensor 4-pin column (2.54 mm / 0.1" spaced), for each of the 8 inputs use ground (bottom row), signal (directly above the bottom row), power (directly above the signal row) pins
Digital (I2C) sensor 4-pin column (2.54 mm / 0.1" spaced), for each of the 8 inputs use ground (bottom row), SCL (directly above the bottom row), power (directly above the SCL row), SDA (directly above the power row) pins
USB (incl. power) USB cable with "micro-B" and "A" connectors

Form
Dimensions 85 x 22 x 13 mm (3.3 x 0.87 x 0.51 inch)
Weight 0.012 kg (0.42 oz), cable: 0.030 kg (1.0 oz)

Known bugs and issues

  • Using the Advance-645, Loud, but especially the ReachClose or ReachFar with the USB-microDig may increase the noise of the sensor power supply. Hence, other sensors, especially the Reach, connected to the same USB-microDig may show more noise in their output.
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