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WiDig v8.3x/8.0x
>> WiSystem || Application info || Technical specs || USB driver download
The WiDig is a thumb-sized easily configurable hardware device that can encode up to 8 sensor signals to audio-visual industry compatible messages, while it can also decode such messages to control up to 8 actuators. It supports a wide variety of analog and digital sensors and actuators. It transmits and receives these messages to/from a computer or mobile device wirelessly via Bluetooth, or to a computer wired via USB cable, for analysis and/or control purposes, in real-time !
Real-time
The WiDig has 8 inputs that can sample at up to almost 1000 Hz with milliseconds latency to capture even the finest gestures and movements. This real-time capability, together with its compatibility with a wide variety of sensors and actuators, makes it uniquely suited for use in interactive installations, live performance controllers, and any other setup that requires instant feedback or control.
Sensors
The WiDig can be used with a wide variety of analog and digital sensors. Connect up to 8 sensors directly. Analog (0-5V) sensor input is encoded with 10 bit resolution (ie. 1024 steps of each 4.9 mV). Digital sensors, most of which have much higher resolutions, are interfaced using I2C. The firmware includes algorithms to communicate with I2C sensors and pre-process their output. For hardware hackers, the WiDig features a hardware hacking area to add your own circuit to interface with sensors of your choice.
Actuators
Control different types of actuators: regular binary "on/off" actuators, PWM actuators such as RC servos, or digital (I2C) actuators. The pins configured for output can provide low current (1 mA) control signals only. To drive an actuator that requires larger currents use a SwitchPower or similar that can be controlled by the actuator output, to enable/disable power supplied to the actuator from the 5V power or an external power supply. The WiDig also features a hardware hacking area to add your own circuit to interface with actuators of your choice.
Wireless
The WiDig can communicate wirelessly, via Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) at the MIDI transmission speed of 31.25 Kbps. The wireless range of the WiDig is specified to be at least 10 meter (without obstructions). A Bluetooth interface allows for the use of up to 7 WiDig units simultaneously. We recommend using the WIDIBud. It automatically connects to the WiDig and appears as a MIDI port in the operating system, stays reliably connected and enables bi-directional communication on both Windows and MacOS so that the WiDig can easily be used with our software. Any other BLE interface (such as the built-in Bluetooth interface of Apple devices) or adapter should also work, together with additional software to map the BLE data to a MIDI port (see the WiDig support pages). If you want to use the WiDig as a wireless controller for a MIDI device with DIN plugs, we recommend the Yamaha MD-BT01 wireless BLE-MIDI interface. The WiDig is also capable of wireless communication via WiFi using Websockets and OSC messages. The WiFi capability requires uploading another version of WiConnect to the WiDig. The WiDig is by default configured for BLE. When you order the WiSystem and you'd like the WiDig to be configured for WiFi, let us know, eg. in the order comments.
Wired
When enabled for communication via a USB cable, 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 the MIDI transmission speed of 31.25 Kbps.
Mobile
Connect easily with your smartphone, iPhone, iPad, iPod or other mobile devices via Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE). Once configured with our software, the WiDig's MIDI messages can be used to trigger or control apps, or conversely use apps to control actuators connected to the WiDig. The WiDig is also capable of wireless communication via WiFi using Websockets enabling configuration and control of sensors and actuators as well as receipt and viewing of sensor data in a webpage that can be opened on an iPad or other mobile devices. The WiFi capability requires uploading another version of WiConnect to the WiDig.
Compatible
The WiDig uses audio-visual industry compliant MIDI and OSC messages to encode sensor signals and control actuators. While it's compatible with analog (0-5V) sensors, it's I2C capability makes it compatible with one of the more common bi-directional digital communications protocols for both sensors and actuators. While it's easy to use with regular binary "on/off" actuators, it can also output pulse-width modulated (PWM) signals for the control of actuators such as RC servos. And you don't need a MIDI interface to receive the MIDI messages. The wireless transmission complies not only with the Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) v4.0 standard but also with the BLE-MIDI standard, so if the WiDig is connected via Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), its MIDI messages appear on the computer at a virtual MIDI port, whether it's on a computer or mobile device. Or, receive these MIDI messages using a BLE-to-MIDI cable adapter with MIDI DIN plugs, so that they are ready for use with MIDI gear. If it's connected via USB, its MIDI messages appear on the computer at a virtual serial port (called "COM" port on a Windows computer), which is then mapped to a virtual MIDI port by our Connect software. The USB communication complies with the USB v2.0 standard. Our software provides compatibility with other standards such as Open Sound Control (OSC) and Internet of Things (IoT) webhooks. The WiDig is also capable of wireless communication via WiFi using Websockets, enabling configuration and control of sensors and actuators as well as receipt and viewing of sensor data in a webpage, and OSC messages, enabling receipt of sensor data without middle-ware into the software of your choice as well as control of actuators. The WiFi capability requires uploading another version of WiConnect to the WiDig.
Configurable
It's updateable firmware and WiConnect, both configurable with our software, enable it to operate in both "standalone" mode (sensor data is processed before it is transmitted) as well as host mode (raw sensor data is transmitted). Standalone mode includes various sensor processing and mapping features such as gesture recognition that can be conveniently configured using our EditorX software. Configure it with EditorX and it will remember the settings after power down. Our EditorX software allows you to configure the WiDig to map the data in a variety of ways for use with the software or device of your choice. Once configured using our EditorX software you can use the WiDig with software that communicates directly with devices through the virtual MIDI port or virtual serial 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 just use our Connect application to map the data to/from the serial port from/to a virtual MIDI port or an OSC port. For Internet of Things (IoT) applications, our Connect software includes mapping to a webhook. When using WiFi wireless communication, configure the WiDig via its webpage.
Get it now !
It is sold as part of the WiSystem.
If you don't need wireless connectivity, check out the USB-microSystem, which, together with the USB-microMIDICable can also send MIDI messages directly to your MIDI gear.
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Application Information
Product |
WiDig |
Software Support |
Drivers |
For wireless operation, the WiDig needs the computer or mobile device to have a Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) interface and driver. For wired operation via USB, the WiDig needs the computer to have a USB port and virtual serial port drivers.
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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 |
Videos |
Getting started with WiDig, WiDig + Analog Sensors + GarageBand, WiDig + Orient4D + Ableton Live, WiDig + ReachCloseD + Flash + SeeLaser-GreenWide + GarageBand on an iPad |
Quickstart Manuals |
Connect (MacOS), Connect (Windows), EditorX, SensePlay, Link, Max iCube, Max oCube
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Firmware |
Information and reference |
WiConnect |
Information |
Other |
Apple's Bluetooth FAQ |
Technical specifications
Product |
WiDig (Digitizer v8.3x/8.0x) |
Version |
firmware v8.3x, hardware v8.0x |
Sensor input |
Number of inputs |
8 (of which any can be used for a digital I2C device) |
Connector |
8x4-position female header (2.54 mm / 0.1" spaced), where each of the 8 analog inputs requires a 3-position column, and each of the 8 digital (I2C) devices a 4-position column |
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) |
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1 |
1-2 |
1-4 |
1-8 |
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standalone mode |
control |
990 |
980 |
645 |
330 |
Hz (max) |
pitch |
990 |
980 |
645 |
330 |
Hz (max) |
host mode |
7 bit |
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Hz (max) |
10 bit |
985 |
980 |
865 |
525 |
Hz (max) |
Sampling latency |
USB: at least 6 ms; BLE: at least 11 ms, typical 19 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)
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Supply voltage |
5 Volt |
Supply current |
400 mA for all sensors and actuators together |
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)
|
Switching output current |
1 mA (typical) |
Supply voltage |
5 Volt |
Supply current |
400 mA for all sensors and actuators together |
Communications |
Data format |
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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 |
Bluetooth® v4.2 (range: at least 10 m unobstructed), WiFi 802.11 b/g/n or USB (serial port profile: 115.2 kbps, no parity, 1 stop bit, 8 data bits, data flow off) |
Power Supply |
Voltage |
5 V |
Current |
500 mA (max), approx. 100 mA (no sensors connected, no inputs enabled, no Bluetooth or WiFi link), approx. 200 mA (1 analog low-current sensor such as the ReachOn connected, 1 input enabled, active WiFi link) |
Connector |
USB microB connector |
Form |
Dimensions |
85 x 26 x 18 mm (3.3 x 1.0 x 0.71 inch) |
Weight |
0.02 kg ( oz), excl. power supply |
Known bugs and issues
We are not aware of any bugs at this time. Please notify us if you think you may have encountered one.
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