Firmware is a kind of operating system software that runs on microcontrollers (tiny computers) such as used in the microDig. It handles the capture of analog signals, communication with digital (I2C) sensors, their translation into MIDI messages and communication with I-CubeX software, in both standalone mode as well as host mode. It adds intelligence to the digitizer hardware in the form of the features described below. Starting with digitizers that use version 5.0 of the I-CubeX firmware, the digitizers' firmware can be updated with newer firmware versions. For information about other (older/newer) versions of the I-CubeX firmware please visit the support resources.

Standalone mode allows you to operate without further processing of sensor data on a computer. Configure the microDig's new standalone mode features released in firmware v5.4x with EditorX v8.1x and it will remember the settings after power down.

Host mode configurations are edited with Link or SensePlay. For more sensor mapping complexity, use the digitizer with the openFrameworks addon, digitizer Max plugin, iCube, oCube or Pd plugin, and apply almost any signal processing algorithm you like.

Firmware v5.4x is only available for microDigs programmed with firmware v5.2, v5.1 or v5.0. To upgrade your microDig to firmware v5.4x send it to us using the instructions on our returns page. We will upgrade it and ship it back to you with regular mail, all for free ! Note that after this upgrade future upgrades won't require you to send it back to us again. Access the new features with EditorX v8.1x.

Features

New in v5.40

• Solo feature: output the data from only one (virtual) sensor input.
• MIDI output range configuration.
• Map to the pitch, ie. note number, of a NoteOn message.
• Improved magnitude method for Magnetic3D sensor.
• Improved compatibility with other I-CubeX software.
• Faster and more reliable connection setup due to improved handling of Bluetooth pairing. On MacOS no pairing code is needed. On Windows, use pairing code "0" (zero).
• Disabled due to memory limitations: support for Moist3D and MoveAlong sensors. Revert back to an earlier firmware version if this feature is needed.

Example of the virtual input feature: You can map the pitch of an Orient3D sensor placed on the back of a hand to a Pitch Bend message but map the roll of that same Orient3D sensor such that it triggers a Note On when rotating the wrist left to eg. 45 degrees and a Note Off when rotating right to 45 degrees.

Released in previous versions

• Convert signals varying around a center value to a value from zero: useful for eg. GForce3D, BioVolt.
• Measure time between or frequency of signal peaks or each signal peak and its reset threshold: eg. measure heartbeat BPM with a BioVolt, time between taps on a Touch sensor, frequency of jabs with a GForce3D sensor.
• Use digital (I2C) sensors such as the Orient3D in standalone mode.
• More efficient protocol for digital (I2C) sensors in host mode.
• Use multiple digital (I2C) sensors on one microDig.
• Various other communication protocol and signal processing improvements.
• Firmware versioning with 4 digits and build date.
• Improved signal processing for HotSpot2D, Magnetic3D and MoveAround I2C digital sensors.
• Virtual inputs for digital (I²C) sensors, allowing the separate mapping of each parameter of an I²C sensor.
• HotSpot2D support.
• More Orient3D methods.
• Convert signals varying around a center value to a value from zero: useful for eg. GForce3D, BioVolt.
• Measure time between or frequency of signal peaks or each signal peak and its reset threshold: eg. measure heartbeat BPM with a BioVolt, time between taps on a Touch sensor, frequency of jabs with a GForce3D sensor.
• Use digital (I²C) sensors such as the Orient3D in standalone mode.
• More efficient protocol for digital (I²C) sensors in host mode.
• Use multiple digital (I²C) sensors on one microDig.
• Various other communication protocol and signal processing improvements.
• Mapping of sensor values to any MIDI channel voice type message ie. note-on/off, key-pressure, control-change, program-change, after-touch (all 7 bit resolution) or pitch-bend (10 bit resolution). MIDI running status can be turned on or off.
• Sensor data processing: inversion (increasing sensor values result in decreasing MIDI data values), thresholds (the sensor values within the specified range are offset and scaled to the MIDI data output range), zooming (set the sensitivity of an input to a specific voltage range), time averaging (reduce noise by averaging over up to 16 sensor values), differentiation (output only the difference between two successive sensor values), peak/dip detection (detect the largest/smallest value of up to 16 sensor values and output that or a preset value), noise gate (output only when the sensor value changes more than a user-set difference from its current value).
• Gesture recognition: gesture onset detection (through peak or dip detection mapped to e.g. note-on event with velocity value corresponding to peak or dip value), post-onset processing (continuous averaging and/or differentiation, mapped to e.g. after-touch or pitch-bend messages), gesture end detection (sensor value above/below threshold, mapped to e.g. note-off event).
• Factory reset option: allows you to return all digitizer settings to its original settings when it was first shipped to you.

Documentation

The digitizer MIDI communication as implemented by the firmware is described in the microDig firmware v5.4 reference documentation.

Known bugs

We are not aware of any bugs at this time. Please notify us if you think you may have encountered one.