USB host mode

[probonopd]

Wouldn't it be cool to be able to attach a USB MIDI controller (keyboard) directly to the Pico?

This code may be able to do it:
https://github.com/rppicomidi/midi2usbhost/tree/main/C-Code

[diyelectromusic]

I must admit every time I've looked at USB host mode on the Pico I've decided it wasn't worth the hassle :)

It seems to be one of those things people "kind of" and "unofficially" get working, but I figure if the hardware did it usefully then it would be more directly supported in the SDK!

So, yes, I've seen that, but I wasn't interested in messing around with PIO (and can't give up core 1 to it) and given how close the performance of the Pico is for a Synth_Dexed engine, I don't really want to run an entire independent software USB stack in addition to everything else anyway really.

Maybe something to look at for the RP2350... :)

Kevin

[probonopd]

So in the meantime, I guess we can use 2 Picos to achieve it ;-)

[diyelectromusic]

Although to be honest, I still think either an Arduino Pro Mini or Adafruit Trinket M0 is a lot less hassle than a Pico for USB host - https://diyelectromusic.com/2024/07/25/arduino-pro-mini-midi-usb-host-pcb-design/

:)

Kevin