HackFad – Slide Fader MIDI Controller
HackFad is a handmade, fully customizable MIDI controller based on Arduino Pro Micro, featuring 4 slide faders and 5 rotary potentiometers. Every control is independently configurable directly from the device — MIDI channel, CC number, min/max range — without touching a computer.
HackFad uses a 0.96″ OLED display and a Navigation Rotary Encoder with push button to navigate its settings. Configurations are stored in an external EEPROM AT24C256 and retained without power. It connects via Micro USB (MIDI IN & OUT) and features 1× TRS 3.5mm MIDI OUT + 1× TRS 3.5mm MIDI IN for analog connectivity.
Key Features
- 4 slide faders — smooth, precise linear control for volumes, sends, filter cutoffs, and more
- 5 rotary potentiometers — continuous control for any CC parameter
- Navigation Rotary Encoder with push button for menu navigation
- 0.96″ OLED display — real-time settings and parameter monitoring
- Plug & play — USB bus-powered via Micro USB
- 1× TRS 3.5mm MIDI OUT + 1× TRS 3.5mm MIDI IN — analog MIDI for hardware synths and drum machines
- External EEPROM AT24C256 — up to 201 banks stored directly on device
- Copy & Swap — duplicate or exchange control configurations
- Magnetic connectors — chain multiple Hack Midi Mask devices side by side
- Open source hardware — Arduino Pro Micro based, GPL v3 license
Full customization
From the OLED screen, select any fader or potentiometer and configure it completely: MIDI channel, CC number, minimum and maximum values. Use Copy to duplicate a control’s settings to another, or Swap to exchange two configurations. Save everything into a bank in the EEPROM and recall it instantly — no software, no computer.
Magnetic connectors
Place two or more Hack Midi Mask controllers side by side and they connect automatically via magnetic connectors, sharing power and MIDI communication. Connect HackFad next to HackPad via USB to your DAW, and HackFad will power itself and exchange MIDI through the same chain.
📖 Source code, schematics & build files on GitHub
📸 Follow the project on Instagram: @hackmidimask
