Santroller

The Santroller legacy platform programs AVR microcontrollers to emulate rhythm game controllers on computers and supported consoles.

This legacy firmware and configurator is no longer supported or maintained. For the currently supported Santroller tooling, visit santroller.com. If you are using a Raspberry Pi Pico, go to santroller.com for the supported tooling; this legacy release does not support Pico boards.

Gallery

home screen main screen main screen with everything adaptor PS2 adaptor directly wired controller inline LEDs

Supported microcontrollers

  • Raspberry Pi Pico users: this legacy release does not support Pico boards. Use the currently supported Santroller tooling at santroller.com.

  • SparkFun Pro Micro (5V or 3.3V)

    • The 3.3V version is easier to use with Wii and PS2 controllers. The 5V version requires voltage conversion for 3.3V peripherals.

  • Arduino Micro

  • Arduino Leonardo

  • Arduino Uno R1, R2, or R3

    • The board must have the ATmega16U2 USB controller. Uno clones that use a CH340 USB chip are not supported.

  • Arduino Mega 1280, Mega 2560, or Mega ADK

Features

  • Directly wired guitar, drum, turntable, gamepad, keyboard, and stage-kit controllers
  • Wii Extension and PS2 controller input adapters
  • Guitar Hero neck, slider, turntable platter, MPR121, and accelerometer inputs
  • Digital, analog, multiplexer, shortcut, and constant inputs
  • Guitar Hero, Rock Band, DJ Hero, standard gamepad, keyboard, and Fortnite Festival output modes
  • Automatic console detection and configurable mode bindings
  • XInput and HID modes on Windows
  • Configuration presets that can be exported and imported
  • APA102-compatible RGB LEDs, standard LEDs, MPR121 GPIO LEDs, and STP16CPC26 LED drivers
  • Player LEDs, rumble, stage-kit outputs, and supported game-event LED bindings

This legacy AVR firmware does not support Raspberry Pi Pico boards, USB Host inputs or authentication passthrough, Bluetooth, peripheral controllers, USB or serial MIDI inputs, WS2812 LEDs, Wii Extension output, or PS2 controller output. It is provided as an archived release and is not receiving updates or support.

Note

Avoid USB 2.0 hubs when using these controllers. Their high polling rate can slow down multiple controllers on one hub and may cause detection issues. USB 3.0 hubs are recommended.

How to build an adaptor or controller

Pick a guide from the navigation to learn how to build a supported controller or adaptor.

Need help?

Join the Discord for help.

Download

Download the archived Santroller Legacy v10.1.189-legacy.2 release. For the currently supported tooling, visit santroller.com.

Donate

I have put several years of development time into this project. If you like it, feel free to support the project:

Current sponsors