diff --git a/json_objects/settings_default.json b/json_objects/settings_default.json
index 14c2cf5..7cffbbf 100644
--- a/json_objects/settings_default.json
+++ b/json_objects/settings_default.json
@@ -95,7 +95,8 @@
         "INPUT": {
             "action": null,
             "options": [
-                "enabled",
+                "usb",
+                "serial",
                 "disabled"
             ],
             "value": "disabled"
diff --git a/user_input/analog_input.py b/user_input/analog_input.py
index e62921e..c40526b 100644
--- a/user_input/analog_input.py
+++ b/user_input/analog_input.py
@@ -19,9 +19,16 @@ class AnalogInput(object):
         if self.data.settings['other']['ANALOG_INPUT']['value'] == 'enabled':
             if not self.analog_input:
                 try:
-                    SPI_PORT   = 1
-                    SPI_DEVICE = 2
-                    self.analog_input = Adafruit_MCP3008.MCP3008(spi=SPI.SpiDev(SPI_PORT, SPI_DEVICE))
+                    ## note - using software spi for now although on the same pins as the hardware spi described below because hardware spi wasnt working with lcd display
+                    #SPI_PORT   = 1
+                    #SPI_DEVICE = 2
+                    #self.analog_input = Adafruit_MCP3008.MCP3008(spi=SPI.SpiDev(SPI_PORT, SPI_DEVICE))
+                    CLK  = 21
+                    MISO = 19
+                    MOSI = 20
+                    CS   = 16
+                    self.analog_input = Adafruit_MCP3008.MCP3008(clk=CLK, cs=CS, miso=MISO, mosi=MOSI)
+
                 except:
                     self.message_handler('INFO', 'analog inputs not connected')
             self.poll_analog_inputs()
diff --git a/user_input/midi_input.py b/user_input/midi_input.py
index bc9df12..812ed7a 100644
--- a/user_input/midi_input.py
+++ b/user_input/midi_input.py
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 import string
 import datetime
 import mido
+import subprocess
 
 class MidiInput(object):
     def __init__(self, root, message_handler, display, actions, data):
@@ -12,24 +13,35 @@ class MidiInput(object):
         self.midi_mappings = data.midi_mappings
         self.midi_device = None
         self.midi_delay = 1
+        self.serial_port_process = None
         self.try_open_port()
 
     def try_open_port(self):
         midi_setting = self.data.settings['midi']['INPUT']['value']
         #print('try open port : midi setting is {}'.format(midi_setting))
-        if midi_setting == 'enabled':
-            midi_ports = mido.get_input_names()
-            midi_device_on_port_20 = [s for s in midi_ports if '20:0' in s]
-            if midi_device_on_port_20:
-                if self.data.midi_status == 'disconnected':
-                    self.midi_device = mido.open_input(midi_device_on_port_20[0])
-                    self.data.midi_status = 'connected'
-                    self.message_handler.set_message('INFO', 'connected to midi device {}'.format(self.midi_device.name))
-                    self.poll_midi_input()
-            elif self.data.midi_status == 'connected':
-                self.data.midi_status = 'disconnected'
+        if midi_setting == 'usb':
+            self.stop_serial_port_process()
+            self.open_this_port_and_start_listening(20)
+        elif midi_setting == 'serial':
+            self.create_serial_port_process()
+            self.open_this_port_and_start_listening(128)
+        else:
+            self.stop_serial_port_process()     
         self.root.after(1000, self.try_open_port)
 
+    def open_this_port_and_start_listening(self, port_number):
+        midi_ports = mido.get_input_names()
+        print('midi ports are {}'.format(midi_ports))
+        midi_device_on_port = [s for s in midi_ports if '{}:0'.format(port_number) in s]
+        if midi_device_on_port:
+            if self.data.midi_status == 'disconnected':
+                self.midi_device = mido.open_input(midi_device_on_port[0])
+                self.data.midi_status = 'connected'
+                self.message_handler.set_message('INFO', 'connected to midi device {}'.format(self.midi_device.name))
+                self.poll_midi_input()
+        elif self.data.midi_status == 'connected':
+            self.data.midi_status = 'disconnected'
+
     def poll_midi_input(self):
         i = 0
         cc_dict = dict()
@@ -106,6 +118,15 @@ class MidiInput(object):
         else:
             getattr(self.actions, method_name)()
 
+    def create_serial_port_process(self):
+        if self.serial_port_process == None:
+            self.serial_port_process = subprocess.Popen("exec " + "ttymidi -s /dev/serial0 -b 38400 -n serial", shell=True)
+            print('created the serial port process ? {}'.format(self.serial_port_process))        
+
+    def stop_serial_port_process(self):
+        if self.serial_port_process is not None:
+            self.serial_port_process.kill()
+            self.serial_port_process = None