[OT] - Wanna use a typewriter as a controller?

Discuss music production with Ableton Live.
Post Reply

rozling
Posts: 1760
Joined: Mon May 30, 2005 9:48 am
Location: Dublin, Ireland

Post by rozling » Sun Aug 14, 2005 3:39 am

Sweet(jesus)! I've been thinking about turning my stenography machine into a midi keyboard/controller but haven't really known where to start -- this might be the place!

Of course steno keyboards work differently to qwertys cos you press 'chords' of key combinations rather than one at a time (so you can output a phrase of several words with one press), but they output raw data to a com port so I reckon it's tameable (but will be a complete headwreck to figure out the theory... :)).

My problem is that to turn a keyboard/typewriter into a really useful midi device you'd really need some way of measuring velocity accurately that can fit in a really small space. Any suggestions, O Internet?

Cheers for that link!

inis
Posts: 665
Joined: Sun Jun 05, 2005 9:12 pm

Post by inis » Sun Aug 14, 2005 8:14 am

hmm, this is actually really helpfull, because ive been thinking of turning my baby grand into a midi keyboard. Sure, its alot to haul around, but I think a crowd could really appreciate the ability to play crazy synth bass lines, and calming piano sounds at the same time.

hambone1
Posts: 5346
Joined: Fri Feb 04, 2005 8:31 pm
Location: Abu Dhabi

Post by hambone1 » Sun Aug 14, 2005 8:34 am

Hmmm... think I'll turn my lawn mower into a MIDI controller next...

rozling
Posts: 1760
Joined: Mon May 30, 2005 9:48 am
Location: Dublin, Ireland

Post by rozling » Sun Aug 14, 2005 2:09 pm

inis wrote:hmm, this is actually really helpfull, because ive been thinking of turning my baby grand into a midi keyboard. Sure, its alot to haul around, but I think a crowd could really appreciate the ability to play crazy synth bass lines, and calming piano sounds at the same time.
Actually you don't really have to solder contacts onto your baby grand's hammers and then connect them to a breadboard, you can just pay Bob Moog loads of money:

http://www.bigbriar.com/detail.php?main_product_id=71

inis
Posts: 665
Joined: Sun Jun 05, 2005 9:12 pm

Post by inis » Sun Aug 14, 2005 4:42 pm

rozling wrote:
inis wrote:hmm, this is actually really helpfull, because ive been thinking of turning my baby grand into a midi keyboard. Sure, its alot to haul around, but I think a crowd could really appreciate the ability to play crazy synth bass lines, and calming piano sounds at the same time.
Actually you don't really have to solder contacts onto your baby grand's hammers and then connect them to a breadboard, you can just pay Bob Moog loads of money:

http://www.bigbriar.com/detail.php?main_product_id=71
thanks roz, but I kind of have this thing where I love to Solder.lol.

Meffy
Posts: 327
Joined: Fri Jul 02, 2004 1:21 pm

Post by Meffy » Mon Aug 15, 2005 12:22 am

Niiiice. Thanks for the link.

<brag>

My conversion of a Sperry-Univac mag card typewriter (looked like a Selectric [which, internally, it was] on dialysis [which it wasn't]) into a printer for a VIC-20 was more drastic, but had far less retro appeal.

However, I'd never deign to use a Smith-Corona. It's Royal for me, all the way.

(Note: I am NOT about to do any mods on my prized 1920s Royal manual typewriter -- the kind with bevelled glass side panels so you can see the works.)

</brag>

Komplex
Posts: 861
Joined: Wed Jun 09, 2004 11:27 pm
Location: Melbourne
Contact:

Post by Komplex » Mon Aug 15, 2005 2:34 am

I'm gonna convert this stove to a midi controller. The row of big chunky knobs will send midi control numbers and the oven doors will work as switches, either using cc's or note on/off.

Image

BEAT THAT :)

Clearscreen
Posts: 1743
Joined: Sun Jul 11, 2004 5:07 am
Location: Melbourne AU
Contact:

Post by Clearscreen » Mon Aug 15, 2005 6:10 am

BEAT THAT
why not use a BBQ? at least you could take it with you on tour. and think how handy it'd be after the show! :lol:
Hp Elitebook 2.8Ghz. Live 7.0.14 & Live 8.1.5, XP Pro. and stuff...

rozling
Posts: 1760
Joined: Mon May 30, 2005 9:48 am
Location: Dublin, Ireland

Post by rozling » Mon Aug 15, 2005 2:34 pm

Wow. Excuse me for being enthusiastic!

Hedroom
Posts: 749
Joined: Tue Jan 04, 2005 12:23 pm

Post by Hedroom » Mon Aug 15, 2005 3:07 pm

Midi toilet.

Flushing temporarily activates the saturator on the rectifier setting and a simultaneous big-ass filter sweep.

Plops create midi notes with velocity and pitch denoted by velocity and area upon landing of said plops.

Have I taken it too far? :wink:

dannyk
Posts: 114
Joined: Thu Mar 17, 2005 5:58 pm
Location: UK
Contact:

Post by dannyk » Mon Aug 15, 2005 5:00 pm

I've had this brand new idea for a MIDI controller...



Image




You press the keys and they can correspond to musical notes in Live... I know it sounds wacky but i reckon it might catch on. I call it a "Keyboard"

Post Reply