Using Game Pads to Trigger Live

DongleKong · Post by **DongleKong** » Mon Sep 09, 2002 9:51 pm

Its been a while since i've posted so i reckon i'll throw a little sumpin'-sumpin' out for y'all...
I'm sure I'm not the first to try this, but its easy and fun so...
Use a usb game controller/pad to trigger sounds!
I count 15(including directional pad) assignable buttons on my Macnally iShock thing i have, which cost me like $30 usd! Hells yeah! No more hunting and pecking, and much more fun than MIDI keyboards!
I havent tried it in Reaktor yet, but I'm sure it would be good there too..
Now if only one could sequence stuff in Logic wit' it....
Or can one?
Anyone?

Alex Reynolds · Post by **Alex Reynolds** » Mon Sep 09, 2002 10:18 pm

Check out USB Overdrive:

-- http://www.montalcini.com/overdrive/

This driver lets you map USB joysticks and game controllers to keyboard strokes.

So you set up your keyboard mappings in Live, plug in your joystick, set up equivalent mappings in Overdrive and then get down to business...

Have fun,
Alex

pyxl8r · Post by **pyxl8r** » Tue Jul 08, 2003 5:31 pm

Recently bought an iShock game pad and mapped it to Live.

WOW! I've found this extremely fun and liberating in a "live" Live situation! Now I trigger samples without having to hunch over the iBook... now I can "perform" and interact with the other band members and the audience realizes that I'm actually PLAYING the game controller.

Now I've got my eye on Logitech's WIRELESS game pad... now THAT could be even more fun!

epiphanius · Post by **epiphanius** » Wed Jul 09, 2003 3:35 am

I had never thought of using a game controller with live. This is a great idea.

Check out USB Overdrive:

You Mac guys get all the good stuff

I will do some research on good (programmable) controllers for the pc, and post any worthy results. Suggestions, anyone?

e.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Jul 17, 2003 7:06 pm

Same controller on the PC - coming soon

http://www.pcally.com/spec/usb/gpfb.html

Credo · Post by **Credo** » Thu Jul 17, 2003 7:12 pm

Wow this is reason enough for me to start perfoming live.

C

pyxl8r · Post by **pyxl8r** » Fri Jul 18, 2003 2:57 pm

Here's the link to that cordless USB game pad:

http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm?page= ... nguageid=1

BTW, it's for Mac *and* PC, so nobody's being excluded!

Hey, if anyone here comes up wit any cool ideas to increase the usabilty of these pads' performance with Live, please share. I'm having a little trouble getting the mini-joysticks to respond correctly.

I dream of being able to do modulation and pitch bending with my iShockII pad, but I don't think they are really designed for that. I'm not enough of an electronics geek, but I guess those joysticks are actually 8 different positions of On/Off, and not really continuous controllers. Somebody up for grafting some mod wheels onto it??!!

If you're interested, here's a pic of a recent live radio concert that my band performed at:

http://www.doctorcosmo.com/wprb/mwos03/0411/brain10.jpg

You can see the iShockII and Oxygen8 USB keyboard, linked via a USB hub to my iBook, in the foreground. Sharp eyes will detect Live 2.0 on the iBook's screen. Feel free to back out of that link if you want to see more pics. Have fun!

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri Jul 18, 2003 4:50 pm

hmmmm very interesting..

leveraging existing (cheap, well tested) technologies in a new are.

I like the idea of the wireless controller. I have a glove controller I use with Live (more info @
www.songcarver.com )

wireless could be good.

-SongCarver

nickw · Post by **nickw** » Sat Jul 19, 2003 9:33 am

If you get a playstation to usb convertor you can use a dance mat too

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sat Jul 26, 2003 10:18 pm

Here's the link to that cordless USB game pad:

My guess is that you can't convert the analog joysticks to keyboard strokes, but you can with the d-pad. is this correct? What would be exceedingly cool is if someone (Logitech?) would create software which would convert the joystick to midi control change.

you can use a dance mat too

You have me grinning from ear to ear - have you actually done this?

e. (not logged in)

nickw · Post by **nickw** » Mon Jul 28, 2003 11:15 am

dance pad

I have one and am starting to play with it. I use live in workshop groups so its good to have stuff that people can use away fro the screen too. Haven't used it much yet though as its on my constant list of need to look at properly when I've got the time.

It may also be worth checking out http://trip.m78.com/livesticks-e.html

as this may give you midi translation of anlogue stick bits. unfortunately no osx version, but up to date on pcs

You can also make any kind of midi controller and physical interface you want if you are confident with a soldering iron - plans are at www.ucapps.de

Cheers

nick w

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon Jul 28, 2003 7:09 pm

Thanks, nickw, for the links above. I'll be busy with them for a while...

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Jul 31, 2003 7:40 am

This thread on another board has some more suggestions on MIDI to joystick software:

http://www.kvr-vst.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=8000

Have fun,

e.

eyeball · Post by **eyeball** » Thu Jul 31, 2003 8:50 am

JoyToKey.exe
is the pc app i use, very small ect..
dance matts sound neet for audiance participation at a todlers gabba party

and there is converters to use n64/ps/dc/x-box..ect on the pc via usb
what about the sega fishing rode for the dream cast hmmm

mrgreengenes · Post by **mrgreengenes** » Wed Aug 06, 2003 7:13 pm

pyxl8r wrote:If you're interested, here's a pic of a recent live radio concert that my band performed at:

http://www.doctorcosmo.com/wprb/mwos03/0411/brain10.jpg

You can see the iShockII and Oxygen8 USB keyboard, linked via a USB hub to my iBook, in the foreground. Sharp eyes will detect Live 2.0 on the iBook's screen. Feel free to back out of that link if you want to see more pics. Have fun!

My sharp eyes see what appears to be an Alesis AirSynth next to your rack -- what do you think of this unit -- pros? cons?

cheers,
gene

Using Game Pads to Trigger Live

Using Game Pads to Trigger Live

Overdrive...

ishock USB game controller

cordless USB game pad link

Re: cordless USB game pad link