Using Game Pads to Trigger Live

[superandy47]

Dance mat controller + Live =

What a fantastic idea, I already have the PlayStation to USB adapter, am so going hunting for a cheapo dance mat tomorrow. I usually use Live for entire dj sets, but the idea of having samples triggered by the dance mat during the mix is just inspired, can't wait to try it

[SongCarver]

hey NickW

I'm interested in getting and using one of these dance mats with Live,

can you explain a little about your setup, and how it works please?

-Keith

[nickw]

I use one of these

http://www.consoleplus.co.uk/catalog/pr ... cts_id=240

to plug the dance mat into the computer and usb overdrive (I'm on Mac) to let me set what each pad does (set to emulate a key press), and then use keyboard mapping in Live to set what they do in Live.

I also use an xkeys switch interface (at www.ymouse.com) to enable me to use any kind of switch as a trigger and have a couple of those underrug pressure pads for burgular alarms that I hook up to it - handy for people who find the dance mat a little cramped, along with a couple of big switches that are very easy to hit. They have alot of multi switch boards that aren't particularly ergonomic but pack in a lot of switches.

I'm also building the midi controller detailed at www.ucapps.de which can use rotary controllers (the ones that keep spinning). I want to have a couple of rotary controllers hooked up to big things that are easy to turn rather than the tiny tightly spaced knobs on most control surfaces.

Hope this helps

Cheers

Nick

[nickw]

steim have just released their new software for using joysticks to midi.

You can use up to 8 contollers with it at once.

http://www.steim.org/steim/junxion.html

[SongCarver]

hey nickw... thats great and VERY interesting to me and many people..the steim software looks like the perfect thing.

Do you work in steim?

What sort of stuff do u do, I'm very interested in this stuff.

cheers,
Keith

[Rich-BRF]

No more waiting for livesticks on osX.

I'm registering that as we speak..

[pyxl8r]

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[/quote]

Hey Gene-(Sorry for the long time gap b4 replying!)

It's an Alesis AirFX (blue case)- multiple XYZ axis effects with stereo I/O, as opposed to the AirSynth (red case), which generates it's own sounds...more like a Theremin. Really freaks people out when I zoom my hand (or the gamepad) over it to modulate the Live loops... the audience isn't really sure exactly what I'm doing, but it projects more of the idea that I'm PERFORMING something rather than just clicking a mouse.

The AirFX can be verrrry expressive. Because you can control the amount of effect(s) applied by the distance of your hand from the "orb" (as well as position from it up/down and right/left), you can go from subtle modulation to extreme spaciness. Just takes a little practice to "conduct" over it and gain some finesse, but I LOVE it, and always use it LIVE with Live and the iShock gamepad.

You could use the AirFX to warp incoming samples as you record directly into Live. The AirFX is strictly AUDIO, no MIDI, no USB. Real simple but powerful. Spin and click one knob to change presets and that's it.

[pyxl8r]

Well, I finally bought the Logitech CORDLESS USB gamepad today to replace/supplement the IShock 2, and I haven't been able to get it to respond to anything under OS-X on the iBook. Logitech doesn't seem to have a Mac utility (like MacAlly's iShockXManager for the iShock2). OS-X's System Profile recognizes the Logitech pad, but nothing so much as twitches in any app I've launched using it. Soooo...

I've downloaded the Steim software demo to see if it will jump start this puppy. Hopefully I can finally cut the cord and be able to manipulate Live wirelessly from anywhere on the stage (well, within a 20-foot radius of the transmitter!).

This will be cool if Steim's junXion v1.1 works! I will post my success/failure. I may have to dig out that old USB joystick I have stashed around here somewhere to try again too!

Any other possibilities out there? M-Audio was SUPPOSED to release a wireless MIDI transmitter over a year ago, but that seems to have vanished. Would any of the new Bluetooth USB units be able to transmit MIDI or USB info wirelessly? I guess I'd like to free my OXYGEN8 from cord captivity too somehow.

Thoughts? Anyone? Anyone? Bueller?

[nickw]

I'm using thrustmaster cordless gamepads (14 buttons on each one).

You can have up to 4 connected to one machine set to different radio channels - they are about £30 each in the uk (pc world) and they have two analogue sticks on them as well.

Range is pretty good too.

You can even set them to the same channel and plug two recievers into different computers to simultaneously trigger stuff on different computers - I use it with live on one computer and visuals on another that is hooked up to a projector, one switch changes both.

[nickw]

oh and vers 1.1 of junction is up at steim.

[pyxl8r]

Ok, I did the demo download, and this Steim software looks REALLY promising! I only BARELY managed to get ONE 20-minute demo session in before work this morning, but I actuaaly did a pitch bend with one of the Logitech Cordless Rumblepad's joysticks (routed to QT instruments as a test) and got Live to recognize it. But talk about your tip of the iceberg-- there are almost TOO many parameters to tweak in it. This may take some time, but I'm convinced enough in the possibilities of the software to gladly sent them $29.

Thanks, Nick, for the link (I owe you one!), and the potential answer to my prayers! Now I've only got 3 weeks b4 the next gig to figure the rest of this out (along with upgrading to Live 3.0, upgrading to OS 10.3 Panther). Yikes! Back to staying up waaaay too late with this!

[lukeeyeball]

id love to see some video from someone that has the ps dance mat and live working together

could also be cool to have some mats out on the dance floor for audiance interaction ?!?

[supster]

Bringing this thread back to life .... I'm looking into this, and ...

Looks like it might be possible to use

1 - PS2 Dualshock controller (mine is by Sony)

with

2 - PS2 to USB adaptor

and

3 - a program called LiveSticks http://trip.m78.com/livesticks-e.html


... to use the DualShock as complete MIDI controller in Live for PC. In other words, apparently LiveSticks will allow the use of the two analog sticks ... AND all of the buttons on the PS2 controller ... to send MIDI messages to control Live and VST's

This means XY control of VSTs and efx ... two assignments at once! and triggering clips, scenes and recording functions using a PS2 gamepad (drool)



Question:

Has anyone actually done this. Or heard of someone doing it. I'm ready to order the PS2 --> USB adaptor and register the software.

Its only going to be about 35 bucks, but Id rather not get into ordering things and spending money and a tech project that is just going to frustrate.

Anyone doing this (on PC!) or something similar?

[milfbait]

What do you have to do to get the controller to work? I tried some generic controller, but it would not work with Live. However the same controller was recognized using the Joy2Midi plugin inside of EnergyXT.

[supster]

What do you have to do to get the controller to work? I tried some generic controller, but it would not work with Live. However the same controller was recognized using the Joy2Midi plugin inside of EnergyXT.

Were you using LiveSticks? If you look at the link in my post, they claim it absolutely works specifically with the PS2 controller - they have the drivers posted for it.

This is the same stock controller everyone uses with the PS2 to play Madden or Vice City ... you know, dual sticks, triangle/square/circle/x buttons etc etc

The program has a gui that looks like it is semi-professionally done and easy to configure. They also offer drivers for other specific models ..

,.. thing is I dont want to end up on your position with something that doesnt work all the way.

Cause if this works, you could basically play almost a whole set with a PS2 controller - scene select, launch, clip launch, filter sweeps, delay feedback - etc etc.