Ableton Forum

Silverfish wrote:You guys might be surprised how simple and cheap a device like this actually is. We made one at work this summer, and I think the whole thing is being released open source- DIY. The most expensive element is the projector. Otherwise, it's a piece of plexiglass (as big as you want), a webcam, two pieces of open source software, a few UV LEDs, something to hold thing, and a dimly lit room. Instant super-Lemur- as many touch points as you can fit on a 2x3 foot screen. The only problem is the space required for the thing. It takes a decent distance to get a good clean projection.

I'd guess in a few years we'll see quite a few more multi-touch devices. They're cool toys, but frankly, I don't think they offer the tactile feedback people like musicians are used to- Maybe just my preference.

Well that uses video tracking, which, in my opinion, sucks. Too much latency and such for big gestures, non?

gafferuk wrote:Next your be telling us it has eye tracking?

http://inition.com.au/inition/products.php?CatID_=11#22 ?

love the idea but 28 inches is just WAY to big for use in clubs. It would be great in the studio. In fact for studio this is just about the only type of hardware that I am willing to spend big on outside of my sound card, cpu and videocard. At the moment I use three 17 inch screens and it makes going to a DAW with only one screen (even a huge screen) feel very cumbersome. For live/onstage use it would have to be water proof, be able to sit pretty much flat on a table and be about the size of a 15 or 17 inch LCD. It cant realy be any bigger than a midi controller like the BCR. It is already anoying enough to try and setup a computer and an external HDD in a club.

Mike Goodwin wrote:love the idea but 28 inches is just WAY to big for use in clubs.

Why?

Turn on laptop, close lid. Put it on the mixer. Lay the big screen flat on top of it - bingo: one big, intuitive, mixing environment.

Actually, you're right - im sitting in front of my 28" screen right now, and it's... enormous. I'd go for a 20-23" widescreen jobbie, please

Machinate wrote:

Mike Goodwin wrote:love the idea but 28 inches is just WAY to big for use in clubs.

Why?

Turn on laptop, close lid. Put it on the mixer. Lay the big screen flat on top of it - bingo: one big, intuitive, mixing environment.

Actually, you're right - im sitting in front of my 28" screen right now, and it's... enormous. I'd go for a 20-23" widescreen jobbie, please

I dont know about you but the house engineers that I have met would have a shit if I started stacking gear on there mixer/turntables, and frankly out of respect I would not even try it. So in my mind that means that it would need to have as small a footprint as possable. Even people like Sasha and Hawtin dont use gear that would take up that much space on a table. Not that I am going around on Utube looking for hawtin and sash vids, but hawtin is using things like a fader fox and has his laptop perched on the edge of booths half the time. And Sasha has gone for the upright macs that have a very small footprint and his rather maven, big but still not as big as a 28 inch screen.

mike, why do you need a good video card for your music laptop? or is that a stray gaming reference? just wondering, cause i run my laptop with the card off (so the graphics are somewhat retro, low res (plus bigger), which i find easier on the eyes). thx.

I can't wait until operating systems allow multi point interaction!
The idea is very cool.

I want to work on one ableton with four mouses. Two for me and two for my buddy. And the GUI projected on a huge glass-table. I call it TABLETON

dj superflat wrote:mike, why do you need a good video card for your music laptop?

I take it your talking about the Matrox APVe that I mention in my sig? If so it is a PCIe card that is in my DAW. When building a DAW I have become very demanding in the way of screen space. This video card can handle 3 large screens. It also gives a MUCH sharper picture than most cards on the market. I have been trying to get all of my studio into my computer for about 5 years now and it is finaly there more or less. For me the computers today are fast enough and stable enough (as long as you plan right and know what you are doing) to depend on. So the last stage for me is having the best interface for my computer that I can afford. The computer I have now could have a silly number of screens. If I went over the top and bought three quad head video cards from Matrox you would be looking at 12 screens

Mike Goodwin wrote:
Even people like Sasha and Hawtin dont use gear that would take up that much space on a table. Not that I am going around on Utube looking for hawtin and sash vids, but hawtin is using things like a fader fox and has his laptop perched on the edge of booths half the time.

talking about don richie's setup

AltDel wrote:

Mike Goodwin wrote:
Even people like Sasha and Hawtin dont use gear that would take up that much space on a table. Not that I am going around on Utube looking for hawtin and sash vids, but hawtin is using things like a fader fox and has his laptop perched on the edge of booths half the time.

talking about don richie's setup

yep the all funky lemur, a very very small screen. look at that picture where would you put a 28" screen?

Mike Goodwin wrote:

AltDel wrote:

Mike Goodwin wrote:
Even people like Sasha and Hawtin dont use gear that would take up that much space on a table. Not that I am going around on Utube looking for hawtin and sash vids, but hawtin is using things like a fader fox and has his laptop perched on the edge of booths half the time.

talking about don richie's setup

yep the all funky lemur, a very very small screen. look at that picture where would you put a 28" screen?

Like I said: Close lid of laptop. There's your space right there...

Machinate wrote: Like I said: Close lid of laptop. There's your space right there...

The only problem there is that you instantly loose access to the keyboard of the computer. I use the keyboard in live situations. It is faster than midi and handy as it is built in. But I see what your saying there is no point in having two screens showing the same information. I wish live had detachable windows for some things. Like being able to put my live instrumens on a second screen would be way better for me. Oh that and window placement memory!

How about something like this?
But of course, we'd need detachable windows in Live to pull it off all the way.
I could just imagine clip waveforms in a few screens and a few instruments in another.

Very interesting, if it does all you say, i would buy one inmediately. I don't care portability factor, because i would use it in my studio, only.