The ultimate controller!

hugolp · Post by **hugolp** » Thu Jul 15, 2004 2:04 pm

Hi!

I study sound technology and I have to decide my final project in a week. I am convinced on doing a Midi controller for computer. Spceally for Live, but actually for any other software. I am thinking on a base module with expandeable modules for some characteristic that not everybody would want (or dont need at the moment, or dont have to use for an specific gig). If someone have any ideas send them to [email protected]. I also will like to hear about the design and the look of it. Motor faders? LED?

Any suggestion or ideas? Send them to [email protected] Now you can ask what you always wanted for your controller!

Hugo

leisuremuffin · Post by **leisuremuffin** » Thu Jul 15, 2004 11:35 pm

Ok, i'll bite. Here's what i would like:

8 faders with 3 knobs above each

2 x/y touch pads or even better 2 x/y joysticks (with button at top or maybe grip style with forefinger and thumb triggers)

16 vel and pressure sensitive drum pads

flat metal touch keyboard a la buchla series 200

two foot pedals and foot switches.

yep, that about covers it.

-lm

hugolp · Post by **hugolp** » Fri Jul 16, 2004 1:23 pm

Yes, that can be done.

The predesign Im drawing has 1 touch pad and 1 joystic in the main module. The button at top of the joystick is a good idea. Ill check if I can find a company that builds something like that.

Always talking about the predesign, above the faders you have two little buttons for mute and solo (with light), and then 4 knobs.

I am really thinking if the keyboard should be in the main module or as an extra module you could add (It will probably be the second option). Does anybody has a suggeriment on how to make the modules together. I would like something that could make everything be together but be flexible at the same time. I am breaking my head with this. As I studied electronics Engineering before sound technology, I can handle without problem the electronic stuff, but at the moment I havent found a solution for this.

The pads will be an extramodule too.

Thanks for the ideas

Hugo

leisuremuffin wrote:Ok, i'll bite. Here's what i would like:

8 faders with 3 knobs above each

2 x/y touch pads or even better 2 x/y joysticks (with button at top or maybe grip style with forefinger and thumb triggers)

16 vel and pressure sensitive drum pads

flat metal touch keyboard a la buchla series 200

two foot pedals and foot switches.

yep, that about covers it.

-lm

nickw · Post by **nickw** » Fri Jul 16, 2004 3:06 pm

have you looked at ucapps.de

lots of ideas there

Cheers

Nickw

hugolp · Post by **hugolp** » Fri Jul 16, 2004 3:31 pm

Hi!

I have checked the page. As I studied Electronics Engineering before Sound Technology, the electronic stuff doesnt concerm me a lot. I am looking more towards what people want as features.

It is a very good page.

Hugo

nickw wrote:have you looked at ucapps.de

lots of ideas there

Cheers

Nickw

Machinate · Post by **Machinate** » Fri Jul 16, 2004 7:18 pm

My ultimate controller would have endless knobs with LED rings, xy velocity sensitive touchpads and handsonic-style drum pads.

A cool module would be one with 8 proximity sensors on long cables controlling note values and cc's with two knobs assigned to each sensor, controlling its min/max values. Combined with laser sensors or other triggers it could potentially provide some amazing crowd interaction in a performance. People dancing in the corner of a club could (unknowingly?) be controlling the cutoff frequency of the bassline, or when the next breakdown kicks in.

This is also a neat way to inject some uncertainty into a performance, and would still keep the performer in some kind of control.

Speaking of "rolls royce controllers", this one made me droll:
http://www.hakenaudio.com/Continuum/
-of course one would need to spend a small fortune to get Kyma AND the continuum controller...... If I had a house, I'd sell it

np71770 · Post by **np71770** » Fri Jul 16, 2004 7:37 pm

can you put in at least a few pads (4-5) to record drum patterns. Or a series of inputs on the back to install piezo drum triggers? Im thinking along the line of the new Korg microController.

If the Korg had full size keys and a 2x2 firewire audio interface with mic preamps, I would buy 2 of them. oh and firwire bus powered too.

5dots · Post by **5dots** » Fri Jul 16, 2004 7:44 pm

here's what i'd want: a 3-octave keyboard (i'd prefer the keys be a bit smaller so as to save on space), a set of maybe no more than 8 pads (like the akai mpc or mpd pads), a set of at least 16 knobs (but preferably more), and at least one x-y touchpad. (and yes, this is pretty much a consolidation of the 3 controllers i currently own, with the exception of the touchpad).

with the touchpad, i think it's imperative that there be sliders that act as x and y independently, so as to make assigning those parameters easier.

dirtystudios · Post by **dirtystudios** » Fri Jul 16, 2004 9:01 pm

the korg microcontrol's lighted drum pads are unbelievably cool and versatile.

k

Rx · Post by Rx » Sun Jul 18, 2004 6:10 pm

i'd like a d-beam controller so you can do the wannabe-cool hand movements like BT. additionally, it should have an optional hairdryer attachment with a 'BT' preset.

joking aside, i'd like to see 2 d-beam controllers. the more hand movements people can see, the better.

amo · Post by **amo** » Sun Jul 18, 2004 6:20 pm

Hi,

Don't forget buttons to fire/stop clips.....

regards

amo

lowQ · Post by **lowQ** » Mon Jul 19, 2004 2:36 am

just a guest opinion...

I would like to have something that simply reproduces live interface, but in a hardware way...
I mean: 8 channel, everyone made up of:
1 fader
1 mute botton with led
1 solo botton with led
1 joystick for x/y assignement
3 knobs
8 small buttons for triggering on/off clips of that channel. one note about these: they should be capable of sending note on messages when they are pressed once, and send note off messages when they are pressed for the second time. they should have a led that shows the state of the button.

then I would need also a simplified master channel with at least 8 bottons for triggering scenes, and maybe mute/solo buttons.

it would be nice that mute/solo buttons of all channels could work in two different way: first mode is like mute/solo usually work on studio mixers, second mode is like cut/punch on dj mixers: while you keep the button pressed it cuts/punches, and when you release it all goes back to a normal state.

obviously, endless encoders would be the best. this remote controller should have a particular kind of case that allow you to put it on the laptop keybord. something like that small "table" that someone uses to have breakfast in bed.

mpc style pads and a keybord could be separate modules. this also helps to find the right placement of the controllers. I'm thinking about a central unit made of laptop + main controller over the laptop keyboard, keyboard on the right and pads on the left.

I would use usb interface, I think it should provide enough power for it. In this way I would use firewire for the audio card.

hope this could help, if you can build something like that I'll surely buy one of this from you!

Pitch Black · Post by **Pitch Black** » Mon Jul 19, 2004 3:13 am

Definately a big ups to having LEDS embedded in the clip trigger buttons - then you can see what is currently playing without having to look at the computer screen. And on any solo and mute buttons, too.

Darrel A · Post by **Darrel A** » Mon Jul 19, 2004 3:49 am

Dont forget turntable style pitch control with 1 button to push the tempo and 1 button to drag the tempo

creepjoint · Post by **creepjoint** » Mon Jul 19, 2004 10:28 am

a clone of the abandoned Midiman Surface One

The ultimate controller!

The ultimate controller!

Ultimate controller