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Does a game controller send out midi?

Posted: Wed Sep 13, 2006 12:40 pm
by Frantic
I am a self-proclaimed OG Nintendo nut.

I had a nintendo controller modified a while back to have USB on the end instead of the normal connection, so that I could plug the Nintendo controller could be plugged into my PC. This allows me, with an emulation program, to play every old Nintendo game imaginable with the OG controller. Quite fun.

I was wondering the other day... does the Nintendo controller send out midi messages? Would it be possible to get Live to recognize the controller as a midi-input?

I would LOVE to be able to select and launch scenes using the directional pad to select scenes, the B button to launch and the A button to stop all clips. 8)

Any thoughts?

Posted: Wed Sep 13, 2006 12:42 pm
by Nixon

Posted: Wed Sep 13, 2006 12:42 pm
by hambone1
Not directly, but there are a number of utilities to convert gamepads/joysticks into MIDI or keystrokes.

Search around the forum. You'll find lots of good stuff.

Re: Does a game controller send out midi?

Posted: Wed Sep 13, 2006 2:33 pm
by jeskola
Frantic wrote:I am a self-proclaimed OG Nintendo nut.

I had a nintendo controller modified a while back to have USB on the end instead of the normal connection, so that I could plug the Nintendo controller could be plugged into my PC. This allows me, with an emulation program, to play every old Nintendo game imaginable with the OG controller. Quite fun.

I was wondering the other day... does the Nintendo controller send out midi messages? Would it be possible to get Live to recognize the controller as a midi-input?

I would LOVE to be able to select and launch scenes using the directional pad to select scenes, the B button to launch and the A button to stop all clips. 8)

Any thoughts?
performing a spinning pile driver or a Shoryuken uppercut button combo to unleash a filter sweep - i like it!! 8)

Posted: Wed Sep 13, 2006 3:17 pm
by Bassfrq

Posted: Wed Sep 13, 2006 4:36 pm
by Frantic
^^^ Looks like that link is a device driver for a Mac... I'm running a PC.

I'll do some searching around the forum, and I'm definitely interested. Thanks again.

Posted: Wed Sep 13, 2006 8:53 pm
by mikemc
this is exactly what you need:

http://fireballtrailers.com/rejoice

Posted: Thu Sep 14, 2006 12:26 am
by Frantic
^^^ Yes! 8O Thanks much!

*edit: After I try all this I will of course report back with the results...

Posted: Sun Oct 08, 2006 4:00 pm
by Frantic
Is there a "midi yoke for dummies" thread somewhere on this board?

I just searched around but can't find one. I must just be slow, but I can't wrap my head around how to use midi yoke. Do I need to download midi-ox too? Does one run through the other? Is there a tutorial somewhere?

*sigh*

Posted: Sun Oct 08, 2006 6:34 pm
by fatrabbit
I know for a fact that Xbox controllers are just connected via USB (they changed the actual shape of the ports for obvious reasons).

Posted: Sun Oct 08, 2006 10:54 pm
by Frantic
UPDATE: Ok, I've got Midi Yoke installed and running. Ableton can see the Midi Yoke channels.

I've managed to get the start, select, a and b buttons on the NES controller to trigger some messages to ableton. I can assign those buttons to anything that lights up blue when I press the midi button. woot!

Strange thing is that I can't seem to get any midi signal out of the directional pad. I'm sure it's just me not fully understanding mapping... I've never really mapped anything before, so Midi Yoke is confusing me as to how to get it to do what I want.

More to come......

Posted: Mon Oct 09, 2006 4:31 am
by sgx
fatrabbit wrote:I know for a fact that Xbox controllers are just connected via USB (they changed the actual shape of the ports for obvious reasons).
Yeah, and the xbox360 wired controller is actually real USB.

Posted: Mon Oct 09, 2006 10:50 am
by slatepipe
hi frantic

let me know how you get on. i tried doing that midi yoke and rejoice thing ages ago to try and get a usb joystick to work as a midi controller but my brain nearly collapsed in the process. i just cant get my head around it but if you have success i'll have another look into it.

good luck

Posted: Mon Oct 09, 2006 11:35 am
by -art-
People will do interesting things with the Wii controllers once its released i imagine. I remember attending a performance once where this chick played her av art piece on xbox, it was pretty cool. Depending on where she went depended on how the visuals and music changed.

Posted: Mon Oct 09, 2006 3:18 pm
by mikemc
Frantic wrote:Is there a "midi yoke for dummies" thread somewhere on this board?

I just searched around but can't find one. I must just be slow, but I can't wrap my head around how to use midi yoke. Do I need to download midi-ox too? Does one run through the other? Is there a tutorial somewhere?

*sigh*
Here is a very simple one, loopbe1, free to try, costs about $11 for a license:

http://nerds.de