Crossfader as ribbon controller for pitch

Question

Hi all,

 

I'd like to play an external synth in the way of an Ondes Martenot, that is with a ribbon controller. When you slide your finger up and down the pitch goes up and down. Is this doable with MidiDesigner? I've got the Pro version.

Thanks in advance

Seb

Answer 1

Well, it's possible by defining 127 buttons and have a crossfader supercontrol the buttons. Is there a less tedious way? Or has somebody already made a layout for this?

Comments

In 1.6.1 we have a transpose supercontrol (it's under subtype = control type on the first page of design properties)... could this help?

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also note: if you play your cards right and make one button correctly, all the other make similars will work out right (chromatic scale upwards). Also: you can renumber the controls on a page with page properties. This might ease some of the pain.

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On the other hand, you can just have a knob/slider/crossfader that sends note-ons. No?

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What's the relationship between this question: http://mididesigner.com/qa/2700/ribbon-controller

and the current one?

Thank you!

Answer 2

Well, it's possible by defining 127 buttons and have a crossfader supercontrol the buttons. Is there a less tedious way? Or has somebody already made a layout for this?

Answer 3

I've taken the challenge of investigating your question.  In order to test this, I linked my iPhone to a hardware syntheziser, (in my case an EMU Proteus 2000) and have arranged a design using Midi Designer Lite Unlocked.

I've used the crossfader with PitchBend (found under Midi Message Type) vs Gain (CC7).  It is essentially a pitch bend controller with volume dynamic. The range of the pitchbend should be adjustable on your syntheziser if you plan to extend notes across a keyboard range.

I've added an onscreen note - C4 so it's playable without a keyboard, however, using a keyboard will allow alternative and multiple notes.

http://mididesigner.com/qa/?qa=blob&qa_blobid=2725172851014238880

Comments

With a keyboard you are mostly confined to a scale, mostly diatonic. With a ribbon controller you can do stuff like this youtube.com/watch?v=24tZj7VdegE

Answer 4

I've taken the challenge of investigating your question.  In order to test this, I linked my iPhone to a hardware syntheziser, (in my case an EMU Proteus 2000) and have arranged a design using Midi Designer Lite Unlocked.

I've used the crossfader with PitchBend (found under Midi Message Type) vs Gain (CC7).  It is essentially a pitch bend controller with volume dynamic. The range of the pitchbend should be adjustable on your syntheziser if you plan to extend notes across a keyboard range.

I've added an onscreen note - C4 so it's playable without a keyboard, however, using a keyboard will allow alternative and multiple notes.

http://mididesigner.com/qa/?qa=blob&qa_blobid=2725172851014238880

Answer 5

Hi all,

 

thanks for your suggestions. Yes, "make similar" is probably the best way, then dragging 127 times to make it a subcontrol of a crossfade. (I wonder if I MIDIDesigner lets me have 127 subs?)

The other ideas are close but if I don't overlook something obious not really working for me. That 1.6.1. has a transpose supercontrol is great. It seems to me that it needs another "note on" message to send the altered pitch information, so no real glissando (I might be wrong here, might also depend on the envelope trigger implementation of the synth).

Make similars work only for channel and cc's, not note values.

A know/slider/crossfader sending note-ons sends a specific note value, most likely with added volume control. It does not slide up and down the notes.

mossontherock: I guess most of my synthesizers have a limited Pitch Bend Range, the DSI Evolver I'm playing with can only do one octave.

However: if one guy (me, tomorrow on the train) does it once and sends in the layout nobody else has to do it anymore. I take the Evolver handbook with me, maybe I can manage a whole Mono Evolver layout.

Thanks all, and please tell me where I'm wrong it I got something wrong.

Answer 6

Hi all,

 

thanks for your suggestions. Yes, "make similar" is probably the best way, then dragging 127 times to make it a subcontrol of a crossfade. (I wonder if I MIDIDesigner lets me have 127 subs?)

The other ideas are close but if I don't overlook something obious not really working for me. That 1.6.1. has a transpose supercontrol is great. It seems to me that it needs another "note on" message to send the altered pitch information, so no real glissando (I might be wrong here, might also depend on the envelope trigger implementation of the synth).

Make similars work only for channel and cc's, not note values.

A know/slider/crossfader sending note-ons sends a specific note value, most likely with added volume control. It does not slide up and down the notes.

mossontherock: I guess most of my synthesizers have a limited Pitch Bend Range, the DSI Evolver I'm playing with can only do one octave.

However: if one guy (me, tomorrow on the train) does it once and sends in the layout nobody else has to do it anymore. I take the Evolver handbook with me, maybe I can manage a whole Mono Evolver layout.

Thanks all, and please tell me where I'm wrong it I got something wrong.