Joystick for Zebra...???

[Miroslav H]

One of most interessting thinks in Zebra is the possibility to manipulate the sound in the real time - by the four programable windows. The big problem (the same like with much other virtual synths) is that You can manipulate (and listen the result) the programmed parameter only one by one with the mouse...

I discovered today a good possibility with: X-Arcade™ Two Player Joystick (http://www.x-arcade.com/two-player.shtml). Interessting is, that a guy (http://www.remix.net/weblog/?cat=16) use it for his music. He inform, that this is easily programmable for MIDI. In his page You can see a video with interessting possibilities to use different sounds.

I'm not a programmer, and someone more experienced must verified, if is realy possible to use it with Zebra, and probably he has to write a dedicaced program to program it.

Urs is probably the first person to be intersted about this type of product...

But maybe You already found a better solution and use some incredible machine with 4 joystick, totally MIDI programmed...???? Thank You for all ideas and tips.

Miroslav
Prague (CZ)

[beej]

Well, I either use the joystick on my Wavestation, or the 8 sliders on my microKontrol (4 pairs of sliders, one slider for each joystick axis), or Logic's automation, or the mouse, or whatever...

[jupiter8]

Unfortunately that Joystick won't work very well.The reason is that the joysticks works like 4 buttons. Not like a mod wheel for example.They're simply onoff buttons.

If you're handy with a soldering iron the Doepfer Pocket Electronic would allow you to connect 4 joysticks that outputs midi controllers. That'll be pretty slick.

[Miroslav H]

OK, I have much of sliders and knobs (Keystation88, BCF200...), the problem is that these commands are not the true X/Y controllers... the ideal is to transmit the real movements.. no?

[jupiter8]

OK, I have much of sliders and knobs (Keystation88, BCF200...), the problem is that these commands are not the true X/Y controllers... the ideal is to transmit the real movements.. no?

You could use sliders and knobs but it would be much more comfortable using a X/Y controller,yes.

I'm thinking one problem with using a game joystick for controll is that it springs back to center position.That might not be what you want. However it is probably quite easy to just rip the springs out of it to prevent that. You'll need an analog joystick though. They're not of the onoff kind.They transmit how far in the XY axis you are.

[aMUSEd]

Maybe something like a Kaoss pad would be better?

[jupiter8]

I've looked around a bit and the only solution i could find was http://www.analoguesystems.co.uk .They have joystick modules and an 8 channel CV->MIDI converter.

That'll be really expensive though. I don't think you'll ever be able to run 4 game joysticks at once. I don't think there is a program that supports it.

So your best bet is probably the DIY/Doepfer route.

[beej]

OK, I have much of sliders and knobs (Keystation88, BCF200...), the problem is that these commands are not the true X/Y controllers... the ideal is to transmit the real movements.. no?

Well, and XY controller is simply two controlls, so you get exactly the same effect using two sliders, it's just the movemnt is a little different and takes some getting used to - and takes two fingers/hands rather than one to move both axis at once.

A joystick is a nicer way of doing it, but if you don't have one, sliders will work.

[Urs]

Thanks for bringing this up!

I've been meaning to meet up with a Berlin hardware developer for 3 years now, but we never managed to have a beer. We only meet at Musikmesse in Frankfurt each and every year.

There has indeed been the idea of a hardware controller for Zebra with 4 joysticks. The question is, would it have a keyboard, or maybe would it even be a hardware stand alone Zebra (for half the price of a Virus but twice the sound, hehe).

We just gotta find time to meet up and discuss this. The question comes up so often that I think there's a lot of demand for a good solution.

Cheers,

Urs

[groumpf]

I use a Radio transmitter with two joystick (the one used for RC planes) with a plane simulator called "crrcsim". It use the audio input as the interface so the RC transmitter signal is scanned by the software and converted into commands for the simu. The signal is PWM. The advantage are the analogue joystick and the interface : just an audio jack cable.
Perhaps a similar approch is possible.

[Howard]

The question comes up so often that I think there's a lot of demand for a good solution.

Or 2 good solutions

[whyterabbyt]

I've looked around a bit and the only solution i could find was http://www.analoguesystems.co.uk .They have joystick modules and an 8 channel CV->MIDI converter.

Analogue Solutions used to do one, a dual-joystick box called the DJMC. But AFAIK they discontinued it a while ago. They were selling the PCBs, with and without joysticks, for a while, but those seem to have gone as well. Cant find the SOS review of it that I remember, but there's some basic info on it here

http://www.gearjunkies.com/product_info ... da134d4b94

You might be able to find them on ebay or whatever. Ive got two PCB's but Im hanging on to them, Im afraid.

For the DIY route, in addition to the Doepfer electronics mentioned earlier, there's also the MIDISense board... 6 resistance inputs onboard, enough for a 3-joystick system anyways...

http://www.ladyada.net/make/midisense/

[aMUSEd]

What I don't get is how come RCG synths XY controllers all work with a bog standard USB joystick without any faffing around whatsoever? Maybe other devs need to get some tips from Rene?

[jupiter8]

What I don't get is how come RCG synths XY controllers all work with a bog standard USB joystick without any faffing around whatsoever? Maybe other devs need to get some tips from Rene?

The problem isn't so much getting one joystick to work,more how to get 4 of them working together at the same time.
1 is no problem,4 isn't doable as far as i can tell.
Not with gaming joysticks at least.

[pd]

I think a controller with 4 small pads on it would be good so that you can use 4 fingers (one on each pad) to control it.

Code: Select all

+------+------+
| pad  | pad  |
|  1   |  2   |
+------+------+
| pad  | pad  |
|  3   |  4   |
+------+------+