Does this really not exist?

[pethu]

A bit OT-ish, perhaps, but there seems to be some nifty programmers hanging around here, so here goes:

I have been searching high and low for a Windows utility that does the following, cause it would be so bleedin' useful that I refuse to believe it doesn't exist already:

MIDI CC in ->
compare CC to editable keycode lookup table ->
simulate corresponding keypress in active application

= any control surface (or MIDI controller, for that matter) could control at least basic transport functions in any host.

I mean, there are dozens of small proggies that does the exact opposite and converts keyboard presses to MIDI CCs! It doesn't seem fair... :)

(I noticed the same question was put in passing in another post some time ago, but it never got any answers or guesses as to why on earth not... )

[valley]

I have code that does that (an ugly hack of my MKey plug), but it was never written to be distributed.

If no-one else has anything, I'll see what I can do for you.

[djsubject]

wot would be the use of souch a thing?? im lost??

[haydxn]

i'd certainly like to try out any experimental hacked tool for this task you may have, valley

[valley]

wot would be the use of souch a thing?? im lost??

well I use it to start and stop trackion remotely from my control synth. I also have support for moving the play head back and forth, but it was so annoying to use I never got round to fixing the bugs.

[valley]

i'd certainly like to try out any experimental hacked tool for this task you may have, valley

Right now it is fixed MIDI channel, and fixed keys, cos I had no desire to write a UI for it, and no intention of distributing it. It'll prolly be useless for your needs.

I might be able to do some custom hackery though.

[valley]

I should also mention that the other reason I've done nothing much with it is 'cos I got myself one of those infra red numeric keypads, which thanks to the original MKey I can pretty much use to control whatever the hell I like in Tracktion, and I don't need to mess around with lost midi keys.



The numeric pad is just small enough to sit comfortably on my control synth, or around the room if I'm doing other things.

[AD80]

I should also mention that the other reason I've done nothing much with it is 'cos I got myself one of those infra red numeric keypads, which thanks to the original MKey I can pretty much use to control whatever the hell I like in Tracktion, and I don't need to mess around with lost midi keys.



The numeric pad is just small enough to sit comfortably on my control synth, or around the room if I'm doing other things.

Ok you sold me. How much?

[pethu]

Valley,

that remote keypad looks like a pretty nifty idea, and it got me started thinking along the right tracks. I just realised I can probably get my existing Pinnacle remote and IR receiver to do just what I want! I'll let you know how I fare...

(Still think there could be some demand for a more flexible MIDI CC-to-keypress utility, though, seeing as how small MIDI control surfaces are becoming more and more common. It could really open up totally new possibilities to use them even with non-musical apps!)

[valley]

Ok you sold me. How much?

That one is about $50 at CompUSA.

They had a similar device at OfficeMax for about $35

I'm sure there are better deals available.

Some of them have their own tools for setting what the keys do, but otherwise, if you get one that doesn't you can use MKey to trap the keypress and spoof an alternative.

[Timfonie]

wot would be the use of souch a thing?? im lost??

Think of e.g. using the pitch bend wheel for the transport function or scrubbing. The more you bend the wheel the faster the transportation.

It would be an alternative to the shuttle wheel (not the jog wheel) in Contour Design's Shuttles.

I am looking forward to see such a software utility too. Logic's environment can do it somehow.
Are there any alternatives for Logic's enviroment without getting into large programs like MAX?

Tim

[pethu]

OK, I'm sorted for now! I got my Pinnacle TV remote to control everything I needed -- except that for some reason, Tracktion refuses to accept the "cursor left" and "cursor right" keypresses -- maybe it has something to do with those keys being hard-coded and not mappable in Tracktion?

Anyway, soon we'll have T2 and then, of course, I can hook up my UC-33e to deal with all of this. (Right, Jules? :)

[valley]

OK, I'm sorted for now! I got my Pinnacle TV remote to control everything I needed

cool

[Shifrin]

You could try :-

Bome's Midi Translator V1.31
This utility is installed in-between two midi programs or devices. It analyses incoming midi data (sys ex or normal short messages) and translates them using your definitions.

The MIDI-to-MIDI translation changes MIDI message. This is useful to change volume, modify controller numbers or convert system exclusive messages to controller numbers.

It is possible to simulate keystrokes in response to incoming MIDI messages. This allows unlimited control over any Windows program by using a MIDI device (e.g. Tascam US-428).

http://bome.com/midi/translator/

Shif.

[pethu]

You could try :-

Bome's Midi Translator V1.31
This utility is installed in-between two midi programs or devices. It analyses incoming midi data (sys ex or normal short messages) and translates them using your definitions.

The MIDI-to-MIDI translation changes MIDI message. This is useful to change volume, modify controller numbers or convert system exclusive messages to controller numbers.

It is possible to simulate keystrokes in response to incoming MIDI messages. This allows unlimited control over any Windows program by using a MIDI device (e.g. Tascam US-428).

http://bome.com/midi/translator/

Shif.

See! I told y'all it was bound to exist! Seems just like the thing -- I'll certainly give it a try and see what it can do. Thanks muchly for the pointer!