Muse Research

Watto · Post by **Watto** » Mon Sep 26, 2005 11:59 pm

I really want to get one, but they won't let me try it out first, so I'm nervous about such an expensive purchase...

Anyone had a go yet?

b.

james0tucson · Post by **james0tucson** » Tue Sep 27, 2005 12:09 am

The disappointing thing about a touchscreen for a DAW is the fact that only one point has the focus. So you can't, say, move a bank of faders like you would on a control surface, or press multiple buttons at a time. I realize the complexity implied in my wishes, but my point is, a good control surface would be a much better investment.

That said, I used a touchscreen once on an industrial project, where not only were there controls on the screen, but the x-y-z position of the screen itself was *also* a control, so by moving the whole display around, the operator had a set of positioning controls for the equipment, in addition to the GUI controls that were on the screen. It was a very good implementation for a very specific tool used to make aircraft parts.

Watto · Post by **Watto** » Tue Sep 27, 2005 1:43 am

Yes, I agree, james, although to me it's still more efficient and accurate using your finger than a mouse, in a live setting.

b.

Meffy · Post by **Meffy** » Tue Sep 27, 2005 1:49 am

Been using them for medical imaging software for the past eleven or twelve years. Can't stand 'em, for the reason james0tucson mentions and others.

Don't like light pens either, but the choice isn't mine. Doctors wearing latex gloves can't use a mouse as easily as a light pen. :-S

If I were to use a touch screen for music, I'd keep wanting to "twist" the round knobs, and needless to say that wouldn't work. The old mouse -- or extra-large trackball -- is fine by me.

Watto · Post by **Watto** » Tue Sep 27, 2005 6:55 am

Can't believe I never thought of that!

Thanks for your clarity, Meffy - you've saved me $750!!

Watto · Post by **Watto** » Tue Sep 27, 2005 8:01 am

I should add, though, that an elegant solution for Receptor is yet to be found by yours truly - the trackball mouse I've been using doesn't seem to like resting on my keyboard (think it's electrical interferance?) - ah, well!

What about a trackpad?

musicmaster · Post by **musicmaster** » Tue Sep 27, 2005 8:43 am

I wouldn't buy one today but maybe in the future! If you use the computer for other things like graphic production don't think of it, the screen got dirty and cluttered.

Musicmaster

Watto · Post by **Watto** » Tue Sep 27, 2005 9:00 am

What about something like this? http://www.cirque.com/products/desktop_smart.htm

Dan - reckon it might work??

Meffy · Post by **Meffy** » Tue Sep 27, 2005 1:31 pm

boogooloo1 wrote:Thanks for your clarity, Meffy - you've saved me $750!!

=@.@= Golly. Erm, you're welcome? =^_^=

DanTimis · Post by **DanTimis** » Tue Sep 27, 2005 7:34 pm

If you can connect this to a Mac or PC without installing a driver and it just works, there is a good chance that it would work with Receptor. But, if you have to install drivers before it can work, then it's not going to work.

james0tucson · Post by **james0tucson** » Tue Sep 27, 2005 9:00 pm

DanTimis wrote:If you can connect this to a Mac or PC without installing a driver and it just works, there is a good chance that it would work with Receptor. But, if you have to install drivers before it can work, then it's not going to work.

How much access is there at the software level of the Receptor? If someone is extremely familiar with kernal internals and is comfortable writing device drivers and so forth, what possibilities are there?

I'm not looking for the users' manual answer here, but the answer that someone who has worked on the linux kernel since 1994 would want.

Angus_FX · Post by **Angus_FX** » Tue Sep 27, 2005 9:06 pm

Note that the JazzMutant Lemur does support multiple focus. Not sure how good its integration with today's DAWs is, though -- obviously it's not a drop-in replacement for a mouse (whereas a single focus touchscreen can be). AFAIK most people so far are using it as a control surface for custom Max/MSP or Reaktor patches. There are some very cool things happening in musical control surfaces in the academic sphere right now (google reacTable for a start) -- most are some way from (commercial) prime time though.

james0tucson · Post by **james0tucson** » Tue Sep 27, 2005 9:21 pm

Angus_FX wrote:Note that the JazzMutant Lemur does support multiple focus.

I was going to mention that but I never saw that it was actually produced. Was it?

I'm still happy with my PC-1600x

DanTimis · Post by **DanTimis** » Tue Sep 27, 2005 9:32 pm

james0tucson wrote:How much access is there at the software level of the Receptor? If someone is extremely familiar with kernal internals and is comfortable writing device drivers and so forth, what possibilities are there?

I'm not looking for the users' manual answer here, but the answer that someone who has worked on the linux kernel since 1994 would want.

To the regular customer Receptor is a closed device. If you manage to get a command line prompt and start changing things, it is very easy to break something if you don't know what you are doing.

But, if you know what you are doing, you could install drivers or change the configuration to some extent. You cannot build your own kernel though, because our software runs only on kernels built by us. Actually, technically you could build your own kernel, but our software would not run.

Angus_FX · Post by **Angus_FX** » Tue Sep 27, 2005 9:41 pm

Cycling74 are distributing Lemurs in the US. Not cheap at $2495, but then cutting edge never is.

They're showing them at AES, for those of you that'll be there. I'll certainly be checking it out.. would be very interested to know if they're essentially a tablet or portable PC.

more info @ http://www.cycling74.com/products/lemur.html

Muse Research

KVR Audio

Is anybody using a touchscreen yet?