Multi-Touch Monitor Keyboards Simulations

[Kalamata Kid]

Hello,

Is the possible to use a Multi-Touch Computer Monitor as midi keyboard controller surface? Is it possible to simulate alternate midi controllers such as:

Axis 64
http://www.c-thru-music.com/cgi/?page=prod_axis-64

Thummer
www.thummer.com

The Continuum Fingerboard
http://www.hakenaudio.com/Continuum/htm ... Intro.html

ZB2 Z-Board
http://www.starrlabs.com/products

Microzone U-648
http://www.starrlabs.com/products/keybo ... zone-u-648

ReacTogon
http://www.gizmowatch.com/entry/reactog ... -tabletop/

Lemur
http://www.jazzmutant.com/lemur_overview.php

TENORI-ON
http://www.global.yamaha.com/design/tenori-on/

Enter the names in www.youtube.com for video demos.

Let not forget to simulate a 12 tone piano type keyboard with added features. My thinking is it would be great that each key also has a x-y axis to control any other midi parameter to add expression. After striking a key one can obtain and additional effect my moving the finger(s) on the x-y axis.

There is also a possibility in microtuning arrangements. One can get creative and design all kind of key arrangements. Add midi learn and the possibilities are endless.

One would be a helper for the music disadvantaged having the keys light up in colors point out best key to play or avoid. Red would be to avoid, Green to play and yellow for the adventurous.

Perhaps this was covered earlier in another thread. In such case please post a link.
Is posting this in Hardware the correct place?

[knockman]

if you have to build your own multi-touch display then it's hardware.

i was researching such things a while back - i spent a lot of time reading the NUI group forums and was considering building a multitouch panel. i decided to put things on hold for the sake and sanity of my family - not enough time and a cramped apartment already littered with other projects.

i think some of the developers are working in midi control, but i'm not up with the latest stages. i did mess about with some earlier music apps on a temporary mock up. i just made a quick visit again, this thread maybe of interest: http://nuigroup.com/forums/viewthread/5694/

oh no! i feel a project coming on...

[Kalamata Kid]

I overlooked that the multi-touch monitors may not be velocity sensitive. In this case the location of the strike will determine the velocity. A compromise but one I can live with.

One more thing is to conform is that the multi-touch monitors can sense ten finger simultaneous touches. Does anyone know this?

Now what remains is for someone to write the software. Can this be in the form of a midi VST or VSTi.

The only trouble I see with multi-touch monitors is tactile feedback. So this is not for playing classical music but a surface to experiment and come up with something new.

Are knockman and I the only ones interested in this multi-touch midi keyboard controller monitor?

[amiga909]

if ur not aware already, it might be interesting that sensomusic usine supports custom interface building for touchscreen control.

as for multitouch it will still take some time. pc users will need windows 7, as XP does not support multiple pointing devices natively.
on the hardware side there are some projects coming up, like the one by Elo: http://www.selfserviceworld.com/article_22428.php
afaik real 10 finger multitouch hasnt reached the mass markt (if u say that lemur isnt for the mass market) yet. thu there are some notebooks with partial multitouch and of course the nintento DS. but its coming

[Kalamata Kid]

Looks like I will have to wait for my dream midi alternate keyboard controller to be a reality. Nothing wrong with dreaming just as long it is not confused with reality.

[Kalamata Kid]

Check this out:
The Manta by Jeff Snyder at
http://snyderphonics.com/

see videos at

This is close to what I was referring to in my ordinal post.

If this was a multi (ten) touch screen the key keyboard arrangement need not be fixed, it could be varied by software. Any touch motion can be programmed to any midi function.

[Blackbyrd]

Little off-topic, but does anyone know a midi thermin-like device? Like Alesis Air-FX but for midi (I dunno why this folks did not make one). Don't mention their wacky Photon keyboard, I don't want it. Is there anything and preferably cheap, in this world?

[Kalamata Kid]

Hello,

Some progress here so there is hope that we are not far from having a touch
screen as a midi keyboard controller

10 finger touch screen.
http://jkontherun.com/2009/07/22/capaci ... synaptics/

However this screen is not velocity sensitive.
The finger surface can however be used
with some success to control the velocity
parameter.

Google:
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=%2 ... f&oq=&aqi=

[ouroboros]

runagate will have more info on this than you can shake a stick at.
you might want to check out his blog: http://runagate.noisepages.com/

[Kalamata Kid]

With a Multi-touch monitor one has many options available. It would be nice to have an x-y axis available on each key like the Continuum. http://www.hakenaudio.com/Continuum/htm ... Intro.html
The X and Y can be programmable. Once a key is touched you are given a one octave wide Y axis to bend or whatever.

A ten finger touch screen would make a great midi keyboard. Does anyone else sharethis vision?

[robertinventor]

There's my mouse theremin, part of Tune Smithy, lots of features, read about it here:

Currently free, unless you want to record your playing to midi within the theremin, then very low price.

http://robertinventor.com/software/tune ... eremin.htm

BTW I also plan to add multi-touch capabilities to the Tune Smithy alternative keyboards. Already have it in the beta but not yet released, some things to sort out first.

First will be with Bounce Metronome Pro, as that's what I'm working on now, has a keyboard you can use Janko style but is a minor feature as it is designed as a metronome which happens to have some microtonal and pc keyboard playing features.

http://www.bouncemetronome.com/
(doesn't yet have multi-touch but probably will some time in the next week or two)

After that next will be a release of the Lambdoma diamond keyboard early next year I hope, with multi-touch. Then release of Tune Smithy as a whole with multi-touch throughout.

I could also do a multi-touch theremin, allow you to do continuously changing pitch and volume with several fingers at once. Continuum keyboard style multi-touch would also be possible with volume, pitch and other controllers depending on position of finger on the key.

It will take time but should get there eventually.

Robert

Little off-topic, but does anyone know a midi thermin-like device? Like Alesis Air-FX but for midi (I dunno why this folks did not make one). Don't mention their wacky Photon keyboard, I don't want it. Is there anything and preferably cheap, in this world?

[robertinventor]

BTW Tune Smithy and Bounce Metronome Pro aren't VSTs, sorry, stand alone programs

[Kalamata Kid]

Any news?

Is anyone keeping up with this technology?

How soon might a ten-touch velocity sensitive monitor be available?
(at a reasonable price)

Or at least 10-finger with surface area sensor

Or even a 10-finger multi-touch without surface area nor velocity sensitive sensor. Can use location of the strike to determine dynamics.

[EvilDragon]

I wouldn't want to have a velocity sensitive touchscreen monitor considering MY playing technique. Just saying.

[MusicScienceGuy]

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Is the possible to use a Multi-Touch Computer Monitor as midi keyboard controller surface?

As documented in my new alternate instrument/Keyboard website (http://sites.google.com/site/altkeyboards/), it's possible to use an iPad for some things. You'll have to hack the iPad interface to get everything you want - perhaps these developers can help. See here (https://sites.google.com/site/altkeyboards/updates/runanyisomorphickeyboardonappleproducts)in the news section.
Ken.