From SCSTRAUS@teletechusa.com Tue Dec 12 17:29:14 1995 Date: Tue, 12 Dec 1995 16:41:06 -0700 From: SEAN STRAUS To: scstraus@wonderland.teletechusa.com Subject: Re[2]: MIDIizing analog effects units -Forwarded Received: from ccMail by lmumail.lmu.edu (IMA Internet Exchange 1.04b) id 0ce11ba0; Tue, 12 Dec 95 15:35:22 -0800 Mime-Version: 1.0 Date: Tue, 12 Dec 1995 15:31:27 -0800 Message-ID: <0ce11ba0@lmumail.lmu.edu> Return-receipt-to: PMosinsk@lmumail.lmu.edu (Peter Mosinskis) From: PMosinsk@lmumail.lmu.edu (Peter Mosinskis) Subject: Re[2]: MIDIizing analog effects units To: Sean Straus Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Content-Description: cc:Mail note part Sean, Here's some additional stuff I found in my search for this kind of information: >I am interested in building a continuous/real-time MIDI controller which >will fit into a conventional volume or wah-wah pedal. > >Is the MIDI Gizmo what I'm looking for? Is there any way I could get a >copy of the schematic? > >Thanks in advance for your help! > >Peter. I believe our kit will fit your needs. Today, the schematic is part of the manual that goes with the kit, so it's not trivial to just send you that. If you want to send $8.00, I can send you a copy of the manual if that's all you want. The BOTBoard that the Gizmo is based on is 2"x3", and the circuit that makes it midi consists of 2 chips (74LS04 and an opto-isolator) that you mount on the protoyping area, and then to two 8 pin SIP connectors. One of the connectors goes to the MIDI connectors (back panel) and the other goes to the 4 buttons that serve as triggers, one that serve as a 'record mode' button and an LED. Of course you can wire it anyway you want, but that's how the software expects it to be wired. The MIDI part is a classic implementation that is widely available. The software performs the functions of recording short sequences, and playing them back when you hit one of the triggers. If you want the manual only, send a check or your Visa or M/C number & expiration number for $8.00, and a copy of this message. Cheers! +----------------------+---------------------------------------------- + | Christopher Nielsen | Zorin... Home of the $87 HC11 Buffalo Kits | | zchris@eskimo.com | http://www.eskimo.com/~zchris | +----------------------+---------------------------------------------- Try the Advanced MIDI User's guide by R.A. Penfold. I think I have the title right. It's a small book that's great for reference. We offer a device called the MIDI Gizmo to make building MIDI devices easier. You can see it on our WWW page, or I can answer questions you have... Cheers! +---------------------+----------------------------------------------+ | Christpher Nielsen | Zorin... Home of the $87 HC11 Buffalo Kits | | zchris@eskimo.com | http://www.eskimo.com/~zchris | | (206) 282-6061 | Check out our MIDI Gizmo! | +---------------------+----------------------------------------------+ >I would like to build a continuous/real-time MIDI controller which will >fit in a conventional volume or wah-wah pedal. Its function should be >similar to the pitch wheel on a keyboard. > >Any ideas/suggestions for a good place to start. Hi, Peter You're not the first who is aksing this and you probably aren't the last to receive this answer :) anyway, read "volume" where it says "pitch wheel"; Well, I think the best way to deal with that is connecting a microcontroller in series with the Midi-out of your keyboard (if you want to pitch bend a sound generator). The microcontroller leaves the data from the keyboard untouched (it can be set to retreive the out channel number from the data). If necessary, the microcontroller adds the pitch wheel info. The pitch wheel can consist of a normal potentiometer with some kind of analog to digital converter. If, on the other hand, you want to pitch bend the keyboard itself, the microcontroller circuitry has to be connected (in series) to the midi-in of the keyboard. Some way of setting the channel to be affected should be provided too. It will probably costs about $50 US Dollars to buy the parts, depending on how much luxury is wanted/needed. I also think this concept is easely expandable to send other controller messages, like modulation, panning, volume, etc. I hope this helps altough it's not a very clear message. I don't have a an off-the-shelf solution for this. (I should put a design idea online covering these sort of things...) Regards, Nico Coesel /-----------------------------------\#/--------\#/-------\ | For: | o o o--o| o---o | | -electronic circuit consultancy o |\ | | \ | | | -PC repairs | | \| | o-| | | | -PC expansions | | | | | | | | email: | o o o--o | o | | nctnico@cistron.nl. \--o o--/#\--o oo | | +-o Don't forget to check out the Hardware Web (r) at: | | http://www.cistron.nl/~nctnico/index.htm | | | +-o also take a look at the MidiWeb at: | | http://midiweb.ele.tue.nl/midi/midiweb/index.html | \--------------------------------------------------------/ ______________________________ Reply Separator _________________________________ Subject: Re: MIDIizing analog effects units -Forwarded Author: Sean Straus at SMTPLINK-LMU Date: 12/12/95 4:19 PM > > Sean, > > Your request is very thought provoking. Lately, I've been trying to > figure out how to do similar stuff--I am interested in building a > standalone MIDI controller (like a stand-alone pitch wheel) which could > be used to send MIDI information to an effects processor, etc. Thanks for your reply, Peter. I will check into those resources. About your project, It seems like it may be similar to an expression pedal (like the ones on some Digitech MIDI floor pedal units). Is there something I'm missing? It's an interesting area in general to explore, because if you could master making your own custom hardware setup, you could make sounds no one else could. (It's starting to happen more and more, look at Future Man Wooten from Bela Fleck, he made a whole new instrument.). I just wish I could find the parts (If I knew what was out there, I'd start getting ideas on how to piece it together.) Thanks, Sean Straus