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 Forum index » Instruments and Equipment » MIDI Controllers and Interfaces
A new MIDI Controller/Instrument
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SonicEd



Joined: Aug 11, 2006
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PostPosted: Fri Aug 11, 2006 3:05 pm    Post subject: A new MIDI Controller/Instrument
Subject description: Introducing the Sonic Palette
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Hello,

I've been developing a new MIDI Controller/Musical Instrument for the last few years, and it's finally ready to be seen (and sold).

It's called the Sonic Palette, and you can read all about it at:
www.sonicpal.com

I would greatly appreciate any feedback on it, and would glady answer any questions.

Thanks!
Ed Christensen
edchri@hotmail.com
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jksuperstar



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PostPosted: Fri Aug 11, 2006 6:02 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote  Mark this post and the followings unread

ALWAYS glad to see a new controller...and yours looks great! I personally play drums & such, so I have to ask...how much responsiveness do you get from your sensors for drum work? do you use conductive rubber (don't have to answer if you feel it's proprietery)? just curious about the feel.

Congrats, looks like a job well done. Any music examples made with it?
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SonicEd



Joined: Aug 11, 2006
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Location: Hayward California
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PostPosted: Fri Aug 11, 2006 11:04 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote  Mark this post and the followings unread

Thanks for your kind words.

I've worked hard to get it fast and responsive and to get the feel just right. It has little hard rubber half-dome bumpers sitting on top of the sensors that are .1" high to provide a tactile reference for your fingers and allow for pressure to come from a slight sideways angle. Over these is a thin, soft and stretchy vinyl laminate that is the visual reference and provides a small amount of additional cushioning. Overall I'd say there is less give then your typical drum machine's rubber pads.

Because of the number of sensors it is possible to assign groups of sensors to the same drum sample allowing you to "drum" your fingers.

Here is an example I quickly put together. There is absolutely no editing, MIDI processing, tempo adjustments, or any other trickery. This is one track recorded straight from the controller though Reason, in one pass.


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matrix



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PostPosted: Fri Aug 11, 2006 11:47 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote  Mark this post and the followings unread

Nice. I put up a post on http://matrixsynth.blogspot.com for others to check out as well. What's interesting is that there have been a number of other alternative controllers going up lately. Odd how that happens. Anyway, cool controller. It is refreshing having alternatives out there.
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mosc
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PostPosted: Sat Aug 12, 2006 7:31 am    Post subject: Reply with quote  Mark this post and the followings unread

This is very cool. Congrats on a great looking design. Thanks for posting here and letting us know about his. I wish you all the best.
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State Machine
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PostPosted: Sat Aug 12, 2006 4:43 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote  Mark this post and the followings unread

Beautiful design. I love the rosewood! Sounds very responsive from what I can tell from your drum solo sample. You might want to produce some streaming videos of it in action while applying it's control to various music stylings. From classical to experimental electro! Just a suggestion Very Happy

Thanks for the post and good luck !

Bill
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blue hell
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PostPosted: Sat Aug 12, 2006 5:28 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote  Mark this post and the followings unread

Looks good, seems interesting, the sample you posted made it seem possible to get expression, was just wondering about this detail
Posted Image, might have been reduced in size. Click Image to view fullscreen.


what is it good for ?

I saw all the pics on your site, but could not get a clue from it ... that is ... I can imagine things, but would like to read about the design ideas.

Ermm .. maybe I'm too old fashioned Very Happy

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also .. could someone please turn down the thermostat a bit.
Posted Image, might have been reduced in size. Click Image to view fullscreen.
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SonicEd



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PostPosted: Sat Aug 12, 2006 11:06 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote  Mark this post and the followings unread

Good eye. Yep, I was just thinking that the new pics I have on the site do not point out that a guitar strap can be attached for playing while standing or moving. Attached is a prototype with a strap. It wears just like a guitar.

I'm quite happy with the expression that is possible with this controller. Not only does it do velocity well, it can do various types of aftertouch including: channel, polyphonic and the "expression" control change.

Thanks everyone for the feedback!


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seraph
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PostPosted: Sun Aug 13, 2006 2:39 am    Post subject: Reply with quote  Mark this post and the followings unread

Posted Image, might have been reduced in size. Click Image to view fullscreen.
from the key layout I see you are thinking to use this alternative controller for 12 notes per octave (7 white keys and 5 black ones). could it be possible to arrange them differently?

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SonicEd



Joined: Aug 11, 2006
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Location: Hayward California
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PostPosted: Sun Aug 13, 2006 1:24 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote  Mark this post and the followings unread

Yes, the notes can be arranged any way you want. There is currently one preset with a rearranged surface, where the (looking at the diagram above) the top left corner in the lowest note and the bottom right is the highest. So it goes chromatically up by moving vertically down the board. Across horizontally would be octaves. The surface laminate is removable so a new (available) graphic representing this arrangement can be installed.

Arrangements other than these can also be done, (I'd be happy to do it) but I would have to do the programming here, as unfortunately there is not user editor at this time.

What did you have in mind as far as another arrangement? I am curious about what others think would work.
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seraph
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PostPosted: Sun Aug 13, 2006 3:39 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote  Mark this post and the followings unread

SonicEd wrote:

What did you have in mind as far as another arrangement? I am curious about what others think would work.

things like these:
arrow http://www.bikexprt.com/music/bosanqet.htm
arrow http://www.starrlabs.com/keyboards.html
arrow http://www.thummer.com/
Very Happy

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SonicEd



Joined: Aug 11, 2006
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Location: Hayward California
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PostPosted: Sun Aug 13, 2006 10:29 pm    Post subject:   Reply with quote  Mark this post and the followings unread

Thank you for the great links to these brilliant ideas on alternate key layouts. My hardware is currently based on a 12 by 7 grid of sensors, so when I wrote that other arrangements were possible, it would have to be within that constraint for now.

The www.bikexprt.com/music/bosanqet.htm article I had not seen before. I need to look at it more closely. There may be some concepts in there to work into my controller.

I am familiar with Starr Labs and their incredible controllers. They do great work.

I read the patent that is the basis of the Thummer a few years ago. I think the system is great for diatonic music, but may be clumsy for chromatic stuff. (I may be wrong about this.) But it is a good concept.

Thanks again!
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