Softpot Ribbon Controller

Scott Stites · Posted: Sun Aug 02, 2009 7:35 am Post subject:

Yep!

Actually, un-beknowest to Bill, I went rogue and ordered a HotPot Laughing

So, I'll be able to give the skinny on how the HotPot vs SoftPot works. The 500mm HotPot is a bit more expensive than the SoftPot. The surface feel looks to be the main draw, but the required pressure may or may not detract from it. On the SparkFun site, there was one comment about the HotPot, and it goes like this:

StephenGiles · Joined: Apr 17, 2006 Posts: 507 Location: England

Uncle Krunkus · Posted: Sun Aug 02, 2009 4:18 pm Post subject:

Shoes!!
I've found the only way to bamboozal a woman is with shoes!!
Take her down the shoe shop, and tell her she should pick two pairs!
Then go and get a haircut, and mumble something about "I think I should get a treat too."
Trust me, I'm a doctor!! Laughing

adambee7 · Joined: Apr 04, 2009 Posts: 420 Location: united kingdom

and handbags Very Happy

softfin · Posted: Mon Aug 03, 2009 2:20 am Post subject:

I'm sorry I haven't managed to keep on track about this Ribbon controller project due to other projects etc.
Anyway, I'm most definately interested in buying a parts kit, pcbs and everything related to this as such a controller would be most welcome here!! Very Happy

diablojoy · Posted: Mon Aug 03, 2009 4:08 am Post subject:

best of luck with the wife. unfortunately you really don't
stand a chance as they can smell a new purchase
a mile away Rolling Eyes

I gave up subterfuge long ago
now i just tell mine as soon as i have hit the confirm button
and get the inevitable argument over and done with,
of course then you do end up having to promise to buy her
something really expensive next month. which she will
most likely take care of herself, not tell you, and then give you grief over forgetting it Twisted Evil

. In any case makes for a interesting game, 27 years and still Iam playing it'. Laughing

Scott Stites · Posted: Mon Aug 03, 2009 7:21 pm Post subject:

I was wrong. You guys do know what kind of bullet I took. Laughing

spazmatron · Joined: Aug 05, 2009 Posts: 1 Location: North Texas

+1 on the complete kit.

I've been watching this for about 10 months or so. I'm super exited to see it's finally going to happen. I do have a few questions. I stumbled across the appendage after reading about the stribe/midibox that TK put together on the midibox forum. Which leads me to my first question:

My first thought was to use the midibox platform to midify the appendage, but since then, statemachine has created his own midi solution. I'm no expert, so I'm wondering, was midibox not suitable in this case, or were you (statemachine) just not familiar with it?

On the same midi subject, I'm wondering how do you get a midi synth, hard or soft, to smoothly move up and down notes without stepping? I'm sure it depends on the synth, but generally speaking, I'm not sure how to do it. I was thinking perhaps set the pitch bend range to several octaves, but that seems more like a work around than the actual right way to do it.

Lastly: There was mention of a "simplified" setup without some of the extras. Will that be just by leaving some parts off the board, or is that going to be a whole different board? I was considering 2 to 4 ribbons for a polyphonic setup for use with midi, in which case I think simple would be better. any ideas?

Thanks for such an awesome project!

Shane

Scott Stites · Posted: Tue Aug 25, 2009 6:55 pm Post subject:

Oh, sorry Spazmatron, I didn't see this post. A belated welcome

to you.

Bill would be more suited to answer your midification questions.

I gave the HotPot a trial run tonight. It certainly works with the Appendage, and the feel is definitely better - it doesn't grip the skin nearly as much. It does appear to take slightly more pressure; it's hard to tell with it not anchored and "floating" about. Even then, though, it didn't seem too awful bad. I'll know more when I grow some balls and decide to adhere it to a surface.

You can see my tenuous alligator-to-1/4 inch TRS connection; even with that crap connection, it worked just fine.

hotpot.JPG

Description:

Filesize:

407.33 KB

Viewed:

384 Time(s)

This image has been reduced to fit the page. Click on it to enlarge.

hotpot_connect.JPG

Description:

Filesize:

134.46 KB

Viewed:

376 Time(s)

This image has been reduced to fit the page. Click on it to enlarge.

mark_olson · Joined: Oct 26, 2006 Posts: 177 Location: Lawrence, Kansas

State Machine · Posted: Wed Aug 26, 2009 5:38 pm Post subject:

adambee7 · Joined: Apr 04, 2009 Posts: 420 Location: united kingdom

The hotpot looks much better. As i live player my sweat gets into things before i even play anything and the hotpot looks much more robust. Very Happy

State Machine · Posted: Sat Aug 29, 2009 1:48 pm Post subject:

It looks as though the laminate is different that encases the "pot" itself. Probably stiffer than the soft-pot and thus is why it takes a bit more pressure to activate the thing. I am just guessing at this point. Wink

Scott, does the Hot Pot feel thicker to you? It also looks wider so that more adhesive contact a surface.

Bill

Funky40 · Posted: Sat Aug 29, 2009 3:37 pm Post subject:

Scott Stites · Posted: Sat Aug 29, 2009 4:53 pm Post subject:

Coriolis · Joined: Apr 11, 2005 Posts: 616 Location: Stilling, Denmark

I second what Funky40 said about the resistors.
I have tons of those, or can get them cheap from futurlec when I order stuff for other projects anyway. So if omitting them could bring the price down on kits... Very Happy

C

State Machine · Posted: Sun Aug 30, 2009 11:38 am Post subject:

State Machine · Posted: Sun Aug 30, 2009 11:39 am Post subject:

johans121 · Posted: Sun Aug 30, 2009 12:42 pm Post subject:

State Machine · Posted: Sun Aug 30, 2009 12:56 pm Post subject:

adambee7 · Joined: Apr 04, 2009 Posts: 420 Location: united kingdom

dribble,dribble...................
Its all getting too much. I'm starting to have dreams of playing on stage with a laser coming out of the thing. Very Happy

fonik · Posted: Fri Sep 04, 2009 4:36 am Post subject:

State Machine · Posted: Fri Sep 04, 2009 6:55 am Post subject:

TekniK · Joined: Aug 10, 2008 Posts: 1059