patented? (plus JI rant)
markgobbin
owned by the kinesis corporation (I know your midi layout idea is
original, and I think it's great, but the actual physical keyboard
design, wouldn't that be patented already? Or do you have some sort of
deal with them).
also, how would you play chords on that thing? (computer keyboards suck
for that because some combinations of keys won't work simultaneously...
cheapskates). I can't see how you could. (I only read about your system
very briefly though so i don't know)
check out www.thummer.com for another cool idea. I though "jeez how
many other of these alternative instruments have failed before". Also
they're hyping it up a lot and I think they may overextend themselves,
and fall flat on their faces.
The difference now is, their pricing is very competitive so maybe some
people would have a go at it. also it's basically a controller and
nothing else, so the concept is different. I just don't think there are
many people realise how much it would kick a keyboard's ass, so... I
just don't know.. some people will definitely buy it, but it could end
up being a fad
Thing is I've recently discovered just intonation. IT SOUNDS SO MUCH
BETTER!!! (but i need a tool to play it)
I figure, alternate tunings lack popularity for a whole lot of reasons
which feed back into each other and reinforce the status quo, mainly
lack of tools and the fact that it sounds "wrong" when if fact we're
just not accustomed to it. also it's pretty hard to understand and
there's been no education on the subject
with modern computer synthesis we can theoretically make whatever
tuning we want. so the time is right for wierd scales, I just don't
know if people want to hear it, ultimately it's just a popularity
contest.
(Actually I only discovered just intonation a matter of days ago. I've
only heard a few two minute samples. I just think it's astonishingly
bewildering). So basically I just need a bunch of buttons that I can
customise.
Oh... yeah... if you do make your own midi keyboard... velocity
sensitive for each button?
samchillian
the patent is on the idea of pitch selection by relative means, not on
the physical design of the keyboard. i chose to use the kinesis
keyboard because of its innovative ergonomic design and look, but the
relativistic concept works just as well with any computer keyboard.
not to mention the fact you can map the keys of any midi controller
(keyboard, EWI, etc.) to samchillian functions.
regarding chords - the kinesis keyboard is actually pretty good at
holding multiple keys simulaneously, but you're right: most keyboards
are not. in any case, the concept of samchillian doesn't lend itself
too well to chords. i do have some 'fixed' chords built in - the "Hm"
harmony key ('\') - but overall the advantage with samchillian is very
rapid unusual melodic lines.
all that said, i think someone could practice and develop a technique
for playing chords. it just hasn't been a strong interest of mine.
i'm all for alternate tunings - though my interest is mostly in being
'different', not being in tune. i haven't kept up to know what VST
plug-ins, if any, do alternate tunings. in the old days, you could
modify a DX7 with the "e!" chip to have a feature that did
microtonality. i seem to recall there being other such synths
yeah velocity would be nice - though for the time being i try to get to
'expression' without it. having a foot controller for some continuous
control is helpful in this regard. (wah, vibrato, etc.)
well i'd be curious to hear what you come up with - feel free to post
links here to music you have made with samchillian
samchillian
tunings, but samchillian can do alternate tunings with any synth.
however, there are some limitations with using samchillian for
alternate tunings
1. i have pre-set the particular scales you can use. (and none of them
are 'just intonation'). conceivably this could change in the future
2. the manner in which i do microtonality is to use pitch bend data.
just before each note that is struck a pitch bend is automatically
sent. however, pitch bend data affects the entire channel - so if are
using one of samchillian's microtonal scales and you play one note and
hold it, that held note's pitch will be shifted when you strike a 2nd
note. (actually this is quite an interesting, scary movie type effect
- try it on a string sound, e.g.)
markgobbin
as the creator of "saner chicken" (
http://thebigone.teatons.com/music/Mark_Gobbin-saner_chicken.mp3 ) I'm
the first to understand being different. In fact my philosophy is,
"cheesy annoying crap for its own sake". But that's mainly due to my
laziness and lack of knowlege about synthesizers.
I think the idea with JI is that, you can choose extreme dissonance or
harmony, it's up to the musician. Anyway I'm up for any tuning, i was
just excited because it's something new that I never before.
to tell you the truth I think I like it because it sounds terrible
re Midi: Actually has a proper tuning specification I found out, but
manufacturers don't support it. Your way seems to be how most people
deal with that. (may be supported by more expensive software)