Touch Controllers : Good or Bad?

jksuperstar · Posted: Sat Feb 19, 2005 2:41 pm Post subject: Touch Controllers : Good or Bad?

Anybody have experience using a touch-screen, or other controller that doesn't provide tactile feedback for making music?

Things like the Korg Kaos pad, the Continuum, or, more importantly (to me) ones similar to that touchpad Midiman used to make. I'm curious if the lack of feeling, actually pushing a button, versus tapping your finger on a surface like a laptop moush-pad, has any adverse effects.

http://messe.harmony-central.com/Musikmesse01/Content/Midiman/PR/Surface-One.html

Even if you've played with one in a music store, and didn't buy it, I'd like to hear why.

Kassen · Posted: Sat Feb 19, 2005 8:01 pm Post subject:

well, I love my theremin controler to pieces but it needs to be applied to the right parameters of the right sounds to realy shine. In many cases the lack of tactile feedack is actually a advantage since no intertia beyond that of your own body makes very fast vibratos possible as well as naturally flowing gestures that only depend on you and not partially on the controler.

Connecting the right kind of interface to the right kind of parameter should be seen as a important part of instrument design, I believe. As nice as knobs and buttons are they are not suitable for every parameter of every sound.

I never used a Chaos pad for any serious amount of time but I could see many interesting aplications could be found if you´d put your mind to it.

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Kas. playing his theremin in Gothenburg.
Winter 2005

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jksuperstar · Posted: Sat Feb 19, 2005 10:56 pm Post subject:

Absolutely right. I'm building a step sequencer, but could use some infrared detectors instead of buttons. It'd make the interface very "clean" & unique, but if you closed your eyes, it'd feel just like you were touching your kitchen table, and may even require you to have your eyes open and focused for placement of your finger. Put your finger where the button would be (over the sensor), and you toggle the state of the step. Much like working with a touch screen display. I'm really wondering if this has any side-effects...like not being able to feel the position of your finger over the button, and pressing it just when you wanted to. I suppose I'd have to build it and see what comes of it..

DrJustice · Posted: Mon Apr 11, 2005 8:09 am Post subject:

Once upon a time I was writing drivers for touch surfaces. My experiences led me to conclude that I will never use a vertically oriented touch screen again, at least not for a prolonged period. It simply wreaks havoc with elbow joints and shoulders - it's a lot worse than computer mice. I don't have a problem with the occasional use of touch screens such as on public bank/info/gas-pump -terminals etc.. You all know the exercise where you try to hold your arm outstretched for as long as you can... Of course, horizontal or inclined touch surfaces are better in this respect.

An issue with hard touch surfaces is that repeated (insipred and thus vigourus) touches can send tiny shock waves through the connected bones in your finger/hand/arm, again compromising joints.

I've gotten real life pains from vertical and hard touch surfaces.

Jksuperstar points out another problem; you have to look at the surface. The best touch surface I have used was the "Concept Keyboard", which was really a membrane switch matrix. On it you could feel where the borders between cells was, and being a membrane switch it gives slighly when you press it.

I could definiately fancy a Lemur, I think it looks rather good. Only problem is the price of 2k euro.

DJ
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zynthetix · Posted: Mon Apr 11, 2005 4:20 pm Post subject:

the lemur is cool but for $2k a tablet laptop seems more practicle...you can detatch the tablet part from the keyboard and have your touch screen midi program talking to a softsynth too.

blue hell · Posted: Mon Apr 11, 2005 4:30 pm Post subject:

But for those 2k it offers multi touch or something they call it, anyway it boils down to being able to have ten mouse cursors simultaneously, or more.

You'll need special software to support that of course, but this makes the device interesting for making music, it's a sort of a control surface with built in optical feedback.

Jan.

deknow · Posted: Mon Apr 11, 2005 5:13 pm Post subject:

...i use a buchla thunder as well as wind controllers. neither has a real tactile feedback, but with a good patch on either, i do really feel as if i'm playing an actual instrument (from the aural feedback).

deknow

mosc · Posted: Mon Apr 11, 2005 7:30 pm Post subject:

Posted Image, might have been reduced in size. Click Image to view fullscreen.

Kyma supports this pen tablet thing. http://www.symbolicsound.com/cgi-bin/bin/view/Company/KymaX1Released

I don't have it, but it looks pretty cool.

This isn't commentary or and editorial so I'm moving this to How Tos. Maybe it's schmooz, Then again, we can move it back.

zynthetix · Posted: Mon Apr 11, 2005 9:05 pm Post subject:

I have wanted a wacom tablet for years (for computer drawing and graphic design), now I have twice the reason to lust Twisted Evil

DrJustice · Posted: Tue Apr 12, 2005 5:55 pm Post subject:

For DIY touch surface/screen projects perhaps this is a good place to look.

Inspired by this thread, I just pulled an old touch surface out of the junk heap (>10 years on they still make this one!). Got some RISC OS software to use it as a MIDI controller - hmm, I almost feel like firing up an old RISC OS machine and having a play Smile

DJ
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