Re: [sc-users] Keyboard Input Vs. Midi Input

[nescivi <nescivi@xxxxxxxxx>]

Hiho,

Wednesday, May 17, 2006, 2:55:22 AM, you wrote:
ES> I am just wondering whether anyone could offer some
ES> suggestions for a comparison between keyboard input and midi input
ES> for SuperCollider3.  Specifically in reference to the topics of
ES> data protocols, and human interactivity comparisons.  

ES> Keyboard input is convenient, cheap, and completely
ES> programmable, whereas midi input can be aesthetically more
ES> appealing visually, and potentially offer more parameters in the
ES> sense of devices such as gloves, joysticks, dance pads, and
ES> synthesisers.


There is also the possibility to use USB HID devices, which
eliminates the restriction to 7-bit data.
And then there are several devices on the market which send out OSC.


In the end, it depends on what kind of control you would like to have,
while playing; and this is not just a matter of deciding which device
to use and which data protocols, but also a matter of deciding how to
map the control data to meaningful (and what is meaningful?)
parameters, experiment and once you've decided on a
setup: practise!


Keyboard input is limited to on/off switches,
MIDI input is limited by the 7-bit resolution of control data, but a lot of
standard musical interfaces are available (midi keyboards, or other
midi controllers)
USB HID, has a variable resolution (depending on the device), and
there are many devices on the market, ranging from normal computer
keyboards and mice, to complicated game controllers, and probably some
more uncommon ones.
OSC devices are starting to appear, and can offer some specialised
kind of controllers, mostly created with the musical or other artistic
aims.


In the end in SC3 everything is completely programmable (we can
interpret the MIDI data also in any way we like). On one hand this
gives freedom, on another gives us the burden of having to choose and
find interesting mappings.


So it boils down to finding answers for yourself about:
* what kind of gestures do I want to use to make music?
* which devices allow me to do this?
* how can I decode the data from this device in such a way that I can
recognise the gestures made with it?
* how do I map the gesture to the music?

This is a long process, which can take years of experimenting and
trying out.

Look at www.nime.org for papers about this topic to see what others
have found out and tried...

sincerely,
Marije