hexagon keyboard

chessy microtonal music is just around the corner
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ScJPgOI50Hc&feature=channel <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ScJPgOI50Hc&feature=channel>
--

/^_,',',',_ //^ /Kraig Grady_ ^_,',',',_
Mesotonal Music from:
_'''''''_ ^North/Western Hemisphere:
North American Embassy of Anaphoria Island <http://anaphoria.com/>

_'''''''_ ^South/Eastern Hemisphere:
Austronesian Outpost of Anaphoria <http://anaphoriasouth.blogspot.com/>

',',',',',',',',',',',',',',',',',',',',',',',',',',',',',

a momentary antenna as i turn to water
this evaporates - an island once again

I have the app. I haven't played with it much yet.
It somehow feels very limited. IIRC, it's only microtonal
if you send its OSC over WiFi to a synth you have
retuned. -Carl

At 07:15 PM 9/9/2010, you wrote:
> chessy microtonal music is just around the corner
>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ScJPgOI50Hc&feature=channel
><http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ScJPgOI50Hc&feature=channel>
>--
>

In all seriousness, if I could just find a damn mass-produced button
panel, I could program a microtonal MIDI controller with an Arduino in
like a week or two, and put the schematic and code up here. And
everyone would then have a DIY microtonal MIDI controller, and we
could all be playing in miracle and porcupine and 22-tet and 72-tet
and assigning mappings to this generalized keyboard as they please.

But where does one find a hexagonal button panel? I am displeased!

-Mike

On Thu, Sep 9, 2010 at 10:15 PM, Kraig Grady <kraiggrady@...> wrote:
>
> chessy microtonal music is just around the corner
> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ScJPgOI50Hc&feature=channel
> <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ScJPgOI50Hc&feature=channel>
> --
>
> /^_,',',',_ //^ /Kraig Grady_ ^_,',',',_
> Mesotonal Music from:
> _'''''''_ ^North/Western Hemisphere:
> North American Embassy of Anaphoria Island <http://anaphoria.com/>
>
> _'''''''_ ^South/Eastern Hemisphere:
> Austronesian Outpost of Anaphoria
> <http://anaphoriasouth.blogspot.com/>
>
> ',',',',',',',',',',',',',',',',',',',',',',',',',',',',',
>
> a momentary antenna as i turn to water
> this evaporates - an island once again

Kraig,

--- In MakeMicroMusic@yahoogroups.com, Kraig Grady <kraiggrady@...> wrote:
>
> chessy microtonal music is just around the corner

Heh. "Chessy" might actually be interesting. "Cheesy", though? If our history over the last 15 years of the list hasn't taught us that cheesy isn't singularly dependent on the input device, we haven't been paying attention.

Hi.
There *is* a set of available hexagonal keyboards - the Axis-49 (98 keys), the Axis-64 (192 keys) and the Opal (192 keys). They are rugged and velocity sensitive.
The price, though, you might not like, from memory: $430, ~$1200, and $custom-made.

I use two axis-49's one for each hand, hooked up to a netbook, and sometimes cut down to one. I remap the keys using Max/MSP and render sounds using Garratin's GPO.

I'd love to see what could be done with the keys remapped to Wicki-Hayden, giving distinct sharp and flat keys (see Wikipedia), and then the pitches assigned to the octave, 5th and 3 axises/intervals made adjustable. See my MusicScienceGuy.vox.com bog and my new website http://sites.google.com/site/altkeyboards/

Ken.

I collect links to Alternative Keyboard Designs. I have some at:
http://groups.google.com/group/microtonal
Located on the Links Page. One of these links has a large number of follow-up links.

--- In MakeMicroMusic@yahoogroups.com, "garthco1" <bogrushton@...> wrote:
>
> Hi.
> There *is* a set of available hexagonal keyboards - the Axis-49 (98 keys), the Axis-64 (192 keys) and the Opal (192 keys). They are rugged and velocity sensitive.
> The price, though, you might not like, from memory: $430, ~$1200, and $custom-made.
>
> I use two axis-49's one for each hand, hooked up to a netbook, and sometimes cut down to one. I remap the keys using Max/MSP and render sounds using Garratin's GPO.
>
> I'd love to see what could be done with the keys remapped to Wicki-Hayden, giving distinct sharp and flat keys (see Wikipedia), and then the pitches assigned to the octave, 5th and 3 axises/intervals made adjustable. See my MusicScienceGuy.vox.com bog and my new website http://sites.google.com/site/altkeyboards/
>
> Ken.
>

--- In MakeMicroMusic@yahoogroups.com, "robert" <robertthomasmartin@...> wrote:
>
> I collect links to Alternative Keyboard Designs. I have some at:
> http://groups.google.com/group/microtonal
> Located on the Links Page. One of these links has a large number of follow-up links.

You might be interested, then, to add these to your collection:
/tuning-math/files/secor/kbds/

--George

Thankyou. It's added now. But will non-tuning-math members be able to reach the Files section??

--- In MakeMicroMusic@yahoogroups.com, "gdsecor" <gdsecor@...> wrote:
>
>
>
> --- In MakeMicroMusic@yahoogroups.com, "robert" <robertthomasmartin@> wrote:
> >
> > I collect links to Alternative Keyboard Designs. I have some at:
> > http://groups.google.com/group/microtonal
> > Located on the Links Page. One of these links has a large number of follow-up links.
>
> You might be interested, then, to add these to your collection:
> /tuning-math/files/secor/kbds/
>
> --George
>

I don't think so but that outstanding collection of pictures is worth the admission fee (it's free by the way!)

--- In MakeMicroMusic@yahoogroups.com, "robert" <robertthomasmartin@...> wrote:
>
> Thankyou. It's added now. But will non-tuning-math members be able to reach the Files section??

Hi Carlo. Is there any chance of you putting all of these items into a folder and uploading them to our Box.net library? Something like you did with the Wendy Carlos material?

--- In MakeMicroMusic@yahoogroups.com, "Carlo" <carlo@...> wrote:
>
> I don't think so but that outstanding collection of pictures is worth the admission fee (it's free by the way!)
>
> --- In MakeMicroMusic@yahoogroups.com, "robert" <robertthomasmartin@> wrote:
> >
> > Thankyou. It's added now. But will non-tuning-math members be able to reach the Files section??
>

I was thinking the demo was chessy so thought one had only to retune it to get there.:)

/^_,',',',_ //^ /Kraig Grady_ ^_,',',',_
Mesotonal Music from:
_'''''''_ ^North/Western Hemisphere:
North American Embassy of Anaphoria Island <http://anaphoria.com/>

_'''''''_ ^South/Eastern Hemisphere:
Austronesian Outpost of Anaphoria <http://anaphoriasouth.blogspot.com/>

',',',',',',',',',',',',',',',',',',',',',',',',',',',',',

a momentary antenna as i turn to water
this evaporates - an island once again

On 11/09/10 2:21 AM, jonszanto wrote:
> Kraig,
>
> --- In MakeMicroMusic@yahoogroups.com, Kraig Grady<kraiggrady@...> wrote:
>> chessy microtonal music is just around the corner
> Heh. "Chessy" might actually be interesting. "Cheesy", though? If our history over the last 15 years of the list hasn't taught us that cheesy isn't singularly dependent on the input device, we haven't been paying attention.
>
>
>
> ------------------------------------
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
>

We should ask George Secor first, right?

--- In MakeMicroMusic@yahoogroups.com, "robert" <robertthomasmartin@...> wrote:
>
> Hi Carlo. Is there any chance of you putting all of these items into a folder and uploading them to our Box.net library? Something like you did with the Wendy Carlos material?
>
> --- In MakeMicroMusic@yahoogroups.com, "Carlo" <carlo@> wrote:
> >
> > I don't think so but that outstanding collection of pictures is worth the admission fee (it's free by the way!)
> >
> > --- In MakeMicroMusic@yahoogroups.com, "robert" <robertthomasmartin@> wrote:
> > >
> > > Thankyou. It's added now. But will non-tuning-math members be able to reach the Files section??
> >
>

Yes. Ok. Dear George Secor: Is it ok for Carlo to put your Alternative Keyboards files in our Box.net library? which you are welcome to join (I'll need your email address if you want to join).

--- In MakeMicroMusic@yahoogroups.com, "Carlo" <carlo@...> wrote:
>
> We should ask George Secor first, right?
>
> --- In MakeMicroMusic@yahoogroups.com, "robert" <robertthomasmartin@> wrote:
> >
> > Hi Carlo. Is there any chance of you putting all of these items into a folder and uploading them to our Box.net library? Something like you did with the Wendy Carlos material?
> >
> > --- In MakeMicroMusic@yahoogroups.com, "Carlo" <carlo@> wrote:
> > >
> > > I don't think so but that outstanding collection of pictures is worth the admission fee (it's free by the way!)
> > >
> > > --- In MakeMicroMusic@yahoogroups.com, "robert" <robertthomasmartin@> wrote:
> > > >
> > > > Thankyou. It's added now. But will non-tuning-math members be able to reach the Files section??
> > >
> >
>

Hi Robert,

Your concern about non-TM accessibility is correct. I have already answered your email, in which I have given permission to put a copy of the files in the microtonal Google group library, and now that I see that the question was raised here, I thought I should confirm that.

BTW, should anyone wish to use any of those keyboard designs in a microtonal instrument, you have my blessing to do so. I don't expect to make any $$$ from these designs, but if anyone else can, more power to you! :-)

--George

--- In MakeMicroMusic@yahoogroups.com, "robert" <robertthomasmartin@...> wrote:
>
> Yes. Ok. Dear George Secor: Is it ok for Carlo to put your Alternative Keyboards files in our Box.net library? which you are welcome to join (I'll need your email address if you want to join).
>
> --- In MakeMicroMusic@yahoogroups.com, "Carlo" <carlo@> wrote:
> >
> > We should ask George Secor first, right?
> >
> > --- In MakeMicroMusic@yahoogroups.com, "robert" <robertthomasmartin@> wrote:
> > >
> > > Hi Carlo. Is there any chance of you putting all of these items into a folder and uploading them to our Box.net library? Something like you did with the Wendy Carlos material?
> > >
> > > --- In MakeMicroMusic@yahoogroups.com, "Carlo" <carlo@> wrote:
> > > >
> > > > I don't think so but that outstanding collection of pictures is worth the admission fee (it's free by the way!)
> > > >
> > > > --- In MakeMicroMusic@yahoogroups.com, "robert" <robertthomasmartin@> wrote:
> > > > >
> > > > > Thankyou. It's added now. But will non-tuning-math members be able to reach the Files section??
> > > >
> > >
> >
>

done!
http://www.box.net/files#/files/0/f/51101179/George_Secor
:-)

--- In MakeMicroMusic@yahoogroups.com, "gdsecor" <gdsecor@...> wrote:
>
I have already answered your email, in which I have given permission to put a copy of the files in the microtonal Google group library, and now that I see that the question was raised here, I thought I should confirm that.

Anyway, is there a chance that the Axis-49 could be used for micro-tonal work? I don't have the time to do it myself.
Ken

--- In MakeMicroMusic@yahoogroups.com, "garthco1" <bogrushton@...> wrote:
>
> Hi.
> There *is* a set of available hexagonal keyboards - the Axis-49 (98 keys), the Axis-64 (192 keys) and the Opal (192 keys). They are rugged and velocity sensitive.
> The price, though, you might not like, from memory: $430, ~$1200, and $custom-made.
>
> I use two axis-49's one for each hand, hooked up to a netbook, and sometimes cut down to one. I remap the keys using Max/MSP and render sounds using Garratin's GPO.
>
> I'd love to see what could be done with the keys remapped to Wicki-Hayden, giving distinct sharp and flat keys (see Wikipedia), and then the pitches assigned to the octave, 5th and 3 axises/intervals made adjustable. See my MusicScienceGuy.vox.com bog and my new website http://sites.google.com/site/altkeyboards/
>
> Ken.
>

Hi Ken,

> Anyway, is there a chance that the Axis-49 could be used for micro-tonal
> work? I don't have the time to do it myself.
> Ken
>

Yes, it has 2 different modes by default.
One is fairly useless for microtonal work as it splits the keyboard in 3
repeating parts.
But in the other mode all 98 keys transmit their own midi key number. (this
is a somewhat recent update)
So then you have a somewhat fair priced very compact 98 key velocity
sensitive keyboard with a great layout :)
You can then use Scala or some other program to do the keymapping to
anything you like.
I'm going to get one myself when I have some money (that is idunno when,
long time from now lol)

The only real competitor I know of is
http://www.h-pi.com/TPX28buy.html#U-PLEX_buy
That one has way more keys, but it is slightly more expensive and doesn't
have velocity sensitivity.
But again, many many more keys, and comes with microtonal software.

It depends on what you want to do microtonally which one suits you best it
seems to me.

Marcel

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

--- In MakeMicroMusic@yahoogroups.com, Marcel de Velde <m.develde@...> wrote:
>
> Yes, it has 2 different modes by default.
> One is fairly useless for microtonal work as it splits the keyboard
> in 3 repeating parts.
> But in the other mode all 98 keys transmit their own midi key
> number. (this is a somewhat recent update)
> So then you have a somewhat fair priced very compact 98 key velocity
> sensitive keyboard with a great layout :)
> You can then use Scala or some other program to do the keymapping to
> anything you like.
> I'm going to get one myself when I have some money (that is idunno
> when, long time from now lol)
>

Do you happen to know whether the MIDI channel of each key can also be freely assigned? That would be a thing I would need since the retuning functionality of my synth does not support full keyboard scales.
--
Hans Straub

> So then you have a somewhat fair priced very compact 98 key velocity
sensitive keyboard with a great layout :)
> You can then use Scala or some other program to do the keymapping to
anything you like.

I am currently in the process of trying to do just that! I just downloaded
scala and am figuring out how to create scales and map them to incoming midi
notes. My keyboards just got back from being updated for selfless mode
(there was a bug in the earlier units where they couldn't be updated to
selfless mode over the internet), so with luck I'll be playing microtonally
with my axis (mapped to wicki/hayden mode through Ken's software) pretty
soon.

> I'm going to get one myself when I have some money (that is idunno when,
long time from now lol)

It's well worth it, and I can get you a $30 voucher to bring the price down
to $410 from $440 if you are interested :-)

> > Do you happen to know whether the MIDI channel of each key can also be
> freely assigned? That would be a thing I would need since the retuning
> functionality of my synth does not support full keyboard scales.
>

You would have to do this yourself I think. The axis-49 model at least can
send out one midi note per key, but all on the same channel. You could
easily manipulate this however, talk to Ken about his Axis Tweaker software,
it might have that capability.

John Moriarty

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Thanks Marcel & John for pointing this out

http://www.c-thru-music.com/cgi/?page=tech_49-selfless

!!!!!!!!!!

John, I'm writing you offlist.

-Carl

I use a Max/MSP application I wrote to remap the notes using a simple text table, say to map input midi notes 1 and 4 to output C and C# (midi 60, 61):
"1,60; 4,61"
I then take to output notes and turn them into input midi with LoopBE.
Then most programs think that I'm playing a piano, and work well.

with PD or some such, you can remap to microtonal.

You can email me directly at bogrushton (at) gmail.com or shaw.ca

Ken.