Keyboard Mechanical Design

[Ken Stone]

>
>> but I'm at a loss as to what to do about the physical keyboard
>> (i.e., the keys) itself.  Can you buy a mechanical keyboard, like you can
>> with computer keyboards or touch tone telephone keypads?  If so, who 
>> would carry these?  If not, then how do people generally build them (what 
>> kind of switches should be used,

My solution? Take valuable vintage synth and remove keyboard. Wire in own
circuits as required.

Before the rocks get thrown at me, I will add that keyboard #1 died some
time back in 1982 or 1983 when a) it wasn't particularly valuable, and b) I
couldn't afford to repair it. Keyboard #2 was cut from the SH5 that now
features as a rack mount module in the bigger picture, also cut out when the
synth was of no value. I couldn't even sell it for $100. It now features
hall effect sensors that can be addressed by a microprocessor port to give
polyphonic readings. Basic on/off though. No velocity or pressure sensing.
The original 1v/8va stuff is also still on this keyboard.

Use MIDI if you want to, and it may well suit your purposes. Personally I
hate MIDI (blind prejudice) and won't use it at all. 
It's an 8 bit bus or it's nothing for me. I might add that neither keyboard
has seen light of day for several years, as I don't use them!

Ken
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                Ken Stone  sasami at blaze.net.au
                   ** Catgirl Paradise **
               <http://www.anime.net/~kens/>
         ** Australian Miniature Horses and ponies **
             <http://www.blaze.net.au/~sasami/>
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