[sdiy] Control Interface Angst

[Chris Stecker]

Most computer musicians I know do not settle for one-mouse control. They use 
the ubiquitous MIDI keyboard controllers, knob boxes, fader boxes, etc. now 
marketed for control of the ubiquitous "software synthesizers."

And there are specialized replacement keyboards and control surfaces for 
particular software environments (generally more common in professional use 
of things like AVID, ProTools, etc).

Since this is SDIY, however, take a look at http://www.ucapps.de and the 
"MIDIBOX" project. It's a modular DIY architecture for MIDI controllers, so 
you can build up whatever combination of faders, knobs, and switches you want 
and lay them out in a contextually appropriate way. Nice.

-Chris




On Monday 07 July 2003 10:33 pm, jbv wrote:
> > What I would like to know is, why do computer users in general settle for
> > just one mouse-like (continuous input, if you will) device? Why can't we
> > have a row of rotary encoders or sliders next to our qwerty keyboards?
> > Something? Anything?
> >
> > A lot of design software would benefit from more simultaneously usable
> > controls. Why aren't these common devices on general purpose computers?
> > Is it social inertia?
>
> Perhaps because computers are mainly designed
> for the use of word processors and spreadsheets...
>
> Only weirdos use them for anti-social activities like
> music...        :-P
>
> JB