[sdiy] keyboard

[Peachey, Dave]

Luciano,

The first question is : are you looking for a keyboard to control a
MIDI-based synthesizer or an analogue voltage-controlled synthesizer?
Depending on the answer to the question, then you have several options:

For MIDI-based synthesizers there are a number of MIDI "controller"
keyboards (does nothing except output MIDI control codes) on the market -
check out companies like (in the UK at any rate) Evolution, M-Audio, Roland,
Studiologic, Oberheim, etc.  A number of music shops in the UK (and, no
doubt, other European countries) will stock these types of keyboards.

You could, of course, use a MIDI controller keyboard in conjunction with an
outboard MIDI-to-CV converter to control a voltage-controlled synthesizer.
One such item which springs to mind is Paul Maddox' PolyDAC kit which will
be available shortly from Tony Allgood's Oakley Sounds web site
http://www.oakleysound.com/polydac.htm.

Then of course, there is the keyboard which outputs control-voltages
directly.  I don't know of any new units that might be available although
there'll likely be a number of second-hand units around - keyboards for the
likes of Moog, Roland. ARP and other modular synths from the 70s and 80s
could do the job - mostly, though, these are only monophonic (single note)
or, very occasionally, duophonic (two note polyphony).

Alternatively, find yourself a cheap monophonic analogue synth from the 70s
or 80s which has outputs for control voltages and gates - this way you'll
get some additional noise making circuitry as well!

Then of course, you could build something yourself :-)  There has been a
modest amount of discussion on this list recently on that topic and there
are far better qualified people than me around to help you on that score.  I
could, as an example, point you in the direction of the Digisound design
from the early 80s which is a digitally scanned keyboard.  This page on my
web site
http://www.digisound80.synth.net/Music/Synth_DIY/Digisound_Resource/Modules/
80-15/80-15.htm covers this keyboard and has a link for the construction
notes as well.

Hope this helps in the search

Cheers
Dave

> -----Original Message-----
> From:	Luciano Hormazabal [SMTP:hechesi at yahoo.com]
> Sent:	Wednesday, November 19, 2003 2:45 PM
> To:	synth-diy at dropmix.xs4all.nl
> Subject:	[sdiy] keyboard
> 
> *** WARNING : This message originates from the Internet ***
> 
> 
> i have tried to get a keyboard but it has become very difficult. where can
> i buy one??? (just the keyboard, not the brain of the synth)
> 
> 
> 
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