[sdiy] Synth UI [was: Modular - sound or song]

[Seb Francis]

Rainer Buchty wrote:
>
> What any computer-GUI suffers is the fact that it is usually only 
> operable with a mouse. A single point-and-click device which forces to 
> into some sort of mouse shuffle. Hence, I have a feeling that the 
> concept of synth software plus USB-based external control is something 
> we'll see more often in the future.
>

Well, I don't mind a mouse for some things ... but it does make it hard 
to jump between or simultaneously use multiple controls.

This is the box I use to control my VST plugins:
http://www.novationmusic.com/product_image/normal/18.jpg
http://www.novationmusic.com/products/remote_zero_sl?option=1
They do a keyboard version as well.

Basically it's a set of knobs, endless rotary encoders, faders, push 
buttons and velocity sensitive buttons (i.e. drum trigger pads).  You 
can do all the usually mapping to MIDI messages, but it also has this 
clever automap mode where it automatically imports all the controls from 
any VST plugin.  (You can then move the control mapping around to suit 
using an easy software interface, and of course you can save the 
re-ordered mappings for next time the particular plugin is controlled.)

The real beauty of the UI is the LCD display row across the top of the 
controller which shows the names of each parameter being controlled by 
the active row of controls.

It also works for mixer control within most sequencers, and has 
transport control buttons.

Seb