As we don’t have a mod and pitch wheel with the analog four I think I have come up with a nice solution that doesn’t require a separate keyboard. I’m working out if it’s possible to cut a hole into one of the rack ears (probably the left) to sink in a mod and pitch wheel spare part, preferably an Akai MPK49 or even a voyager or something a little premium. I am planning on using a DIY open source midi electronic board (Livid, Dopefer, Arduino…) probably the smaller Doepfer one as it sends out NRPN as well as MIDI to hopefully have the same control steps as the Analog four pots. I’m also hoping to go straight to midi in rather than via computer, which adds a delay.
This idea could be adapted further with the other rack ears or even the rack ears for RYTM, Octotrack etc to add extra functionality and quick access to favourite parameters. You could add extra knobs, sliders, joysticks etc.
This idea is still in its infancy so I’m unaware of any complications that may arise. Have any of you tried something similar? If so could you share your tips and issues encountered. Also does anyone know a really great place to find parts and accessories for DIY projects?
Also if anyone wants links to the things I’ve found (Arduino, doepfer DIY kits etc, just reply and il compile what I found yesterday)
Here’s a really comprehensive do it yourself synth site with variety of kits, parts, and if you contact him with something you cannot find, he will find solutions within reason…however, do know that a Keith McMillen Instruments Qunexus pairs nicely with the A4 because you have pitch and mod on each pad by rolling your finger, but we still cannot record dynamics into the sequencer via external controller, which would be nice.
Here’s the link: http://musicfromouterspace.com/
It’s crazy how easily instruments an controllers go by unnoticed, I have been searching for something like that keyboard you mentioned for a while now thanks for sharing that. Will check out this other link now.
Pitch bend is 12bit so Arduino and the like won’t be the best choice, good idea on using the rack ear to mount it, for parts ot depends where you are based.
You might want to have a look at Highly Liquid midi kits, they do a number of diy friendly and well specified midi boards.
Cheers, I’ve just thought if I downsized on mod wheels, I’m sure moog used to do a small thin plastic wheel? Then I could maybe have 4 pitches and four mods so all tracks are covered. Maybe right side a set of moog filter caps solelely for filter duties on each track?
just a few things about the qunexus, because it might not be what you think it is - at least it wasn’t what i thought it was.
the pitchmod on every key has a delay, so you can’t strike a note and immediately pitch it up/down or use vibrato. there’s no way to turn this off, kmi has not shown any intention of fixing this.
the pressure(what you might think of aftertouch, at least i did) sends data from the moment on you strike a key. interestingly i think this could use some sort of delay.
example: you want to open the filter with pressure:
you strike a key, the filter opens depending how hard you strike it, from there you can vary the cutoff by pressing harder/softer. (of course how hard you strike also is the velocity parameter, if set to something)
the pitchbend left to the keys requires very hard pressure, sometimes it doesn’t work at all for me. i stopped using it completely.
that said, i still like the qunexus a lot, but for completely different reasons, than i bought it for. moslty because it’s very sensitive to light touch and enables me to play in a completely different way than an a normal keyboard. also great as a drumpad.
thanks for sharing that. Will check out this other link now.