Two Great Tastes That Taste Great Together

[tcepsa]

I have begun combining my love of (and desire to become better at) music with my computer geekery and developed a Java application that turns any standard 101-key keyboard into a MIDI musical keyboard (actually, I should double-check that...especially since I use certain keys such as '\' that aren't always in the same place).

For those of you who are familiar with Tracking, this uses a slightly different layout (though similar concept) for the keyboard arrangement. Instead of starting with C4 at 'z', I put it at 'v'. This results in the overall range of the keyboard being from F#3 (assigned to 'a') up to A6 (assigned to '\') and also means that I can play certain songs where they were written to be played, instead of having to transpose up an octave to get at all the notes.

As an example, here's how to play a slightly simplified arrangement of Ashokan Farewell in the key of D (with spaces to approximate most of the sustained notes ~grin~):
.2w 2/.k nk, knbcb cxbk.w55t5e .2w 2/.k nk, knbcb cxbk.w5.2ew k,. kbw ./2w.k nk nbc zx . knbk.q w/ 2w.k bxbk.w knbgb

And, as a bonus, here's Simple Gifts:
bb, ,./, /qw wq/ .,. . . , ./.,b b ,k,./ ../qw q/. ../ /., ,., w / ./q/., ./ /qw q/. ./. b, , ././qw q/. . / / ., , ,

And further extra super bonus, here's Prologue from some of the early Final Fantasy games:
b,.bq /.,k,.,,k n./nw q/.l/.n/. b,.bq /.,k,.,,k n./nw q/.l/.n/. e ew /qq/.l./qw r re qw w3w w3wq/.

(Oh wow... these are so much easier to read than notes on a staff... too bad there's no good way to indicate length of note this way ~wry~ Then again, I've spent a lot more time doing things involving sight reading text--even with weird punctuation--into a computer keyboard than I have involving sight reading music into an instrument, so it's not terribly surprising that it is easier (though I am still a little surprised at the degree to which it is easier...))

... and I should probably actually figure out some way to post the program, so if someone who reads this wants to actually try it they can ^_^

Comments

[nminusone.livejournal.com]

I love that the "notation" looks like line noise. Well, it would if it had more tildes anyway. ;)

A cheap MIDI controller is, well, cheap, and most are at least velocity sensitive. A pressure sensitive one is a good bit pricer, but that's not as important. You can also find cheap, used older synths with half-keyboards that make fine controllers too. I had a Juno 1 I often used as a controller but there are many others you could use.

[tcepsa.livejournal.com]

Yeah, the line noise look is one of the reasons I really like it. ^_^

Thanks for the heads-up on the MIDI controller--any idea where I'd look for one of these (preliminary research on eBay has found one or two in the $60 range--think I can do better than that?)

[nminusone.livejournal.com]

I figured "cheap" was $100 so $60 is great. I don't have a line on anything cheaper but I do have some suggestions.

If you're just looking to enter notes into a sequencer, as opposed to real-time playing, a smaller (fewer octaves/keys) and simpler keyboard is fine. You really want velocity sensitivity, which lets the keyboard transmit how hard you initially strike the key. It adds some cost but not a ton. It's also nice to have at least 1 pitch bender/mod wheel, and most will.

Something that feels and acts like a real piano is much pricier. Pressure sensitivity (aftertouch) measures how hard you hold the key down. Many synths can respond to that, but it costs a bunch. Even more expensive is a weighted key movement that "feels" like a piano rather than a pushbutton. It's great but few people really need it.

I'd get something around 2-3 octaves, velocity sensitivity and at least one mod wheel. I'd like to think you can get that for $100 or less.

And now it occurs to me scherzoid is the person to talk to about this!

MusicGeekery!!

[joyfulorb.livejournal.com]

I have a six or seven year old midi keyboard, with a pitch bending wheel, in my father's house in TN, I'm not sure if it's what you're looking for, but certainly it might help... Also, on the Musicianship side of things, while you've got the pitch notation thing, you don't have a way to decide on KEY yet, so, depending on what note someone started on, what Pitch, and then what scale mode they're in (major key, minor key, sharp, flat) the songs could come out as complete discord, or at least very ElfmanEsque. Also, just as important as pitch, Rhythm. So far, for the length of a "held" note, you have spaces after the pitch key (aaa, is three short a notes, a is held, right?)I think that another system might be good, if only because the length of a space isn't standardized, nor the length of a note in this system. For that matter, you could hit the keys at any speed you wanted, and play the song as fast or syncopated as you wished... so maybe it's good?? Argh, randomized thoughts now.

Re: MusicGeekery!!

[joyfulorb.livejournal.com]

Also, for musicianship mixed with programming, try talking to The Cowch, from my friends list. And, look up a program called MacGamut, it's a theory students Dream!