MIDI instruments sound robotic/ soulless; lacking dynamic variations.
I used to play the accordion for years and albeit I'm keen to enjoy MIDI instruments, so far their "dead" dynamics put me off...
For instance, I have got those great BigFish "Play the Tango" sound samples of each button of the bandoneon.
I also have got a 120-button accordion bass (box part only; i.e. without the bellow) wired to my Roland Synth D20. The problem now is: how to add volume variations, the way accordion/ bandoneon players do it with the bellow while playing the bass buttons?
Since my both hands are occupied playing buttons and keys, I have no hand free to vary the volume control (for vibrato and volume variations). Foot control is far too inaccurate for expressing rapid, accurate vibrato variations.
Since my 120-button accordion bass is attached to brackets on left side of the Synth, I was thinking of suspending it via gentle springs. Then only a lever to a volume control would be needed.
By shaking or pressing up & down the whole 120-button bass box I could vary the vibrato and volume rate as needed to add realism to any MIDI instrument.
Ordinary pots won't last; I suppose a mechanical/ electronic solution is what I'm after. Years ago, I saw a pedal from an Elka organ, which had a v-shaped slot through which a bulb light hit the LDR. Maybe there's a way of doing the same even more efficiently with special optocoupler? The volume variations have to be pretty responsive in order to create vibrato and attacks as applied by bandoneon (tango) players. I still have got an old PC-mouse, whose rubbered steel-ball often failed to drive the two little plastic wheels. If I'm not wrong this type of optocoupler might (?) be the answer.
Searching the Internet, I discovered that Yamaha built a breath controller (Model: BC3 ...sounds like a trani) for $80, but it requires yet another MIDI box. Price tag: with shipping & import duty $300+
Since I need only to control the soundcard's stereo output, DIY is my idea. Does anyone of you wise men have a clue how this BC3 breath controls works? I imagine, that it must be some type of fine, flexible plastic gate, flap or membrane, sensitive to slightest air movement, which controls the brightness of a light.
I guess, I'll have to experiment until I get one such gate logarithmically controlling light from a bulb/ LED to an LDR, which then controls another 2 bulbs/ LEDs with an LDR (each) to control the soundcard's stereo output.
In case it doesn't work out with breath control, I still can use it with the 120-bass box (as already described).
Any suggestions on that are "willkommen", for there might be even better/ shorter way to Rome...
of which I didn't think; 100 brains are better than 1
P.S. Anyone interested in the easiest method of playing MIDI music is invited to d/l my PDF instructions at: http://www.live-styler.de/home/Janko Project.pdf
I am grateful for your good advice on that idea. Now that I'm retired I have at last time to live out my dreams. jjj333 from Chile
I used to play the accordion for years and albeit I'm keen to enjoy MIDI instruments, so far their "dead" dynamics put me off...
For instance, I have got those great BigFish "Play the Tango" sound samples of each button of the bandoneon.
I also have got a 120-button accordion bass (box part only; i.e. without the bellow) wired to my Roland Synth D20. The problem now is: how to add volume variations, the way accordion/ bandoneon players do it with the bellow while playing the bass buttons?
Since my both hands are occupied playing buttons and keys, I have no hand free to vary the volume control (for vibrato and volume variations). Foot control is far too inaccurate for expressing rapid, accurate vibrato variations.
Since my 120-button accordion bass is attached to brackets on left side of the Synth, I was thinking of suspending it via gentle springs. Then only a lever to a volume control would be needed.
By shaking or pressing up & down the whole 120-button bass box I could vary the vibrato and volume rate as needed to add realism to any MIDI instrument.
Ordinary pots won't last; I suppose a mechanical/ electronic solution is what I'm after. Years ago, I saw a pedal from an Elka organ, which had a v-shaped slot through which a bulb light hit the LDR. Maybe there's a way of doing the same even more efficiently with special optocoupler? The volume variations have to be pretty responsive in order to create vibrato and attacks as applied by bandoneon (tango) players. I still have got an old PC-mouse, whose rubbered steel-ball often failed to drive the two little plastic wheels. If I'm not wrong this type of optocoupler might (?) be the answer.
Searching the Internet, I discovered that Yamaha built a breath controller (Model: BC3 ...sounds like a trani) for $80, but it requires yet another MIDI box. Price tag: with shipping & import duty $300+
Since I need only to control the soundcard's stereo output, DIY is my idea. Does anyone of you wise men have a clue how this BC3 breath controls works? I imagine, that it must be some type of fine, flexible plastic gate, flap or membrane, sensitive to slightest air movement, which controls the brightness of a light.
I guess, I'll have to experiment until I get one such gate logarithmically controlling light from a bulb/ LED to an LDR, which then controls another 2 bulbs/ LEDs with an LDR (each) to control the soundcard's stereo output.
In case it doesn't work out with breath control, I still can use it with the 120-bass box (as already described).
Any suggestions on that are "willkommen", for there might be even better/ shorter way to Rome...
of which I didn't think; 100 brains are better than 1
P.S. Anyone interested in the easiest method of playing MIDI music is invited to d/l my PDF instructions at: http://www.live-styler.de/home/Janko Project.pdf
I am grateful for your good advice on that idea. Now that I'm retired I have at last time to live out my dreams. jjj333 from Chile