Re: MIDI percussion control for Repeater?

[M3ch <m3ch@m3ch.net>]

At 08:03 PM 7/19/2004, Doug Cox wrote:
>Anyone know of a percussion MIDI controller (with pads that can take a
>drumstick hit), which sends continuous controller messages?  The Repeater,
>while allowing *some* functions to be controlled via PCs and/or Notes,
>really requires CCs to get all the best out of it.  I'd like to control it
>via a percussion controller.
>
>Any ideas?

Okay, here's a solution.  It's not perfect, but I think it oughta get you 
about 90% there...

First, troll Ebay for a Peavey PC1600x, MIDI Fader box.  I got mine for 
about a bill-&-a-half, so you're gonna be about three quarters into your 
budget already (as you've stated previously: there 's about $200 allotted 
for this project).

Next, find a cheap percussion controller.  Any old controller.  There are 
lots out there, so you've probably got an idea of what you like 
already.  I've got a Drumkat DK-10 which suits me well (no frills; simply 
does the job), but of course YMMV.  If worse comes to worse, you can pick 
up a trigger-to-MIDI converter like the old Roland PM-16 for $50-$75, then 
get some piezo's over at Rat Shack and build whatever you want to whack as 
a trigger.  The only important thing is that your percussion controller 
sends MIDI Note data.

And with any luck, you very well might get both pieces of gear inside your 
final target $$$ amount.

Now, in addition to 16 programmable faders, the PC1600x also incorporates 
16 programmable buttons.  These buttons can transmit just about any MIDI 
string you'd like (including SysEx and Continuous Controller) in a variety 
of modes (one-shot, toggle, on/off, etc.).  This is where you're going to 
concentrate your attention.

One of the coolest thing's about the Peavey is that there is a setting 
under the Utility section called "Remote Button Set-Up".  It's discussed 
in 
particular on page 15-16 of the manual (available at 
http://www.peavey.com/support/searchmanuals/list/pc1600x.cfm ).  But this 
essentially lets you configure the unit so that you can trigger any of the 
16 buttons via remote Program Change or MIDI Notes.  Set it up so that the 
notes output by your percussion controller are the source of your Remote 
Button triggers.  At that point, you're pretty much done: program the CC 
strings into the buttons and go.

The "gotchas" here are that, as far as I know, you'll only be able to send 
a pre-defined string with each trigger.  So your idea of having Note 
Number 
determine the CC number, then having the velocity determine the value 
won't 
really work.  While you can easily link the Note # to Continuous 
Controller 
number, I'm not certain how you'd get the velocity to set the 
value.  Although if you're working with a percussion controller -- like 
the 
PM-16 -- that can stack multiple notes then cross-switch based on the 
velocity at which you're striking the pad, then you just might be able to 
approach something similar.

Another useful thing is that you can store multiple setups for your 
button/fader configurations, so you'll have lots of options from which to 
choose during a gig.  And you can also control some of the Repeater's key 
functions (i.e. Pitch Transpose, or Time-Stretch) from a fader -- heck, 
you've got 16 of 'em just sitting there -- or get an expression footpedal 
and assign those functions to it.

Take a look through the PC1600X manual.  There's a lot there, but once you 
get your head around it, the thing's a seriously awesome device.

         --m.

_____
"i want to reach my hand into the dark and *feel* what reaches back"
                                                 -recoil