I'm a Propellerhead Reason user and I plan to Rewire the software to Steinberg's Cubase DAW. My plan leads me to ask two questions about using MIDI keyboard controllers and control surfaces.
Nintendo's ultra-affordable Wii Remote controller can sense movement in every direction, and even knows at what angle you're holding it. Its potential as a music controller is unlimited, and you don't even need a Wii console to use it!
I love banging away on my thighs and knees, and I feel that I make some of my most interesting drum patterns in this way. How could I build a controller with a pair of panels that are velocity-sensitive to sit atop my thighs?
If you're tired of mixing on-screen using just your mouse and keyboard, then it's worth considering a hardware MIDI controller. But with so many different models available, how do you choose the one that's right for you?
A little money spent on a hardware control surface for your PC can yield a dramatic improvement in ergonomics and ease of use. Martin Walker explores the options.
Nick Magnus concludes his exploration of MIDI controllers with a look at creative uses of SysEx, and some of the hardware MIDI devices which allow more intuitive uses of controllers. But first, how to mingle your Ooohs and Aaahs...
Synthesized music need not lack expression; with the array of MIDI controllers at your disposal, you can add a whole new dimension to your music. In this short series, Nick Magnus explains how...