SOUND ON SOUND

[CS70]

Ref the Hollywood Backup singer question I had, I'm leaning towards getting one - if nothing, to try and see what I can do with it.

However, looking at things it seems that certain variations are achieved by using modulation wheel.

I don't generally plan to "play" the vocals in real time (my keyboard skills are inexistent and I have no intention of improving them at the moment), but rather to "draw" the parts on a piano roll... but for exploration purposes it'd be cool to have a little hardware controller to "modulate" the notes and hear how they sound.

I have absolutely no space for any keyboard of any size (I do have a midi keyboard already, and it's been in storage for some 5 years).. so is there something with a small form factor that can just go near my computer keyboard and that does modulation?

[blinddrew]

What other midi devices do you already have? Because you could use anything to control it really, so surely you have something to hand that you could repurpose?

[CS70]

::looks around::

::realizes he has absolutely no MIDI stuff whatsoever::

:D

[The Elf]

^^^ Wot 'e said.

But if you do need a new device you could look at the iRig Keys 2/Keys 2 Pro. They're pretty good for the money and have proper wheels *and* controller knobs.

USB rather than DIN, though, if that matters to you.

[blinddrew]

::looks around::

::realizes he has absolutely no MIDI stuff whatsoever::

:D

Ha! Ok. Well in that case it depends what you want to spend. There are some fancy 1/2 function controllers north of £100 but at a more reasonable level (for what you want to do) you could get something like this: https://www.gear4music.com/Recording-an ... roller/P6D and assign the cross-fader.
But if you want something that'll behave more like a typical controller then you're getting a little larger for something like this: https://www.gear4music.com/Keyboards-an ... oller/221X
Or if you want an actual wheel then:
https://www.gear4music.com/Recording-an ... board/221Y
Or something like this might give you a bit of versatility: https://www.gear4music.com/Keyboards-an ... -White/G8O

[Sam Spoons]

What about one of these https://www.thomann.de/gb/behringer_x_touch_one.htm though I am sure I've seen something wit a single fader and not much else which would be better...

The only issue might be the fader would, ideally, want a linear mode. Or what about a USB one knob volume control https://www.amazon.co.uk/DROK-Lossless-Computer-Controller-Adjuster/dp/B01MV411BR same reservation though.

[CS70]

Thanks! I was hoping for something even smaller (I mean, just one wheel) but probably I'll just wait to see how the package behaves on the piano roll.

Now the next pondering, Hollywood Backup Singers or Voice of Souls. The latter seems to have only ah-s and oh-s and the likes, but they do sound damn good. Life's full of crossroads :D

[CS70]

What about one of these https://www.thomann.de/gb/behringer_x_touch_one.htm though I am sure I've seen something wit a single fader and not much else which would be better...

Thanks! As proportions go, it's more like the thing... but looking at videos, is still as big as half a laptop, which is still too much for my desk real estate.

The size I have in mid is about the same as my TC2200 Delay hardware controller, a little larger than a pack of cigarettes. Basically a small solid box with a wheel and at most a couple buttons. Guess that most people who uses midi wants more than that :)

[Sam Spoons]

Check my edit to the post then :smirk: not sure it's workable but maybe...

[blinddrew]

Did you check Sam's second link?

[Logarhythm]

Korg Nanopad? Gives you a mappable X-Y pad (and some buttons you don't currently need) in a small footprint.
You can buy a Doepfer unit of just two wheels, but you'd also need to get the gubbins to interface it with MIDI*, and build an enclosure unit for it.

*Only had a quick look - don't take my word for it that these are the correct gubbins for it ;)

[CS70]

Did you check Sam's second link?

I did now :)

Form factor looks great, but not sure if it sends MIDI?

[blinddrew]

Ah yes, and now I have properly and it doesn't look like it does. :thumbdown:

[blinddrew]

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/One-knob-Mid ... 0677.m4598

or

https://www.ebay.co.uk/i/114144152908?c ... 88QAvD_BwE

:?:

[Luke W]

Does it have to be hardware? If not Touch OSC on your phone could do the trick.