How hard would it be to make a little box that accepts input from an
ASCII keyboard (PS2 or MIDI), and outputs a MIDI "note on" when a key
is pressed, based on its ASCII value? This would in effect make a
60-button (or so) MIDI controller from a $10 PC keyboard.

And, if multiple keyboards could be attached, each outputting on a
separate MIDI channel, it would be even cooler.

bigsphinx wrote:

>How hard would it be to make a little box that accepts input from an
>ASCII keyboard (PS2 or MIDI), and outputs a MIDI "note on" when a key
>is pressed, based on its ASCII value? This would in effect make a
>60-button (or so) MIDI controller from a $10 PC keyboard.

This could be done without too much difficulty, depending on one's
embedded processor hardware and software skills, using an 8051 or
similar microcontroller. I doubt that there is a commercial market
for such a device, though, and you wouldn't be willing to pay what
it would cost to have done on a custom basis.

>And, if multiple keyboards could be attached, each outputting on a
>separate MIDI channel, it would be even cooler.

This would get problematic as one would need an interrupt input for
each of the keyboard inputs and would soon run out using any reasonably
priced microcontroller.

--
================================================== ======================
Michael Kesti | "And like, one and one don't make
| two, one and one make one."
mrkesti at hotmail dot com | - The Who, Bargain

Phooey. Thanks for the info, though! Now I can quit worrying about
it...

> >How hard would it be to make a little box that accepts input from an
> >ASCII keyboard (PS2 or MIDI), and outputs a MIDI "note on" when a key
> >is pressed, based on its ASCII value? This would in effect make a
> >60-button (or so) MIDI controller from a $10 PC keyboard.

> This could be done without too much difficulty, depending on one's
> embedded processor hardware and software skills, using an 8051 or
> similar microcontroller. I doubt that there is a commercial market
> for such a device, though, and you wouldn't be willing to pay what
> it would cost to have done on a custom basis.

> >And, if multiple keyboards could be attached, each outputting on a
> >separate MIDI channel, it would be even cooler.

> This would get problematic as one would need an interrupt input for
> each of the keyboard inputs and would soon run out using any reasonably
> priced microcontroller.
>
> --
> ================================================== ======================
> Michael Kesti | "And like, one and one don't make
> | two, one and one make one."
> mrkesti at hotmail dot com | - The Who, Bargain

On 22 Jan 2007 18:48:27 -0800, "bigsphinx" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote
stuff
and I replied:

These are available already????????? You have to have a PC and some
MIDI sware.

>How hard would it be to make a little box that accepts input from an
>ASCII keyboard (PS2 or MIDI), and outputs a MIDI "note on" when a key
>is pressed, based on its ASCII value? This would in effect make a
>60-button (or so) MIDI controller from a $10 PC keyboard.
>
>And, if multiple keyboards could be attached, each outputting on a
>separate MIDI channel, it would be even cooler.

> These are available already????????? You have to have a PC

Do you mean a Windows PC?

> and some MIDI sware.
I have Max/MSP. What specific MIDI software are you refering to?

> >How hard would it be to make a little box that accepts input from an
> >ASCII keyboard (PS2 or MIDI), and outputs a MIDI "note on" when a key
> >is pressed, based on its ASCII value? This would in effect make a
> >60-button (or so) MIDI controller from a $10 PC keyboard.
>
> >And, if multiple keyboards could be attached, each outputting on a
> >separate MIDI channel, it would be even cooler.

bigsphinx schrieb:
> How hard would it be to make a little box that accepts input from an
> ASCII keyboard (PS2 or MIDI), and outputs a MIDI "note on" when a key
> is pressed, based on its ASCII value? This would in effect make a
> 60-button (or so) MIDI controller from a $10 PC keyboard.

If you have a computer, use Bome's MIDI Translator Pro:
http://www.bome.com/midi/translator/mt_pro.html

> And, if multiple keyboards could be attached, each outputting on a
> separate MIDI channel, it would be even cooler.

Should be possible with that software.

Harald

Sorry, let me explain why I want to do this... When I'm running Live
and Max together, I map my laptop's ASCII keys to Max functions, and I
want them to keep controlling Max even whilst I mouse around in
Live. But they don't, of course; and I've not yet found any way to
"lock" a keyboard's output to a particular program.

And if you add a 2nd ACSII keyboard (via PS/2 or USB), its output is
simply merged with the 1st keyboard's.

So I was thinking it'd be cool if you could convert the keystrokes to
MIDI _before_ they get to the pc. That way the keystrokes can
control whichever program(s) I've configured to listen for those
signals.


But ideally, manufacturers would come up with a way to use multiple
keyboards on one pc, and allow them to control different programs.
You could use the 2nd keyboard to control background programs, like
mp3 or video players, or... well... hmm, I'm sure other folks could
think of some other uses...

> > How hard would it be to make a little box that accepts input from an
> > ASCII keyboard (PS2 or MIDI), and outputs a MIDI "note on" when a key
> > is pressed, based on its ASCII value? This would in effect make a
> > 60-button (or so) MIDI controller from a $10 PC keyboard.If you have a computer, use Bome's MIDI Translator Pro:http://www.bome.com/midi/translator/mt_pro.html
>
> > And, if multiple keyboards could be attached, each outputting on a
> > separate MIDI channel, it would be even cooler.Should be possible with that software.
>
> Harald

bigsphinx wrote:

>Sorry, let me explain why I want to do this... When I'm running Live
>and Max together, I map my laptop's ASCII keys to Max functions, and I
>want them to keep controlling Max even whilst I mouse around in
>Live. But they don't, of course; and I've not yet found any way to
>"lock" a keyboard's output to a particular program.
>
>And if you add a 2nd ACSII keyboard (via PS/2 or USB), its output is
>simply merged with the 1st keyboard's.
>
>So I was thinking it'd be cool if you could convert the keystrokes to
>MIDI _before_ they get to the pc. That way the keystrokes can
>control whichever program(s) I've configured to listen for those
>signals.

Strictly out of acedemic curiosity, I'm wondering how you would map the
keys to MIDI events. If I recall, you originally specified note on
messages, but which keys map to which notes/octaves? Would you expect
note off messages on key release, too? And what about velocity? A
typical keyboard is not velocity sensitive so would some fixed velocity
value do? What value?

>But ideally, manufacturers would come up with a way to use multiple
>keyboards on one pc, and allow them to control different programs.
>You could use the 2nd keyboard to control background programs, like
>mp3 or video players, or... well... hmm, I'm sure other folks could
>think of some other uses...

--
================================================== ======================
Michael Kesti | "And like, one and one don't make
| two, one and one make one."
mrkesti at hotmail dot com | - The Who, Bargain

I'd just map the MIDI notes as triggers for loops and sequences, or
as on/off switches for devices and functions. Maybe use the number
keys for numeric input.
But I doubt I'd actually use them to trigger MIDI notes.

> Strictly out of acedemic curiosity, I'm wondering how you would map the
> keys to MIDI events. If I recall, you originally specified note on
> messages, but which keys map to which notes/octaves? Would you expect
> note off messages on key release, too? And what about velocity? A
> typical keyboard is not velocity sensitive so would some fixed velocity
> value do? What value?