kelpie@fluke.UUCP (Tony Garland) (09/16/85)
Being real new to the world of synthesizers, I am still naive enough to be
thinking about designing and building some sort of basic synth. However, I am
in need of the following information:
o Where can one obtain a "raw" keyboard? To be specific, is it possible
to purchase a keyboard mechanism mechanically complete which I
could design around to provide velocity sensing with say 3 to 5 octaves?
o Am I crazy approaching it this way? Instead, should I be looking for
a keyboard which merely provides MIDI out for use in controlling other
devices on the MIDI bus? Are there even any keyboards out there which
are MIDI compatible, but just produce output onto the bus without
generating any notes of their own locally?
o Where can one obtain the detailed engineering spec on MIDI? I presume
there must be some sort of hardware standard as well as some software
protocols?
o Last, but not least, am I crazy? Are synths so far gone (advanced) at
this stage to preclude realistic tinkering by an individual? Am I
likely to sweat it out only to produce a relative toy (compared to the
what full-time engineers and LSI can do in the commercial products)?
I am interested it *both* learning *and* producing something that sounds
good enough that I will feel good about it. Can someone with good
hardware and software background still add value by building rather than
buying?
Thanks in advance,
Tony Garland, N7DX decvax\
John Fluke Mfg Co. ihnp4 >!uw-beaver\
PO Box C9090 allegra >!fluke!kelpie
Everett, WA 98206 USA ucbvax >!lbl-csam /
(206) 356-5268 hplabs/hedger@ada-uts.UUCP (09/23/85)
tony, first of all for raw keyboards check out paia in oklahoma city....they're a mail order electronics/music warehouse and they do sell some keyboards... on the other hand a midi controller might be the way to go. for midi information check out the following sources: the note in this newgroup titled 'network midi primr' the book published by keyboard mag. 'synthesizers and computers' has a full copy of the rev 1.0 midi spec in its appendices. I think you can certainly tinker away, although if you want to tinker with equipment that is currently popular (not neccessarilybetter) you'll probably need a good understanding of analog electronics, digital electronics, and computer design. hope this will be some help. ihnp4!inmet!ada-uts!hedger
djg@well.UUCP (David Julian Gray) (09/30/85)
In article <1163@vax1.fluke.UUCP>, kelpie@fluke.UUCP (Tony Garland) writes: > o Where can one obtain a "raw" keyboard? To be specific, is it possibl > to purchase a keyboard mechanism mechanically complete which I > could design around to provide velocity sensing with say 3 to 5 octav es? As refered to in article 187 good raw keyboards are available from PAIA Electronics, Inc. 1020 Wilshire Blvd. Oklahoma City, OK 73116 (800) 654-8657 PAIA is an excellent source for products and information for (what I like to call:) small systems computer music. They publish a down home, yet techie, journal called "Electronic Musician". The keyboards they sell are top quality units by the Pratt-Reed Co. - an industry standard for such items. The keyboards are available completely "raw" or in various kits or as complete units all the way up to a five octave programable MIDI controller - much flexibility for the savvy user/builder. Seems just what you're after. OR: Hot tip: VERY "RAW" keyboards may be had from Computer Products and Peripherals Unlimited Box 204 Newton, NH 03858 (617) 372-8637 four octaves for $39.00 (but keys and their switches on a frame is all you get - good deal! PAIA's circuit board for their MIDI controller is $19.95 - an EPROM burner and some 1/4" teak and you're in business.) As for the worth of such an endeavor in the face of proprietary VLSI chips in the commercial products ... SURE!!!! No-one has yet released a product with *expressive* control over the envelope in REAL-TIME. (Digital synth at least). That is sorely missing.