[LAU] 'Modular' midi controller for keyboard

[Jeremy Jongepier]

On 03/22/2013 12:13 AM, Ralf Mardorf wrote:
> Does anybody know what Linux apps are able to interact with a MIDI
> remote control, assumed the MIDI control is able to interact with apps?
>

Ralf,

You need to create a new thread for questions like this, they don't 
belong in an existing thread especially when they're followed by an 
epistle like the one below. Thanks.

Regards,

Jeremy

> Review, a little bit too long.
>
> The nanoKONTROL has one serious disadvantage. You can't expect motorized
> sliders for that price, but at least the "pan pots" could be dialing
> wheels, able to receive the value from the software and to continue from
> that value, but even if the software should be able to interact with the
> control, AFAIK the nanoKONTROL is unable to handle this.
>
> It's very good workmanship for that price, a much better quality than my
> Behringer products provide (ADA 8000, Modulizer Pro and UB24442-FX2-PRO)
> compared by price-performance ratio. 4 cm faders, very short, but a
> better slide than e.g. the allegedly Alps of my Behringer mixer. The
> plastic case isn't as bad as you might think, but of course, it's
> plastic.
>
> The python app for Linux (have forgotten the name and need to download
> it again :S) to save scenes works very good, you can assign all kinds of
> functionality to the faders, pots and knobs, but unfortunately saving
> and loading settings doesn't work. The nanoKONTROL does hold the
> assignments, but you perhaps want to change them by loading other
> assignments. The original Korg app doesn't run under wine and I didn't
> test it with VBox until now. The Linux app might not work for the new
> nanoKONTROL.
>
> I like it very much and I'm willing to buy additional nanoKONTROLs.
> Since it's not expensive you should buy one to test it.
>
> I don't know the device you mentioned, but this devices seems to be more
> advanced. Until now I only used the nanoKONTROL to manipulate Yoshimi
> filters in real-time and this does work perfectly, the only drawback is
> the issue regarding to the values. As long as you keep the fader and app
> in sync, e.g. by not switching the scene and only continuing from the
> last position of fader control, IOW no rewind by the sequencer etc. it's
> not an issue, but assumed you want to readjust some values by real-time
> recording, than you can forget the nanoKONTROL, it's easier to record
> the controllers again, instead of readjusting just some values in the
> timeline.
>
> For my needs it's good, but it's not perfect, even mouse control by
> Atari's Cubase real-time SysEx editor is better regarding to some
> aspects.
>
> It isn't a toy, but it can't replace a mixing console or the control
> panel of an old analog synth. It's a compromise.
>
> Latency isn't an issue and you can use it with an extension cable, but I
> didn't test how long the cable can be, before it stops working.
>
> I don't use a converter cable, I use USB connected to the computer.
>
> I can't speak for a converter cable, but for serious work you can only
> use one MIDI thru, if you make a chain by two MIDI thru, than MIDI can't
> be used for serious work anymore. But it's always better to avoid even
> one MIDI thru.
>
> While the opto-couplers in the 80s were slower, but still fast enough
> for MIDI, there were no level issues in the past. Today they often use
> opto-couplers that are much faster than needed, but the level often is
> to low to work properly. So I won't trust a cheap converter cable. Btw.
> faster opto-couplers don't make the latency shorter. Important is a
> clean slew rate and good level, that also won't reduce the latency, but
> will avoid errors.
>
> As for low budget, buy a KORG nanoKONTROL, it will satisfy you for that
> price.
>
> Btw. IMO MIDI jitter is less important for control data, but it could be
> important, if so you indeed should get a real MIDI IO device, instead of
> an USB MIDI device, assumed you use MIDI for the computer by PCI/PCIe
> instead of USB.
>
> I can't use my iPad as remote for Linux, hopefully it's possible in the
> future, since it does provide very nice MIDI controller apps. But an
> iPad for sure isn't stable enough (regarding to the display) for stage,
> much to expensive already without MIDI equipment, didn't get WiFi
> working until now and it's Apple :(.
>
> Perhaps it's possible to use cheap tablet PCs as MIDI remote too.
>
> Sorry, English isn't my strong point.
>
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