This video, via Jason Hotchkiss, demos Le Strum – a MIDI Strummed Chord Controller Kit, a sort of bizarre love child of an Omnichord & a Stylophone.
Using combinations of buttons, you can select a chord type (maj, min, 7, maj7, min7, dim, aug) and root note. The chord is then mapped across the pads, which you play with a wired stylus, sending output by MIDI.
Le Strum does not generate sounds itself, so it needs to be used with a MIDI instrument. Continue reading
Reader Geert Bevin let us know about a new application his company Uwyn is working on, GestureControl for the Leap Motion Controller.
The Leap Motion is an extremely precise USB motion sensor that’s expected to be released in May, priced at $80.
GestureControl has been designed for live performance and it operates at extremely low latency, while requiring very little resources on your computer. It can thus perfectly run alongside any MIDI capable software.
In this demo, Bevin demonstrates some of the configuration capabilities while using Native Instrument’s Razor synth in Reaktor. Continue reading
Reader Adrian Craig shared a tip on using MIDI with the new Novation Launchkey app for iPad:
After some tries and “inspired” by one little note I’ve seen I tried to unleash Novation Launchkey app. Here are the results:
MIDI chan.1:
#CC7 – global VOL
#CC21-28 – 8 parameter knobs
MIDI chan. 10
Notes: changing Favourites (1-8), switching between “Points” (octaves 2 and 3, figure out by yourself) 
Novation Launchkey is a free download from the App Store – so check it out and let us know what you think of it. And thanks to Adrian for the tip!
Avantgarde Audio released this promo for enChord, a new app for Lemur on the iPad that the developer describes as ‘a 21st century MIDI control super instrument”:
enChord is a truly innovative application that lets you design harmonically perfect chords using all of the most popular music scales in the world with the assistance of one-touch chord progression analysis and scale modulation analysis, for you to either compose music, perform music (using the included innovative PadBoard and TileBoard MIDI controllers), or BOTH by utilizing this completely innovative when it comes to user-friendly interaction for performing and writing music.
The MIDI controller app combines dynamic ‘chord-organ’ functionality, music theory and some interesting user interface ideas.
At the 2012 Summer NAMM Show, Korg is showing the latest models in its series of microKEY USB-Powered Keyboards and MIDI Controllers.
The microKEY-37 (available now; MSRP $79.99) is now joined by the portable microKEY-25 (expected ship date: September ’12; MSRP $69.99) as well as the five-octave microKEY-61. Geared for the studio musician, the microKEY-61 (expected ship date: late summer 2012; MSRP $179.99) comes with effects plug-ins and the exclusive Legacy Collection Suite – a collection of software versions of some of Korg’s most iconic synthesizers.
The microKEY can be used to create a compact and customized MIDI command center. Adding a measure of flexibility and control, the microKEY 37- and 61-key models both can also serve as a USB hub. Two USB ports (Type A) can accommodate the addition of a Korg nanoPAD2, nanoKONTROL2 or any other USB device.
The Mac- and PC-compatible microKEY devices also run on USB power, making them well-suited for on-the-go laptop musicians. For musicians working from an iPad, the microKEY-25 can be used to control apps such as the Korg iMS-20 via MIDI (see korg.com for more details).
All microKEY models feature velocity-sensing mini keys, using the same “Natural Touch” keybed found on the Korg microKORG XL and microSTATION. The microKEY also accurately conveys the dynamics of the user?s performance to any software package.
Octave Shift buttons, when used in conjunction with the Key Transpose function, enable the full range of notes in the MIDI specification to be covered. For added expression during a performance, the 37- and 61-key models feature a pitch bend wheel and modulation wheel. The 25-key model features a built-in arpeggiator, a sustain/tap button, and an assignable joystick for pitch bend, modulation, or any other control change.
Kinect MIDI Controller is an open source project designed to let you use a Microsoft Kinect as a MIDI controller.
The the project uses Microsoft Kinect SDK to track the skeletal data.
The Kinect SDK provides the logic to detect the X and Y Co-ordinates of a user’s hands. The X & Y Co-ordinates are then scaled and converted to MIDI messages. These MIDI messages are then sent to the MIDI output port. The tool contains a .NET Wrapper for the MIDI interfacing methods provided by winmm.dll Win32 API.
Details are available the project site.