MIDI pitch shifter? Does it exist? From who?

[William Choi]

Is there such thing as an external MIDI pitch shifter? I have a MIDI controller keyboard but it didn't come with those pitch shifters at the left side like most midi controllers.

Is there an external one that I can get and plug in between the computer and the keyboard?

[Adrian]

What you mean is a pitch *bender*. I haven't seen an external one before. I know that Korg makes an external Ribbon controller or X-Y pad, but those are for specific modules.

You can edit pitch bender data through software (if you're using a fairly decent sequencer). Some programs (Cakewalk has it) have a real-time pitch bender, I don't know how effective it is.

Adrian

[duck]

Hey William
Other than a new keyboard (I dont think they make a seperate pitch bender) I would go software. I write by myself and use jammerpro and it will pitch bend any instrutment you want and to any degree. Also its a very good writing tool if you play by yourself. Its similar to band in a box but much better I think. It can use your sound card or external snyth or both at once. I like using the drums and bass while i write with my guitar. Its not cheap but it sure beats a missing drummer or a drunken bass player! Its about $130 http://www.soundtrek.com/
Duck

[William Choi]

Well, I was hoping to do things live.
Playing keyboards while pitch bending(altho,it may not affect the internal speakers of me keyboard) I could monitor through my soundcards lineouts.
I now remember what its called, a Pitch Wheel.

So if anyone knows if it exists please inform me please!

[Bleach]

You might take a look at the Launch Pad by EMU. There is alot of things you can do with it and one of them is assign pitch control to one of the wheels. It has 4 or 5 sliders, 2 wheels and tape transport controls all of which are assignable to do whatever you want.
You can use it to run your sequencer if it is MMC compatible. Basic stuff, stop, play, record. It's a table top unit,pretty compact so it dosen't take up much room. Also, check a thing called Phat Boy. I don't remember who makes that but it has 13 or so knobs on it all of those are also assignable to any of the MIDI controller numbers. Both of these things do more than just pitch bend but they are really cool and good luck finding a MIDI box that just does one thing.

Bleach