Hacking midi keyboard for use with LDR's

  • Thread starter Thread starter Steenamaroo
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Steenamaroo

Steenamaroo

...
hi all,

quick question here.

I want to be able to connect about 30 light sensors to my pc for audio software control (on the cheap)

My idea is to buy an old midi keyboard, and strip away all the keys, then solder light sensors in place of the keys.


My question is, will this gives me a variable range of input? or will each sensor respond like the piano keys did. (one fixed velocity untill you completely uncover the sensor)

for example, could i control a software fader by lifting my hand on and off a light sensor?

any help is much appreciated!!

thanks in advance.
 
My understanding is that MIDI keyboards measure the speed at which a key goes from the up position to the down position and that speed translates into the volume of the note. Thus the term "velocity sensitive".

There's some neat DIY MIDI kits here: http://www.doepfer.de/home_e.htm

I made the Wheel Electronic kit and it works great.

On YouTube, if you look up "Homemade MIDI Controller" or "DIY MIDI Controller" you'll see what some fellow crazy people have done. :)

Ableton Live has brought out the tweakers on this, there's some people using old computer keyboards, some pretty creative.
 
thanks for the response man!

i'd thought about computer keyboards, but i'm pretty sure there's no range of input per key. ie, it's either on or off.

sounds like i could use a midi keyboard instrument for my idea then?

ultimately, i need the covering of a light sensor to trigger the playback of a file, so, as long as my software will receive any velocity from 0-127, it should be fine.

that's the theory anyway :P
 
a midibox will do this no problem. You would just need a core and analog in board..
 
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